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Craving a juicy burger? Try making this delicious cheeseburger spaghetti squash casserole instead! It’s a perfect low-carb dish with all of your favorite burger toppings.
Tasty Cheeseburger Spaghetti Squash Bake
There are a bunch of different ways to replace pasta – from zucchini noodles to noodles made from hearts of palm. I personally think spaghetti squash is the best one!
It’s like nature created these noodles, already made in perfect little strands. All we have to do is cook them!
Seriously, once you figure out how to cook spaghetti squash, you will start looking for more recipes. It’s such a versatile vegetable. If you can make something with pasta, you can make it with spaghetti squash.
For this casserole, I took my inspiration from a classic cheeseburger. Who knew that all these ingredients would taste so divine together? Ketchup, mustard, onion, pickles, and cheese – it’s all there!
The only thing I didn’t add was some kind of tomato. If you want to dice up a fresh tomato and mix it in, go ahead. It will taste delicious with tomatoes too.
Are you ready to find out how to make the most amazing cheeseburger casserole ever? Keep reading! You are going to love this.
Ingredients Needed
This cheeseburger casserole has all your favorite toppings and ingredients in it but it is made with gut-health spaghetti squash instead of a high-sugar white bun.
- Spaghetti Squash: To make this casserole, you need 1 spaghetti squash that is already pre-cooked. Check out my guide on how to bake a whole spaghetti squash!
- Olive Oil: You need about a tablespoon, just enough to saute the onion and garlic.
- Onion: For the best flavor, dice up 1/2 a yellow onion. If you use an entire onion, it might overpower the rest of the casserole.
- Ground Turkey: It takes an entire pound of turkey to make this casserole. For the best reults, use 93/7 blend.
- Garlic: Mince 2 garlic cloves. You can use more if you want it to have a stronger flavor.
- Salt and Pepper: This enhances the other flavors in the casserole. I used a pinch, which is about 1 teaspoon. Use half as much pepper, about 1/2 a teaspoon. Just sprinkle some in with the rest of the ingredients.
- Ketchup and Mustard: Add 1/2 a cup of ketchup to the sauce so that it has an incredibly tangy taste. Use half as much mustard – 1/4 a cup! This brings out the zestiness of the kethcup and makes it taste like an authentic cheeseburger.
- Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt: Add 1/4 of a cup as this gives the cheeseburger casserole some added protein and makes it taste really creamy.
- Pickles: I used dill pickles, just like you would find on a classic cheeseburger.
- Lite Cheddar Cheese: Use 1 cup of cheese. For the best flavor, try grating your own cheese at home!
- Eggs: These act as a binding agent, keeping all the ingredients in the casserole together. You’ll need 3 eggs for the entire dish.
Kitchen Tools Required
If you have ever made a casserole before, then you probably already have everything you need. Here is what I used.
- 9×9 Baking Dish
- Saute Pan
- Small Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
For measuring, you will need 1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup, 1 tablespoon, 1 teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon.
How To Make Cheeseburger Casserole With Spaghetti Squash
Here’s how to make this delicious and healthy casserole. The hardest part is waiting for it to bake.
First, preheat the oven to 400F and grease the 9×9 baking dish.
Next, cook the spaghetti squash however you prefer. I have a method that I use here. After it is baked, scoop out all spaghetti squash strands and place them in a large bowl. Set it aside for later.
In a saute pan, heat the olive oil. Add the onion and cook for about 2 minutes. Add ground turkey, salt, pepper, and minced garlic and cook until the turkey is no longer pink. Turn off the heat and add to bowl with spaghetti squash.
Mix together the ketchup, mustard, greek yogurt, and pickles in another small bowl. Pour into the bowl with the spaghetti squash and turkey.
Whisk three eggs in the leftover sauce bowl, then add them to the spaghetti squash mixture.
Next, add half of the cheese into the spaghetti squash mixture and then stir up the entire mixture very well so everything is very well combined and mixed together.
Pour into a greased dish and top with the remaining cheddar cheese.
Bake for 1 hour. Let cool 15 minutes before serving!
Recipe Tips
Below are some common spaghetti squash questions. Don’t see the question you are looking for? Leave a comment at the bottom of this post!
How do you cook spaghetti squash?
You can cook spaghetti squash in the oven, microwave, and even the air fryer or Instant Pot!
My favorite way is to roast it in the oven. I think it comes out perfectly every single time, it’s basically no-fail. This recipe takes you step-by-step through the entire process.
My 2nd-favorite way is to cook it in the microwave. Pierce the spaghetti squash about 8-10 times with a fork. Then, place the entire thing (unsliced) in the microwave for 4 minutes. Then, let it cool and slice it open lengthwise.
Remove the seeds and bits from the middle. Place 1/4 a cup of water in the bottom of a casserole dish and put the squash cut side down in the dish. Cover it tightly with plastic wrap. Cook it in the microwave for another 10 minutes.
Carefully remove the plastic wrap and begin to shred the strands of spaghetti squash with a fork.
How do you make this casserole spicier?
If you want this casserole to have a bit of kick, add some sliced jalapenos to the sauce!
How do you keep spaghetti squash casserole from becoming watery?
This casserole isn’t usually watery – especially if you use the 3 eggs to bind it all together. If you think it has too much liquid, you can salt the spaghetti squash after you cook it and let it sit out for about 10 minutes before you add the turkey and sauce.
Storing leftovers
This casserole really tastes the best when it is fresh out of the oven. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will only last about 3 days.
It will still taste delicious the next day but eat it soon for the best taste.
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
Here are some more of my favorite casserole-style dishes. Enjoy!
- Buffalo Chicken Casserole With Cauliflower
- Broccoli Cheddar Spaghetti Squash Casserole
- Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potato Casserole
- Lemon Chicken Spaghetti Squash Casserole
- Healthy Turkey Enchiladas
Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa
Cheeseburger Spaghetti Squash Bake
Craving a juicy burger? Try making this delicious cheeseburger spaghetti squash casserole instead! It’s a perfect low-carb dish with all of your favorite burger toppings.
Ingredients
- 950g cooked spaghetti squash, about 1 large spaghetti squash
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 1lb ground turkey (93/7) – can sub ground beef.
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup mustard
- 1/4 cup nonfat plain greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup chopped pickles
- 1 cup lite cheddar cheese
- 3 eggs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F and grease 9×9 baking dish.
- Cook spaghetti squash however you prefer. I have a method that I use here.
- Scoop out all spaghetti squash strands and place in a large bowl.
- In a saute pan, heat olive oil. Add onion and cook about 2 minutes. Add ground turkey, salt, pepper, and minced garlic and cook until no longer pink. Turn off heat and add to bowl with spaghetti squash.
- In a small bowl, mix together ketchup, mustard, greek yogurt, and pickles. Pour into bowl with spaghetti squash and turkey.
- Whisk three eggs in leftover sauce bowl, then add to spaghetti squash mixture.
- Add half of the cheese into spaghetti squash mixture and then stir up the entire mixture very well so everything is very well combined and mixed together.
- Pour into greased dish and top with remaining cheddar cheese.
- Bake for 1 hour. Let cool 15 minutes before serving.
There may be affiliate links in this post!ย By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat ๐
Ali says
Such a yummy recipe!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ali, so glad you loved it!!
Molly says
My friend made this for me while I was recovering postpartum. She shared your
recipe with me, and Iโve now made it a half dozen times and it always comes out perfectly! I usually double it and make two casseroles to freeze or gift one. It definitely fulfills the cheeseburger craving in a healthy way- thank you!!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Molly, so happy you both loved it so much! ๐
Debbie McMenamin says
What a fun & delicious recipe!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Debbie, so glad you enjoyed it!! ๐
Chris says
This recipe is amazing!! I make and freeze half and in spite of the squash it freezes well and makes a great casserole for a busy night! This is a home-run recipe!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Chris, so happy you loved it! ๐
Alison says
Excellent recipe. So flavorful & comforting! Even my husband approved!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Alison, so happy you both loved it so much!!
Carroll says
I was so excited to make this casserole BUT cooking it at 400 degrees for an hour was way too longโฆ casserole was burned on edges and dryโฆ.cheese on top was brown and crispy. H
★★
Erin says
Hi Carroll, I’m sorry that you did not like the recipe! I’ve heard tons of good things about this one, bummed it didn’t work out for you.
Cecilie Bjerkenas says
YUMM! An easy recipe to put together with ingredients you likely have on hand. Definitely one to save to make again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Cecilie, so happy you loved it!!
Liz says
I meal prepped this for lunches for the week and WOW it was so fantastic! The whole week it still tasted great and wasn’t dried out when I microwaved it at work. I will absolutely be making this again as it filled me up for the afternoon. A 10/10 recipes that was flavorful and comforting while healthy. Thank you!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Liz, so happy you loved it so much! ๐
Kathryn says
I was a bit apprehensive about this one- I donโt know whyโฆ but my son LOVES cheeseburgers so wanted a healthier alternative and this was out of this world amazing. It is so delicious! The flavors are tasty and my entire family ate seconds!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kathryn, so glad it was a hit! ๐
Alysa Bodolus says
This is our absolute favorite casserole and itโs so simple to make!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Alysa, so glad you loved it!!
Kristina says
We love this recipe and make it once a month. Itโs so good and feels like comfort food without the guilt!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kristina, so glad you love it! ๐
Kristina says
Make this at least once a month. Itโs so good and feels like comfort food without the guilt!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kristina, so glad you loved it!!
Sara says
One of our top favorite meals!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sara, so glad you loved it!
Jordan says
Just made this for company and they couldnโt get over how amazing it is! It was my first time making this and it will definitely be going in our regular meal rotation. So so easy and can easily prep a lot in advance for busier nights!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jordan, so happy everyone loved it so much! Thanks for sharing! ๐
Jessica says
This recipe is so easy and delicious! My boyfriend is constantly asking me to make this and we always add extra pickles!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jessica, so glad you both enjoyed it! ๐
Lindsay says
I am OBSESSED with this dish. So perfect for meal prep. So delicious. Cannot rave enough about it ๐๐๐
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Lindsay, so happy you loved it!!
Katie says
I had this recipe from the Tighter Together book and I wasnโt sure about it since Iโm not a huge pickle or mustard person. Iโm SO glad I tried it and used the recipe as it was- itโs so delicious and tastes and smells just like a cheeseburger! Definitely will make again in the future as well!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Katie, so happy you loved it so much! ๐