Ninja Foodi Spaghetti Squash (Air Fryer)

This easy Air Fryer spaghetti squash takes half the time of cooking in the oven and creates perfect noodle strands that are ready to be enjoyed with your favorite meals. Spaghetti squash can be served plain, as a base for meat sauce or chili, with feta and spinach-- the possibilities are endless!

Spaghetti squash may look intimidating, but it's actually very simple to prepare! The hardest part is cutting it open. The outer skin is pretty thick and because the shape is rounded, you will need to be cautious while cutting it in half. My best advice is to use a sharp knife and work slowly and mindfully.

I'm not generally one for pasta substitutes, but I do love to enjoy extra veggies in my meals, like with this recipe for Shrimp with Zoodles. Spaghetti squash is a fun veggie to eat that tastes delicious along with lots of main dishes and it requires very little prep work.

Spaghetti squash gets its name from the spaghetti like strands that are created once the squash is cooked and the flesh is scraped out.

Benefits of cooking spaghetti squash in the air fryer

• Takes half the cook time. Spaghetti squash in the oven takes about 45 minutes to reach doneness. Cooking spaghetti squash in my Ninja Foodi Air Fryer takes only 15-20 minutes.
• It is easy to monitor the doneness level. Start with 15 minutes for crunchier spaghetti strands that are "al dente" and then simply close the lid back up and cook a few more minutes if you want the squash to be softer.
• No dishes needed! Place the squash right in the air fryer basket without need for a baking dish.

How to pick a spaghetti squash

To pick a good spaghetti squash, here are a few things you want to look for.

• No soft spots
• Golden yellow color
• Heavier than it looks
• No cracks

Ingredients

• medium sized spaghetti squash
• olive oil
• sea salt and fresh ground black pepper

How to make spaghetti Squash in the Air Fryer

Cut squash in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to remove the seeds and discard. Poke a few holes in the skin side of the squash.

Place squash flesh side up in air fryer basket.

Set air fryer temperature to 390 degrees.

Drizzle on olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cook spaghetti squash in the air fryer for 15-20 minutes.

Use a fork to scrap the strands out (scrap in the same direction for the longest strands). Serve as desired.

Recipe Tips

• For a crunchier squash "noodle," cook for 15 minutes, for a softer noodle, cook for 20 minutes.
• Make sure to use a sharp knife when cutting the squash. The uncooked skin and flesh are very hard and it takes a bit of elbow grease to get it cut in half. Be cautious and work mindfully.
• Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may have to work in stages. My Ninja Foodi Deluxe has a smaller basket size, so I was only able to put in one half a squash at a time. Think of the space you have when choosing the size of your spaghetti squash.
• You may also be able to overlap the halves a bit in the air fryer, as the goal isn't to get crispy, as with many recipes in the air fryer.

How to serve spaghetti squash

Spaghetti squash noodles are great served as their namesake and served as you would spaghetti. We love it at our house with venison ragu spaghetti sauce or these cheesy stuffed meatballs. Here are some other creative ideas for how to serve your air fryer spaghetti squash.

• With sauteed spinach, feta cheese, and diced chicken
• Top with buffalo chicken filling (try the filling from this buffalo chicken stuffed pepper recipe)
• With parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of italian seasoning

Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can either keep the whole spaghetti squash instact and shred the noodles later, or you can shred them and remove them from the skin before storing. The second method works great if you are making spaghetti squash for meal prep.

For more air fryer recipes try the following: