Lemon Garlic Chicken Spaghetti Squash (Printable)

Tender lemon-garlic chicken paired with roasted spaghetti squash strands and Parmesan cheese. Light, satisfying, and gluten-free.

# What You Need:

→ 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

→ Serving

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

# Directions:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The lemon garlic sauce makes everything taste bright and alive, even on a Tuesday night
  • You get all the comfort of pasta without the heavy aftermath
  • Leftovers somehow taste even better the next day
02 -
  • Let the squash cool for at least 10 minutes before scraping, otherwise you will burn your fingers
  • Do not overcrowd the pan when searing chicken or it will steam instead of brown
  • Add the garlic at the very end so it does not turn bitter
03 -
  • Use a microplane for the lemon zest to avoid the bitter white pith
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of buying pre-grated, the texture matters
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