Turkey and Spinach Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
on Dec 09, 2015, Updated Dec 08, 2024
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You can still enjoy your favorite comfort foods, but with a lightened up spin on them. Skip the noodles and make this Turkey and Spinach Spaghetti Squash Lasagna instead!
With all the holiday parties, cookies, candies, drinks and more, sometimes you crave a healthier dinner so you can feel better about eating those 3 cookies or 4 truffles. Just because a meal is healthier doesn’t mean it has to taste that way or make you feel like you are being deprived of your favorite comfort foods.
Cold weather tends to make us crave those foods that are heavier and fill us up. Maybe it’s human instinct to have these cravings this time of year, like how animals stock up on food to get them through the winter. Then again maybe it’s because we don’t have to worry about how we look in our tank tops, swimsuits, and sundresses.
Whatever the reason is, I know I’m not alone in the comfort food cravings this time of year. Today I took one of my favorite comfort foods and made it taste just as decadent, but in a lighter and figure friendly way. Today is all about getting that lasagna fix with this Turkey and Spinach Spaghetti Squash Lasagna!
Spaghetti squash is a great alternative to pasta, especially this time of year since squash is in season. On top of slashing calories and carbs with this substitution, you’re also adding another serving of vegetables into your daily diet. The more servings of vegetables and fiber we add the more they counteract the Christmas cookies, right?
The spaghetti squash lasagna has many of the same flavors you expect from traditional lasagna. Marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, mozzarella, plus a heathy dose of spinach and Italian turkey sausage for flavor and protein. The lasagna is easy to make and you don’t have to mess with cooking noodles or all that layering in your casserole dish.
I used some of my easy marinara sauce that I had frozen in the freezer from another meal and defrosted it along with some frozen spinach. After wringing out the excess liquid from the spinach I mixed it in with the sauce along with the cooked turkey sausage. The sauce mixture is then tossed together with the spaghetti squash strands then piled back into the squash skins for serving. The next part is my favorite…the cheese!
Dollops of part skim ricotta and shredded mozzarella are added on top of the squash, then it’s placed under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly. This spaghetti squash lasagna gives you all the flavor or traditional lasagna and is the perfect way to enjoy a classic comfort food without all the calories and carbs!
Turkey and Spinach Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 large spaghetti squash
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 link Italian turkey sausage
- 1 cup frozen spinach, defrosted and excess liquid squeezed out.
- 1/2 cup part skim ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
- Flat leaf parsley for topping
Instructions
Spaghetti Squash
- Preheat oven to 400° F. and line baking sheet with foil.
- Cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise, spray the inside with cooking spray or drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Place the squash cut side down on the baking sheet and roast until tender, about 40 minutes.
- Let the squash cool for 5-10 minutes before scooping out the strands with a fork and placing them in a bowl. Reserve the squash skins placing them cut side up back on the foil lined baking sheet.
- If the spaghetti squash has a lot of liquid, use your hands to squeeze out excess liquid.
Turkey and Spinach Sauce
- Heat a small skillet over medium high heat and spray with cooking spray.
- Remove the turkey sausage from it's casing, crumble and cook it in the skillet until it is cooked all the way through.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the marinara sauce, cooked turkey sausage, and defrosted spinach and heat through.
- Combine the sauce mixture with the spaghetti squash and toss together until the squash is coated in the sauce.
Assembling
- Scoop the squash and sauce mixture back into the squash skins and top with dollops of ricotta and shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Broil the spaghetti squash lasagna until the cheese is melted and golden.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Spaghetti Squash Recipes:
Spicy Tomato Garlic Shrimp with Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti Squash with Feta and Herbs
Spaghetti Squash Greek Salad
This looks awesome! I wonder? Could you make ahead and freeze? It would be awesome to just pull them out of the freezer, heat and enjoy…
Hi Tina,
Unfortunately spaghetti squash doesn’t freeze well. You could make the turkey and spinach filling part ahead of time and freeze that to help cut back on some of the cooking/prep time.
I made this over the thanksgiving holiday and it was a hit. My Italian friend piled on extra marinara sauce however. I followed his lead and was not disappointed.
Thanks for trying the recipe Ann and I’m glad you and your friend enjoyed it!
Wow Danae, this looks spectacular! What a perfectly healthy weeknight dinner.
Thanks Danielle! I love it and I love how much lighter it is compared to traditional lasagna!
I am always looking for new recipes with spaghetti squash! Pinning for later!
Thanks Julianne!
I love this idea! I haven’t make spaghetti squash in a while but this version looks like a keeper. I might need to put this on my list!
I’d taken a break from it too Julia, but I couldn’t resist making this lasagna version!
Seriously gorgeous! I wonder if I could trick my kids into eating it ;)
It’s worth a shot Rachel! With enough cheese on top anything is possible! ;-)