Lemon Garlic Chicken Spaghetti Squash (Printable version)

Tender lemon-garlic chicken paired with roasted spaghetti squash and finished with Parmesan cheese for a light, satisfying meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Spaghetti Squash

01 - 1 large spaghetti squash, approximately 3 pounds
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
04 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Lemon Garlic Chicken

05 - 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 lemon, zested and juiced
09 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
10 - ½ teaspoon salt
11 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Finishing

13 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
14 - Lemon wedges for serving, optional
15 - Fresh parsley for garnish

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Halve the spaghetti squash lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Drizzle cut sides with olive oil, season with salt and pepper. Place cut-side down on parchment-lined baking sheet.
02 - Roast for 40 to 45 minutes until flesh is tender and strands separate easily with a fork. Set aside to cool slightly.
03 - While squash roasts, season chicken pieces with salt, pepper, oregano, and half the lemon zest.
04 - Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes.
05 - Add minced garlic to skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
06 - Stir in remaining lemon zest, lemon juice, and chopped parsley. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
07 - Once squash is cool enough to handle, use a fork to scrape flesh into spaghetti-like strands.
08 - Divide squash among plates. Top each with lemon garlic chicken and pan sauce.
09 - Sprinkle with Parmesan and extra parsley. Serve with lemon wedges if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The lemon garlic sauce creates that bright restaurant quality flavor without any heavy cream or butter
  • Spaghetti squash delivers that comforting pasta experience while keeping things light and gluten free
02 -
  • Let the squash cool for about 10 minutes before scraping. If it is too hot, the strands can become mushy instead of staying separate and pasta like.
  • Do not overcrowd your chicken in the pan or it will steam instead of getting that beautiful golden sear. Work in batches if needed.
03 -
  • Room temperature chicken cooks more evenly and gets better color, so let it sit out for about 20 minutes before cooking
  • Grate your lemon zest before juicing so you do not accidentally lose any of that precious aromatic oil
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