Spaghetti Squash and Meat Sauce (Whole30 Style!)

If there is one thing I love about eating Whole30 and Paleo, it’s the variety and creativity that comes with preparing meals.

When I first started to follow a Paleo lifestyle, I was amazed by how many alternatives there were to the food items I used to eat. The more research I did and recipes I tried, the more alternatives I found. And you know what the greatest thing about these healthy alternatives? Is that they actually taste really good.

Some of these delicious alternatives include:

  • White and Wheat Flour Products –> Almond, Coconut, Tapioca, and Arrowroot Flour
  • White Potatoes –> Sweet Potatoes/Sweet Yams
  • French Fries –> Sweet Potato or Cassava Fries
  • Refined White Sugar –-> Raw Organic Honey (once you taste the raw honey, you won’t ever want regular sugar or honey again)
  • Soy Sauce –> Coconut Aminos
  • Sodas –> Sparkling/Carbonated/Flavored water (La Croix is a great brand!)
  • Cow Milk –> Coconut Milk and Homemade Almond Milk
  • Rice –-> Cauliflower Rice
  • Pasta –> Zucchini Noodles and Spaghetti Squash

Which brings me to the focal point of this post: Spaghetti Squash and Meat Sauce

Spaghetti Squash & Meat Sauce (Whole30 Style!)

Now, this is one of my absolute favorite meals to make on a normal basis. In fact, I made it last night and would eat it every night if I could! The awesome alternative in this recipe is that instead of using spaghetti noodles to make your typical spaghetti and meat sauce, you simply use spaghetti squash!

And if I’m honest, the spaghetti squash actually taste better than regular pasta. Spaghetti squash has a sweet taste to it and blends really well with ground beef and tomato sauce. Also, to top things off, I tried the Oregano Essential Oil I have instead of the oregano dried herb and it was even more delicious! That’s a win-win right there – Whole30/Paleo meal PLUS Essential oils.

And for all those in Cayman that want to try this recipe already prepared? You are in luck because this Saturday, June 25th, I’m having a Cooking with Essential Oils class which will feature this recipe! So be sure to RSVP here by Friday morning the latest so we can make sure there is enough 🙂

Can’t make the class but still want to learn about how what essential oils are and how you can cook with them? No biggie! Fill out the contact form here and I will be sure to be in touch with you!

So without further a due, here is the recipe!

Meat sauce & Spaghetti Squash

Recipe Type: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Brianna Wilkerson
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • ground beef (1 to 1.5 lbs)
  • meat sauce (16oz to 20oz) – I use President’s Choice Roasted Garlic
  • spaghetti squash (2 small ones or 1 very large one)
  • onions (1 small)
  • olive oil (to coat the inside of the spaghetti squash)
  • coconut oil (1 tbsp)
  • pepper, salt, garlic powder, grace jerk seasoning (special ingredient!)

Instructions

Spaghetti Squash

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
  2. Take a hold of the spaghetti squash with your non-dominant hand at one end and with the other hand, get a chef’s knife.
  3. Hold the chef’s knife over the spaghetti squash with the edge pointing towards the middle of squash.
  4. Drive the knife all the way down through the spaghetti squash.
  5. Then pull the edge of the knife towards you, cutting into the spaghetti squash and leaving half of the spaghetti squash slit.
  6. Then turn the spaghetti squash the other way and cut into the other side, which should split the spaghetti squash right in half. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon.
  7. Coat the inside of the squash with olive oil, pepper and salt.
  8. Take a baking dish and with a little water (about 1 cup) and place the spaghetti squash face down in the water.
  9. Place in the oven and bake for roughly 30 minutes, or until a knife can go right through the spaghetti squash while it’s facing up.
  10. Once the squash is done, take out and let cool.
  11. Turn the squash over, take a fork, dig into the squash, and run it straight down. This will make strands that look like spaghetti.

Ground Beef

  1. As the squash is cooking, turn on a skillet to medium/medium high heat. Add coconut oil.
  2. Chop up the onions and add to skillet. Saute until browned and a little burnt/translucent.
  3. Add the ground beef to the skillet and season to taste with the various seasonings.
  4. Ground the beef until cooked all the way through. Drain the fat.
  5. Pour the tomato sauce into the pan, add additional seasoning and stir.
  6. Cover and let simmer until the squash is done.
  7. Once the squash is done and scooped out, place a portion of the spaghetti squash on a plate and then pour the meat sauce over it.Serve with some green salad and enjoy!

Do you have any other Paleo/Whole30 alternatives you enjoy? Be sure to comment and share below!

P.S. Want some more Paleo and Whole30 Recipes? Be sure to grab my 10 Delicious Paleo Recipe Guide >>HERE<< and my 5 Whole30 Recipes to Get You Started >>HERE<<.

By Brianna Wilkerson

Brianna Wilkerson is a Holistic Health and Life Coach, Essential Oils Advocate with doTERRA, podcast host, wife and momma, matcha tea lover, and at-home crossfitter. She helps women find peace with food, create healthy habits, and use natural essential oil-based products so they can feel better, have more energy, and take care of themselves and those they love. You’ll leave sessions with her feeling supported and empowered to make simple health changes that fit into your life, and use essential oils as natural solutions for your health, home, and family. You can find Brianna hanging out in the Made Well Women's Health Community and on her Instagram!

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