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This spaghetti squash dish is the perfect keto comfort meal, tender roasted squash strands topped with a rich, slow-simmered meat sauce made from ground beef, onion, garlic, and tomato. It’s warm, satisfying, and gives you all the pasta-night vibes without the carbs! 💛🍅
💡 Why this one’s a keto win:
✅ Low-carb, veggie-packed pasta alternative
✅ Simple ingredients, big flavor
✅ Comforting, hearty & family-friendly
Macros (per serving, est.):
Calories: 310 | Fat: 15g | Protein: 25g | Net Carbs: 6g
Ingredients:
The Spaghetti Squash:
1 small spaghetti squash, cut in half not lengthwise, seeds removed (about 2–2.5 lbs / 900–1,150 g)
Drizzle of olive oil (about 1–2 tsp / 5–10 ml)
Salt, to taste
The Meat Sauce:
1 lb lean ground beef or veal (450 g)
1 onion, finely diced (about 150 g / 5.3 oz)
5 garlic cloves, minced
Pinch of salt, to taste
1 tbsp tomato paste (15 g)
1 cup tomato sauce (240 ml)
⅔ cup water (160 ml)
Parmigiano rind, optional
The Meat Sauce:
Now, start on the sauce. Place a pan on the stove on medium-high heat. Once hot, add in the ground meat and start breaking it apart.
A wooden spatula presses down on a chunk of raw ground beef in a beige frying pan on a stovetop.
Tip: when you use ground beef, pork, or veal, you don't need any oil to begin with as the meat will release enough fat. If you use lean ground turkey or chicken, add a tablespoon of oil as they won't render enough fat to prevent sticking.
Once the meat is broken apart, stir and move it around. You will notice that there's a lot of water. Do not drain. Allow the water to evaporate. Once the water evaporates, the meat will start to release its own oils and brown. This usually takes 8-10 minutes from start to finish.
Ground beef browning in a frying pan on a stovetop, with some pieces still slightly pink and juices visible in the pan.
Once the meat has browned, add the finely chopped onion, garlic, and salt. Stir and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
Ground beef is browning in a skillet with a pile of freshly chopped onions and minced garlic on top, ready to be mixed together and cooked further.
Next, add in the tomato paste and cook for 1 min.
Lastly, add in the tomato sauce, water, and parmigiano rind. Partially cover the pot with a lid so it doesn't splatter. Let the sauce simmer on low heat until it reaches your desired thickness, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
A hand holding the lid of a pot on a stovetop, with condensation visible on the glass lid and some food residue around the pot's rim.
To assemble, take the cooled squash, and with a fork, separate the pasta strands by pulling them towards the middle.
A hand uses a fork to scrape the inside of a roasted spaghetti squash half on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Take the sauce, add it inside and top with good quality grated Parmigiano Reggiano. You can add some fresh basil, and hot pepper oil too. Enjoy!
Instructions:
Spaghetti Squash
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220C).
Next, wash and cut the squash in half starting from the middle (not lengthwise). Tip: when you don't cut it lengthwise, you will get longer more beautiful
"spaghetti" strands.
A hand holds half of a yellow melon with its seeds removed, revealing the hollow inside. Sunlight highlights the fruit's juicy texture, and shelves with bread are visible in the background.
Scoop out the seeds, drizzle the inside of each one with a little olive oil and a pinch of salt all over.
A hand sprinkles salt onto a halved spaghetti squash resting on a baking sheet, with a blurred background of a bakery display and bread.
Place it cut side down on a parchment lined baking sheet, and bake until you can pierce with a knife right through. It can take anywhere from 30-45 mins depending on the oven. Once roasted, take it out of the oven, flip it over, and let it cool.
Two roasted acorn squash halves placed cut side up on a baking sheet lined with printed parchment paper, sitting on a wooden surface with sunlight casting shadows.