Curried Spaghetti Squash with Chicken Breasts

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This recipe for Curried Spaghetti Squash with Chicken Breasts is a splendid mix of sweet and savory flavors. Made with simple ingredients on one sheet pan for convenience and easy clean up, this chicken and spaghetti squash dinner is a fuss free, yet ultra-flavor meal you and your family will love.

Featured comment: This chicken is so fabulously flavorful and I just love the beautiful hue curry lends to this dish. This smells amazing as it’s baking, too!” – Sawyer

Update: This recipe was originally published in February 2017. I made updates to the post below to include more information about this recipe spaghetti squash curry with chicken.

About this recipe for spaghetti squash with chicken 

AKA SHEET PAN curried chicken breasts and spaghetti squash doused with a sassy curry butter honey sauce.

Basically, meet your new favorite weeknight dinner. That just happens to be PACKED full of flavor, yet a cinch to throw together.

Tender chicken breasts marinated in warm curry and cumin spices mixed with sweet honey and a touch of tangy mustard. Served over delicate strands of roasted spaghetti squash. And tossed with a buttery, luscious, sweet and savory, curry butter spiked sauce. Then topped with crunchy, salty pumpkin seeds, spicy red pepper flakes, herbaceous fresh cilantro and a squeeze of acidic lemon.

FLAVOR BOMB.

This easy-peasy meal is light, yet filling and filled with fabulous flavor.

Trust me, you NEED this meal to grace your table.

Why this curry spaghetti squash recipe works 

This chicken breast and spaghetti squash with curry sauce is full of flavor and nutritious. Here’s a closer look at why you’ll love this dish:

• Healthy. Ditching the high carbs in pasta or rice, and using spaghetti squash instead, is perfect for anyone on a low-carb diet or simply wanting to reduce their overall carb intake. Plus, since when has adding veggies to any meal been a bad decision?! 
• Make ahead. This spaghetti squash and chicken recipe requires overnight marinating of the chicken – significantly reducing the total recipe time the following day!
• A complete meal. The combination of lean protein, veggies, and sauce makes a complete meal without adding side dishes if you wish!
• Any occasion! This spaghetti squash with chicken looks so inviting! It’s sure to impress any dinner guests, but can also be made as a casual family meal. 

What is curried spaghetti squash and chicken?

Curry is a general term which encompasses a number of dishes originating in the Indian subcontinent. The recurrent feature of curry is the use of a combination of spices and/or herbs, which usually include turmeric, cumin, ginger and hot chilies.

There are a wide variety of dishes called curries, and the use of additional spices and the foods included in the curries (anything from fish to lentils) depends on the geographic region.

This curried squash with chicken breasts is categorized as Western curry since it utilizes curry powder, which is a mixture of spices.

Ingredients for spaghetti squash with chicken recipe

• Chicken Breasts: Try to purchase chicken breasts that are around the same size and thickness to ensure even cooking.
• Spaghetti Squash: Look for squash that feel heavy for their size and free of any blemishes.
• Butter: Unsalted so you can control the level of saltiness.
• Honey: For a touch of natural sweetness.
• Dijon Mustard: For a touch of tangy, rich flavor.
• Seasonings and Spices: A combination of curry powder, ground cumin, ground ginger, kosher salt, and ground black pepper all lend plenty of warming flavors.
• Oil: You’ll want to use olive oil or a neutral oil for roasting.
• Lemon: The acidic juice of one whole lemon lends brightness and opens up all the flavors.
• Cilantro: For a touch of herbaceous freshness. If you aren’t a fan, you can swap in fresh parsley.

If you’ve got a leftover spaghetti squash, put it to good use in these recipes: Pesto Squash Casserole, Salad with Spaghetti Squash, and Spaghetti Squash alla Vodka.

Recipe variations

• Squash. If you can’t source a large squash for this chicken squash curry recipe, use two small squash instead. Butternut squash and acorn squash are another option, although slightly sweeter than spaghetti squash.
• Sauce. I love a generous amount of sauce in this spaghetti squash chicken recipe. You can reduce the sauce by half if you’d prefer. 
• Spicy kick. Curry powder comes in all levels of heat. You can use a mild curry powder or opt for one that has more of a kick to it – it’s totally up to you! A small amount of curry paste could also be added for extra heat to this dish. 
• Creamy consistency. For a creamy curry sauce, consider adding canned full-fat coconut milk for a richer and creamier flavor. Add a small amount only once the other saucy ingredients have been combined, and adjust as desired. 
• Rice. If spaghetti squash doesn’t do it for you, consider serving your curry chicken over basmati rice. 
• Chicken. If you don’t have time to marinate chicken, use rotisserie chicken instead and assemble the dish with the baked spaghetti squash and curry sauce, making sure to generously coat the pieces of rotisserie chicken for maximum flavor. 
• Serving. Make spaghetti squash chicken boats instead of serving the sliced chicken breast over spaghetti squash strands that have been removed from the squash. Use my Spaghetti Squash Boats with Chicken and Acorn Squash Stuffed with Sausage recipes as inspiration. 

How to make chicken and spaghetti squash curry?

This recipe for curry chicken with squash is super simple and straightforward to prepare. Here’s how:

• First, you will need to marinate the chicken by combining a bit of melted butter with some honey, Dijon and spices. Whisk that together, add your chicken, turning to coat and set it aside in the refrigerator. After your chicken has soaked up all the magical flavors of the marinade, preheat your oven and adjust your oven racks to the top and bottom third positions.
• Then you’ll need to roast the squash. So, place the spaghetti squash on a sheet pan and drizzle the insides of each half with oil and season them generously with salt and pepper. Flip the squash upside down, so the cut side is facing down, and toss (gently of course) the sheet pan in the oven. Let them roast about 15 minutes before adding the chicken to the oven.
• Meanwhile, remove the chicken from the marinade and transfer them to a second sheet pan. Brush the chicken with any excess marinade. When the 15 minutes (above) is up, add the chicken to the oven with the squash.
• Bake the chicken and the spaghetti squash, rotating the pans halfway through, until the chicken is cooked fully.
• While the chicken and squash are getting their roast on, quickly whip up the sauce by melting butter in small sauce pan and adding in a bit of curry powder and ginger. Stir in some honey and a dash of lemon juice. BOOM. Sauce done.
• To serve, simply remove the squash and chicken from the oven. Scrape the strands of ‘spaghetti’ from the squash, slice the chicken and transfer everything to a serving bowl. Drizzle with the sauce and sprinkle with desired garnishes. Viola. Dinner is served.

Expert tips for the best chicken and spaghetti squash recipe

1. The curry chicken breasts do require time to marinate. While I recommend letting them sit in the marinade overnight for the most flavor, you can get away with letting them marinate for as little as 2 hours.
2. Make sure you adjust your oven racks to the top and bottom third positions because you will be placing the chicken breasts on one sheet pan and the halved spaghetti squash on another. To ensure even cooking, you will need to rotate the pans from top to bottom during roasting.
3. Cook your spaghetti squash CUT SIDE DOWN. I have tried cooking spaghetti squash both ways, cut side up and cut side down. I’ve found cooking it cut side DOWN allows the squash to get a little caramelization and prevents the squash from becoming too dry.
4. Saucy! I am a big fan of this curry sauce with honey, so this recipe for chicken and spaghetti squash reflects that. If you aren’t a sauce boss, I recommend cutting the measurements for the sauce in half.

FAQs: frequently asked questions

How do I make this squash and chicken curry vegan?

Easy! Simply leave out the chicken and use a vegetarian or vegan-friendly alternative, such as pan-fried tofu, and top it with your choice of veggies, nuts, or roasted chickpeas! 

You’ll also need to watch out for non-vegan ingredients, such as honey and dairy butter, which can easily be swapped for maple syrup and a non-dairy butter. 

What does spaghetti squash taste like?

Spaghetti squash has quite a mild taste. It takes on the flavors of the more dominant ingredients in a recipe, such as a sauce. That’s why spaghetti squash is such a great substitute for pasta. 

Why is the spaghetti squash watery?

Overcooked spaghetti squash can become watery. You should also only toss the strands of spaghetti squash in half of the curry sauce just before serving, but don’t add the squash to the saucepan of sauce and let it sit there to stew in the sauce!

Is spaghetti squash curry healthy?

Absolutely! Spaghetti squash is much lower in calories compared to pasta and rice. It’s also a good source of Vitamins A, B6, and C, as well as minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus! 

Serving this spaghetti squash and chicken recipe

This squash chicken curry can be dressed up or down with a few simple garnishes and side dishes. 

How to serve spaghetti squash with chicken?

Make sure to toss the shredded spaghetti strands with cilantro and half of the curry sauce. After that, you have free reign to add other ingredients, such as pumpkin seeds and crushed red pepper flakes, before topping with sliced chicken and the remaining sauce. 

Serving suggestions for chicken with spaghetti squash

This chicken and squash curry can be served as is and make a satisfying and filling meal. For those who prefer a complete meal with side dish options, consider Zucchini with Rice, Coconut Rice, roasted broccoli, or a light and refreshing salad.  

Storing spaghetti squash recipe with chicken

• Allow leftover curried squash and chicken to cool to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container. However, don’t leave it out on the counter for longer than two hours before placing it in the refrigerator or freezer.
• Store the leftover chicken with spaghetti squash curry in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• To freeze the leftovers, transfer them to a freezer-safe container and label with the date. You can keep the leftover chicken with spaghetti squash in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
• To reheat the leftovers, allow them to defrost overnight in the fridge. You can then either microwave the chicken spagetti squash or reheat it in a 350-degree oven. Make sure the food reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) before consuming.

Can you freeze curried chicken?

You can absolutely freeze this recipe for spaghetti squash curry and chicken. However, please note that some curries will freeze better than others.

Stock and tomato based curries freeze great, while coconut milk based curries aren’t the best to freeze as the coconut milk can separate when thawed.

This easy curried chicken freezes terrifically! After preparing the curried chicken and squash as directed in the recipe, make sure you allow the chicken and vegetables to cool completely. Once cool, transfer the chicken to an airtight container, or zip-closure bag, and transfer the chicken to the freezer. The baked curried chicken breasts with squash will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Give your plain chicken some curry lovin’ and make this easy Sheet Pan  Baked Curried Chicken & Spaghetti Squash. Your taste buds will thank you.

Until Thursday friends, cheers and Happy Presidents’ Day. (⬅️️ I won’t lie I almost forgot today is a holiday. Don’t hate me.)

Cheyanne

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More easy sheet pan chicken dinners!

• Thai Chicken in Peanut Sauce
• Prosciutto Chicken Breasts
• Sheet Pan Chicken with Balsamic Sauce
• Harissa Chicken with Potatoes
• Diavolo Chicken Thighs

Best curried spaghetti squash with chicken breasts recipe👇

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