• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Garlic Salt & Lime

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipe Index
    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Casseroles

    February 2, 2022

    Cheesy Italian Style Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Casserole

    Sharing is caring!

    845 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Cheesy, spaghetti squash lasagna casserole is beyond delicious. Even better? It's high protein, low carb, low calorie and gluten free! A healthier way to enjoy a timeless, Italian classic.

    Spaghetti squash lasagna casserole in a glass baking dish.
    Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Bake

    Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    This dish is easy to make and tastes so similar to regular lasagna, you won't feel like you're missing out on anything.

    It's got everything you need including a creamy mixture of cottage, ricotta and mozzarella cheese, loads of Italian seasonings and a rich, meaty Bolognese (or ragu) sauce!

    Want more healthy casserole recipes? Try these!

    • Easy Low Carb Taco Casserole
    • Sweet Potato Ground Beef Casserole
    • Butternut Squash Casserole With Ground Beef & Rice
    • One Skillet Zucchini & Squash Casserole
    • Sweet Potato Ground Turkey Casserole
    • Keto Zuppa Toscana

    Ingredients for spaghetti squash lasagna casserole:

    • Spaghetti squash: select a small squash at the grocery store, 3-4 pounds.
    • Lean ground beef (93/7%): You could also substitute ground turkey, ground chicken or Italian sausage if preferred.
    • Minced garlic: I always keep a jar of minced garlic in my refrigerator. I love garlic but don't always want to mince by hand, this is a great time saver!
    • Tomato: canned petite diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato paste.
    • Italian seasonings, salt & pepper: flavor for days!
    • Cheeses: low fat ricotta, low fat cottage & fresh shredded mozzarella cheese.
    • Egg: mixed in with cheeses to add more flavor and fluff.
    • Fresh parsley: for topping (if desired)!
    Spaghetti squash lasagna casserole ingredients arranged on a white countertop.
    Ingredients

    How to make your casserole:

    Keep scrolling for the full recipe and measurements. We’ll start here with a quick rundown!

    Step 1: cook squash

    Use preferred method to cook squash. I generally cut mine in half, remove seeds & pulp, and bake hollow side down. Add about a cup of water to your baking pan and cover the squash with aluminum foil, roast for 30-40 minutes at 400°F.

    Cooked spaghetti squash with a fork pulling strands from shell.
    Cooked Spaghetti Squash

    Step 2: make marinara meat sauce

    Fully brown your ground beef (or turkey) and drain excess fat if necessary. Add minced garlic and sauté the two ingredients together for 30-60 seconds longer. Add diced tomato, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasonings, salt and pepper. Mix well and set aside (you can also use a high quality jar of marinara from the grocery store to save time)!

    • Adding minced garlic to browned ground beef.
    • Adding diced tomato, tomato sauce, tomato paste and seasonings to browned ground beef.
    • Meat sauce for spaghetti squash lasagna.

    Step 3: make cheese mixture

    Measure cottage, ricotta and half of your shredded mozzarella cheese into a small bowl. Add egg, Italian seasonings and pepper. Mix until well ingredients are well incorporated.

    • Ingredients for cheese mixture measured into a small, glass bowl.
    • Cheese mixture all mixed up in a small glass bowl.

    Step 4: assemble & bake

    Preheat oven to 350°F and assemble your lasagna in six layers (I use an 8x8 baking dish). Spaghetti squash, cheese mixture, meat sauce, repeat.

    • Spaghetti squash layer with half of cheese mixture spooned on top to begin layer two.
    • Cheese mixture spread over spaghetti squash layer.
    • Half of meat sauce spooned on top of cheese layer to begin layer 3.
    • Meat sauce spread over cheese to create third layer.

    Step 4: bake

    Top your casserole with remaining mozzarella cheese. Place the 8x8 baking dish on top of a cookie sheet (in case of spillover) and bake for 30-40 minutes until bubbling.

    Assembled spaghetti squash lasagna covered in shredded mozzarella cheese.

    HANDY TIPS:

    • Thick or thin: I like a nice, thick lasagna so I assemble my casserole in an 8x8 baking dish (I always make sure to bake it on top of a cookie sheet in case of spillage). You can also make a thinner lasagna in a 9x13 dish if desired.
    • Save some time: you don't have to create layers for this casserole to be delicious. You can also mix all of the elements together in a large bowl and then transfer to the casserole dish, cover with shredded mozzarella and bake.
    • Store bought marinara: another great time saver? Buy a high quality jar of marinara sauce at the grocery store rather than making your own. Just don't go cheap or you might sacrifice on taste!
    • Spaghetti squash: this recipe comes together much more quickly when you've already got cooked spaghetti squash on hand. I will often make mine ahead of time and freeze or refrigerate it for future use in casseroles like this.
    Plated spaghetti squash lasagna casserole.
    Plated Casserole

    Is spaghetti squash lasagna casserole keto?

    This particular spaghetti squash casserole is definitely keto-friendly with approximately 10.5 net carbs per serving (of course, other recipes will vary depending on ingredients). However, most of the calories in this dish come from protein. So this meal will certainly help you avoid a high intake of carbs but it's not super high in fat content (something to note if you're tracking macros)!

    More keto-friendly meals:

    • Chicken Enchiladas With White Sauce
    • One Skillet Chicken Thighs With Creamy Spinach Sauce
    • Stuffed Peppers With Sausage & Cauliflower Rice
    • Fettuccine Alfredo With Shrimp and Zucchini Noodles
    • Spinach & Blue Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts
    • Creamy Chicken Taco Soup With Rotel
    • Ground Turkey Swedish Meatballs

    Pin it for later!

    Pinterest pin for spaghetti squash lasagna casserole, shows ingredients, completed dish and text overlay.
    Pin it!
    Spaghetti squash lasagna casserole in a glass baking dish.
    Print Recipe
    4.75 from 20 votes

    Cheesy Italian Style Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Casserole

    Cheesy, spaghetti squash lasagna casserole is beyond delicious. Even better? It's high protein, low carb, low calorie and gluten free! A healthier way to enjoy a timeless, Italian classic.
    Prep Time1 hour hr
    Cook Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Course: Dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Casserole, Cheesy, Gluten Free, Healthy Dinner, High Protein, Keto Friendly, Low Calorie, Low Carb, Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
    Servings: 9
    Calories: 234kcal
    Author: Stacey Adams

    Ingredients

    • 1 small spaghetti squash *3-4 lbs.
    • 1 cup water

    Meat/Bolognese Sauce

    • 1 lb ground beef * I use 93/7% *see note below
    • 1 & ½ teaspoons minced garlic *see note below
    • 1 14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes
    • 1 10 ounce can tomato sauce
    • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
    • 2 teaspoons Italian seasonings
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground pepper

    Cheese Topping & Mixture

    • 1 cup low fat cottage cheese
    • ½ cup low fat ricotta cheese
    • 1 & ½ cups shredded mozzarella *divided (half for mixture, half for topping)
    • 1 large egg
    • 2 teaspoons Italian seasonings
    • ½ teaspoon ground pepper

    Optional Topping

    • Fresh chopped parsley & parmesan cheese

    Recipe notes:

    Ground beef: you can also substitute ground turkey, chicken or Italian sausage!
    Minced garlic: I always keep a jar of minced garlic in my refrigerator. It's a huge time saver. I love garlic but don't always want to mince by hand, this is a great alternative!

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise, remove seeds and pulp.
    • Measure 1 cup of water into a large baking dish. Place squash halves hollow side down in the pan, cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30-40 minutes, until tender. (*If you prefer to cook your squash in the crockpot or instant pot, this will also work fine).
    • While squash is baking, make your meat sauce. Brown hamburger over medium low heat and drain excess fat.
    • Add minced garlic to the meat, mix together and sauté for 30-60 seconds until aromatic. Now add your petite diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato sauce and tomato paste. Mix well and set your sauce aside.
    • Now, to make your cheese mixture: combine cottage, ricotta and half of your mozzarella cheeses, egg, Italian seasonings and pepper in small bowl. Mix well and set aside.
    • Turn the oven off and remove squash. Allow it to cool until you can handle it comfortably, then use a fork to remove squash strands from shell.
    • When you are ready to start assembling your lasagna, turn the oven back on and preheat to 350°F.
    • Place half of the cooked spaghetti squash in an 8x8 baking dish to create the first layer. For the next layer, use half of your cheese mixture. For the 3rd layer, use half of your meat sauce. Repeat for 6 total layers!
    • Top with remaining shredded mozzarella cheese. and bake your assembled casserole for about 30-40 minutes, until bubbling.
    • Allow to cool for 10 minutes, serve and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/9th of recipe (all values are approximate). | Calories: 234kcal | Carbohydrates: 12.5g | Protein: 28.5g | Fat: 8.5g | Fiber: 2.1g | Sugar: 7.3g

    Did you make this recipe?!

    Wahoo! Thank you so much for trying it out – would you leave a rating and review in the comment section below?! Your feedback is so important to me.

    « Butternut Squash Turkey Chili (With Cinnamon)!
    Easy Hot Honey Recipe (Only 2 Ingredients)! »

    Sharing is caring!

    845 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kim Waldorf says

      February 02, 2022 at 9:54 am

      Yummy! Looks simple and delicious. You already create a great recipe, Stacey! 💛

      Reply
      • Garlic Salt & Lime says

        February 02, 2022 at 10:30 am

        Thank you so much, Kim!

        Reply
    2. Libbie Burling says

      February 02, 2022 at 10:38 am

      5 stars
      this looks delicious! Pinning for this weekend.

      Reply
    3. Cindy says

      February 02, 2022 at 10:41 am

      I'd be all over this but my husband no way. He wants my old-fashioned lasagna.

      I love spaghetti squash. Have any recipes you can share?

      Reply
      • Garlic Salt & Lime says

        February 09, 2022 at 9:33 am

        Oh I've got more coming! I'll let you know when they're available. Thanks, Cindy!

        Reply
    4. Jen says

      February 02, 2022 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      I came across this while looking for new ways to use spaghetti squash! YUM!!

      Reply
      • Garlic Salt & Lime says

        February 09, 2022 at 9:32 am

        I love how versatile spaghetti squash is!

        Reply
    5. Jacqueline Meldrum says

      February 02, 2022 at 11:27 am

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness I am absolutely drooling here.

      Reply
      • Garlic Salt & Lime says

        February 09, 2022 at 9:32 am

        Thank you, Jacqueline!

        Reply
    6. Casey says

      February 02, 2022 at 11:51 am

      5 stars
      This was SO delish and easy! I used store bought marinara to make it even quicker! Worked just fine! Thank you!!!

      Reply
      • Garlic Salt & Lime says

        February 09, 2022 at 9:31 am

        Oh yes, you can definitely use a store bought marinara to save time, great tip!!

        Reply
    7. RIKA says

      February 02, 2022 at 12:07 pm

      5 stars
      This is a great way to utilize spaghetti squash. The perfect addition for a guilt-free casserole!

      Reply
      • Garlic Salt & Lime says

        February 09, 2022 at 9:30 am

        I think so, too. Thanks, Rika!

        Reply
    8. Paula@SweetPea says

      February 02, 2022 at 1:44 pm

      This sounds so good. Believe it or not, I have never tried spaghetti squash. After reading your recipe, now I really want to try it.

      Reply
      • Garlic Salt & Lime says

        February 09, 2022 at 9:29 am

        Oh you should definitely give it a try (it's very tasty and versatile)! It's also very good as just a simple, spaghetti noodle substitute. Sometimes I'll bake my squash, scrape out the strands and then just top them with a yummy marinara and shredded cheese. Hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    9. Oscar says

      February 02, 2022 at 6:56 pm

      5 stars
      Wow. This looks so good and love that it’s low carb. Making it this weekend.

      Reply
      • Garlic Salt & Lime says

        February 09, 2022 at 9:26 am

        Hope you enjoy, Oscar!

        Reply
    10. Lindsay Howerton-Hastings says

      February 03, 2022 at 5:48 pm

      5 stars
      This is so good! I usually don't use meat when I make spaghetti squash, but we really loved this version. Can't wait to make it again!

      Reply
      • Garlic Salt & Lime says

        February 09, 2022 at 9:24 am

        I'm so glad to hear that, Lindsay!

        Reply
    11. Juliet says

      February 06, 2022 at 8:51 am

      Looks so hood, Stacey! I’m definitely saving this one. xo

      Reply
      • Garlic Salt & Lime says

        February 09, 2022 at 9:22 am

        Woohoo! Hope you enjoy, friend!

        Reply
    12. Tammy says

      February 09, 2022 at 10:20 pm

      OK, Stacey I need this recipe in my life. I gave up pasta and love Lasagna. You have saved me!

      Reply
      • Garlic Salt & Lime says

        February 10, 2022 at 9:22 am

        This is a GREAT way to enjoy a classic without pasta!

        Reply
    13. BrendaE says

      October 22, 2023 at 1:02 am

      Do you think this would still work without the cottage cheese? My husband will tolerate a little ricotta. I was thinking I'd use more mozzarella and maybe some monterey jack. What do you think?
      Oh, also, have you made this with ground Italian sausage? I can't wait to try this! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Garlic Salt & Lime says

        October 23, 2023 at 10:40 am

        Hi, Brenda! I'm not sure how the recipe would turn out without cottage cheese. It would probably still be good with a mixture of ricotta, mozzarella and monterey jack though! And I haven't tried it with ground Italian sausage but that sounds really good!

        Reply
    14. Ginger says

      October 24, 2023 at 8:51 pm

      This was so good! Love lasagna and spaghetti squash! Definitely in the rotation.

      Reply
      • Garlic Salt & Lime says

        October 26, 2023 at 10:22 am

        I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks, Ginger!

        Reply
    15. Mary says

      October 27, 2023 at 10:40 am

      This looks really good and a great alternative for regular lasagna. Do you know if this freezes well or does good making a day ahead?

      Reply
      • Garlic Salt & Lime says

        October 30, 2023 at 5:35 pm

        Hi, Nancy. I haven't tried freezing this particular casserole just yet. I think it would probably work, though spaghetti squash can get a little watery when frozen and then thawed so there may be some extra moisture when heating the casserole back up. I assume it would work well to make it a day in advance!

        Reply
      • Dawn says

        November 19, 2023 at 6:56 am

        I meal prepped this in 6 separate dishes. Didn't use ricotta because I forgot to buy it but I did add pamesan to the cottage cheese and mozzarella mix. Spaghetti squash is hard to cut so i used the pumpkin saw that I use to make Jack-o-lanterns (it worked perfectly!!!). I also used Raos Spaghetti sauce! My 20 year old daughter was skeptical but took one to lunch and, I quote, was "WOWED by it"! She ate 3 of the 6 I made! It was soooo delicious and I think better than lasagna with noodles (so much lighter and tastier)! Very Yummy!!

        Reply
        • Garlic Salt & Lime says

          November 21, 2023 at 10:10 am

          This makes me so happy, Dawn! I'm so glad both you and your daughter enjoyed this recipe - it sounds like you'll have to make more soon! I love the idea of using a pumpkin saw for spaghetti squash. Thank you so much for you comment!

          Reply
    16. Sandi says

      October 28, 2023 at 4:53 pm

      I made this today, and while the taste was great, it was very runny, so much liquid in the bottom. Maybe squeezing the squash dry would help.

      Reply
    17. Nancy says

      October 29, 2023 at 4:52 pm

      Can this be made ahead and frozen?

      Reply
      • Garlic Salt & Lime says

        October 30, 2023 at 5:34 pm

        Hi, Nancy. I haven't tried freezing this particular casserole just yet. I think it would probably work, though spaghetti squash can get a little watery when frozen and then thawed so there may be some extra moisture when heating the casserole back up.

        Reply
    4.75 from 20 votes (13 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Stacey! I love developing quick, healthy, real food recipes to share with you and your family. Eating nutritious food doesn't have to mean heaps of time in the kitchen, let me show you!

    Popular Posts

    • Baked stuffed peppers in a glass baking dish.
    • Tossed garden salad in a wooden serving bowl.

    Footer

    As Seen In

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Garlic Salt And Lime. All Rights Reserved.

    845 shares

    This website uses cookies. See our privacy policy to learn more.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.