Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash

Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash is a totally crave-worthy lightened up version of the classic! - Peas and Crayons -
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time50 mins
Total Time1 hr
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chicken, Spaguetti, Squash
Servings: 4
Calories: 405kcal
Author: JENN LAUGHLIN - peasandcrayons.com

Ingredients

  • 2 medium spaghetti squash (6-7 inches long)
  • 2 cups cooked shredded chicken*
  • 1 cup freshly grated cheddar and/or mozzarella cheese
  • 1/3 cup Frank's Red Hot sauce
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
  • 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 jalapeno, diced (seeds, stem, + veins removed)
  • 1/4 chopped green onion (divided)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • ranch or blue cheese dressing for drizzling (optional)
  • extra grated cheese for topping

Instructions

  • 1-Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.
    2-Slice your spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. For easy cutting, feel free to stick each squash in the microwave for 5 minutes to soften it up just a tad. The knife slides through way easier this way!
    3-Next grab a lipped baking sheet or a rimmed baking dish and line with foil.
    4-To prevent sticking, rub the cut side of the squash with a teeny bit of olive oil and place face down on your baking sheet.
    5-Roast for 30-40 minutes, or until tender and easily pierced with a fork. Cooking time will vary a bit depending on the size of your squash, and the exterior of the squash will be visibly softened.
    6-The squash can be roasted and stored in the fridge for a few days if you'd like to meal prep and plan ahead for a speedier dinner. You can also make the whole shebang one weekend and pop it in the fridge until about 30 minutes before dinnertime. Wind up with a little bit leftover? It reheats marvelously the following day! Now let's get back to the recipe!
    7-While the squash roast, cook chicken via your favorite method or squirrel away leftovers from the previous night's dinner.
    8-Shred your chicken and combine in a medium bowl with your cheese (I used cheddar and mozzarella), hot sauce, melted butter, Greek yogurt, jalapeño, green onion, salt, and pepper.
    9-Using a fork, scrape the spaghetti squash bowls to release the delicious strands of squash and mix with your cheesy buffalo chicken mixture.
    10-Top each squash with a little extra cheese and place face-up on your baking sheet. Cover the baking dish in foil, leaving a little room at the top (like a tent!) so the cheese doesn't stick.
    11-Bake at 350 degrees F for around 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. For golden bubbly cheese, remove the foil at the end, then change oven setting to broil on high and broil for 2-3 minutes.
    12-Garnish with chopped green onion, a drizzle of your favorite dressing, and even extra hot sauce!

Notes

I roasted 1lb of bone-in skin-on chicken thighs but you can use anything you have on hand and use your favorite method: crockpot, rotissere, baked, poached... this recipe is a great use for leftover chicken too!
Serve with celery sticks or a veggie salad for a delicious crunch and extra veggies!