• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Family Food on the Table
  • Recipe Index
  • Main Dishes
  • Baby Food
  • Subscribe
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Main Dishes
  • Baby Food
  • Subscribe
  • About
×
Home » Recipes » Turkey

Turkey Taco Spaghetti Squash Boats

By: Kathryn Doherty | Last Updated: Mar 5, 2025 | Published: Feb 26, 2018
This post may contain affiliate links. See my 
disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe
Pin

These turkey taco spaghetti squash boats feature tender roasted spaghetti squash stuffed with taco-flavored ground turkey and spinach, mushrooms, peppers and zucchini, plus cheese and pico de gallo, for a light but filling meal. Low-carb, gluten-free and can be made whole 30 and paleo friendly.Turkey taco spaghetti squash boats with veggies and melted cheese being served on a large white plate with forks stuck in each one and small bowls of pico de gallo and Greek yogurt nearby.

I feel like I have so much to tell you!

But I'm also so excited to share today's recipe so I'm gonna try to keep it short and give you just the highlights:

  1. I mentioned on Thursday that my friend went into labor at our girls night. She now has a beautiful, healthy baby boy and they are doing well.
  2. M had the daddy-daughter dance at her elementary school on Friday night. They had so much fun dancing and laughing. She came home saying, "Dada's such a good dancer!" Super sweet.
  3. Saturday morning she and I had a little shopping outing and it was such a blast. She's kind-of the best/worst shopping buddy because I would try something on and she'd gush, "Mommy, you look SO beautiful in that!" Needless to say, I came home with a few new things
  4. We had a family putt-putt outing on Saturday afternoon. J, who is 4, got two back-to-back holes-in-one! ⛳️ It was crazy!
  5. I'm headed to California for a few days this week for a blogging conference and I'm so excited to see some friends and learn more about this wild business.

But now, FOOD.

So you guys know I love my spaghetti squash meals, right?

They are such a perfect little vehicle for all kinds of yummy fillings.

I’ve made turkey sausage and kale stuffed spaghetti squash, spaghetti squash with pesto chicken, spaghetti squash with pesto, peas and shrimp and most recently, my southwest vegetarian stuffed spaghetti squash.

A close-up of a turkey taco spaghetti squash boat with veggies and melted cheese being served on a large white plate with a fork stuck in and small bowls of pico de gallo and Greek yogurt nearby.

I LOVE that I can just eat and eat and eat, forkful after happy forkful, because they are so light and fluffy - and low-carb and low-calorie, too.

So today I’m bringing you my turkey taco spaghetti squash boats that are gonna be a new favorite way to do taco night!

They are made with roasted spaghetti squash with ground turkey and spinach, plus bell peppers, zucchini and mushrooms - so they are FULL of veggies!

A roasted spaghetti squash cut in half and stuffed with veggies and ground turkey on a baking tray lined with foil and a green striped towel in the background. Turkey taco spaghetti squash boats with veggies and melted cheese being served on a large white plate with small bowls of pico de gallo and Greek yogurt nearby.

I could drool a little just thinking of all the veggie goodness going on with these stuffed squash.

I love adding cheddar cheese to melt down over the top and then serving with pico de gallo and maybe a dollop of Greek yogurt, but you can use any of your favorite taco toppings.

These are naturally gluten-free and low-carb and can easily be made paleo, dairy free and whole30 compliant as well.

(You can also check out my taco stuffed sweet potatoes for another fun twist on taco night.)

A close-up overhead shot of a turkey taco spaghetti squash boat with veggies and melted cheese being served on a large white plate

A few notes about these turkey taco spaghetti squash boats:

  • I cook the ground turkey and vegetables separately so that everyone can serve themselves with each. This also works great if someone wants a vegetarian version of this meal.
  • Feel free to swap out any of the veggies and use your favorites. Just cut everything down to about the same size so they all cook at the same rate.
  • Similarly, you could substitute ground beef or ground chicken — or use a mix — if that’s what you have on hand.
  • You can absolutely add black beans to these spaghetti squash tacos. My husband often does that.
  • This is also an easy recipe to halve for a dinner for two.
  • I use homemade taco seasoning, but store-bought is fine too.

Also, I included how to roast a spaghetti squash in the recipe card below, but you could also cook it as an Instant Pot spaghetti squash or microwave spaghetti squash.

Whatever is easiest for you!

A forkful being taken out of a spaghetti squash boat stuffed with ground turkey taco meat and veggies

Taco night or any night, this is a fun, low-carb dinner that the whole family will want to dig into.

Enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

Love tacos as much as I do? Check these recipes out:

  • Healthy chicken taco casserole (Family Food on the Table)
  • Slow cooker salsa verde pork tacos (Family Food on the Table)
  • Greek chicken tacos (Reluctant Entertainer)
  • Thai chicken tacos with spicy peanut sauce (Lauren Kelly Nutrition)
  • Roasted cauliflower and chickpea tacos (Two Peas and Their Pod)
  • Healthy taco turkey and potato skillet (Family Food on the Table)
Turkey taco spaghetti squash boats with veggies and melted cheese being served on a large white plate with forks stuck in each one and small bowls of pico de gallo and Greek yogurt nearby.
PRINT PIN SaveSaved!
4.36 from 14 votes

Turkey taco spaghetti squash boats

These turkey taco spaghetti squash boats are loaded with veggies and your favorite taco toppings for a light but filling dinner!
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Cook Time45 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 medium spaghetti squash
  • 1 lb. ground turkey (I use 93% lean)
  • 3 tablespoons taco seasoning, divided
  • 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 medium zucchini, chopped
  • 1 (8 oz.) container button mushrooms, chopped
  • 3 cups fresh baby spinach
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Optional toppings:

  • Greek yogurt/sour cream, salsa or pico de gallo or fresh diced tomatoes, avocado, chopped cilantro, etc.

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray. (You may need two baking sheets.)
  • Carefully cut each spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. (For easier cutting, you can microwave each squash for about 5 minutes to soften it.)
  • Place each squash half, cut side down, on baking sheet.
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the squash is tender. (Exact timing will depend on the size of your squash. You’ll be able to tell by pushing on the outside or putting a fork into the inner strands of the inside of the squash if it’s tender.)
  • Meanwhile, cook the ground turkey in a large skillet over medium heat. Use a spatula to break the turkey into small pieces as it cooks. Cook until no pink remains and turkey is completely cooked then add 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning and stir well to mix. (You can add a splash of water to help the seasoning mix stick to the turkey if your pan is dry.)
  • While the turkey cooks, heat oil in another large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the pepper, zucchini and mushrooms and saute until almost tender, about 5-7 minutes. Add spinach and stir until it’s wilted down, another 2-3 minutes. Season with remaining 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning.
  • Once the spaghetti squash is cooked and cool enough to handle, use a fork to pull the spaghetti shreds from the inside of each squash half. Be sure to leave a little bit around the outside so the squash keeps its shape.
  • Season each spaghetti squash half with a little salt and pepper. Divide the ground turkey and veggies among each of the spaghetti squash then top each with ¼ cup of cheese.
  • Return to the oven and cook for another 5-10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and everything is warmed through.
  • Serve with any additional toppings and enjoy!

Notes

Feel free to swap out any of the veggies and use your favorites. Just cut everything down to about the same size so they all cook at the same rate.
You can substitute ground beef or ground chicken — or use a mix — if that’s what you have on hand.
Black beans also make a great addition to these spaghetti squash tacos.
I use homemade taco seasoning, but store-bought is fine too.
This is also an easy recipe to halve for a dinner for two.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 599kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 148mg | Sodium: 994mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 15g
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or follow me on Instagram @familyfoodonthetable and tag me in your photo!

 A photo collage of veggie and turkey taco spaghetti squash boats

Pin

More Turkey

  • Close up of a meatball with a bite taken out on a fork that's resting in a platter of meatballs.
    Air Fryer Meatballs
  • Close up of a sliced mini turkey meatloaf on a small wooden cutting board with sprigs of thyme nearby.
    Mini Turkey Meatloaves
  • Close up of a bowl full of taco soup with cheese and cilantro on top and additional toppings in bowls to the side.
    Crock Pot Taco Soup
  • Close up of a large serving bowl of cheesy taco pasta with avocado, sour cream, jalapenos and lime wedges on top and a wooden spoon resting in the side for serving.
    Taco Pasta

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sandy@RE

    February 26, 2018 at 9:14 am

    This looks like the perfect dinner tonight. I have 2 spaghetti squash sitting on the counter! Thanks for linking to my taco recipe 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathryn

      February 26, 2018 at 9:38 pm

      Thanks Sandy! I hope you try it! 😊

      Reply
  2. Michelle Bowman

    March 21, 2018 at 4:28 pm

    I made this Sunday night and it was SO DELICIOUS! I was a little confused about what to do with the inner part of the spaghetti squash once it was baked - in order to make room for the other veggies and ground turkey. I ended up scooping out a bit and saving it as a side dish for another meal. Also, I would recommend an option to add some crushed red pepper for a little more spice, as well as another zucchini. TOTAL hit though! Will definitely be making this again! I loved all the veggies 🙂

    Reply
    • Kathryn

      March 22, 2018 at 7:03 am

      I'm so happy to hear you loved it Michelle! And YES to the red pepper flakes idea - I'll keep it off of my kids but add it to mine - and maybe hot sauce too! Love a little spice! 😊

      Reply
  3. Carole

    May 31, 2020 at 5:32 pm

    I just made this for dinner tonight. I tasted the filling and it is so tasty once everthing is added together. But I only made one spaghetti sqaush as there are only 3 adults here. We eat a lot of spaghetti squash so this is a nice change.

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      June 01, 2020 at 7:27 am

      I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it Carole! 😊

      Reply
  4. Kathy

    January 12, 2022 at 12:07 pm

    Can you freeze these? I had a pretty big spaghetti squash so one was plenty for two but not sure if this would freeze ok?

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      January 13, 2022 at 12:30 pm

      Spaghetti squash has such a high water content that I think it would be a soggy mess after freezing and thawing. You could, however, freeze just the taco meat and the veggies. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  5. Kathy

    January 13, 2022 at 1:43 pm

    Thanks for your help! I’ll just have to eat up the rest which is delish!! Great recipe!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      January 18, 2022 at 10:56 am

      I'm so glad you enjoyed it! 😊

      Reply
  6. Eve

    January 24, 2022 at 3:07 pm

    Can you please tell me where all those carbs and sugars come from? Looking at the ingredients I do not see any that should have that much carb or sugar? :\ THANKS!

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty

      January 25, 2022 at 7:31 am

      Hi Eve! I use an automated nutrition calculator as part of my recipe cards to be able to share that info. I just re-ran the numbers to ensure the "optional toppings" weren't being used (sometimes they are pulled in) and because these calculators are always being updated. The numbers shifted down slightly, but still seem a bit high to me, too. You could also try running it manually through a different nutrition calculator to see if that gives you different info: https://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator

      Reply
4.36 from 14 votes (14 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Meet Kathryn

Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a cookbook author, mom of two, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes to help you get delicious food on the table for your family!

More about me →

Popular Recipes

  • A cream cheese chicken and mushroom mixture in a large pan with a wooden spoon resting in it.
    Easy Cream Cheese Chicken
  • Close up of honey garlic chicken served in a blue and white bowl with sliced green onions on top.
    Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
  • Close up of a whole roasted chicken on a large white serving platter with veggies and fresh parsley to the side.
    Easy Whole Roasted Chicken
  • Close up of a fork resting in a bowl of rice and curried ground turkey with peas.
    Curry Ground Turkey with Rice and Peas
  • Close up of a wooden spoon drizzling pan gravy over seared pork chops.
    Easy Skillet Pork Chops with Gravy
  • Close up of cooked cubes of chicken breasts in a honey garlic sauce with red pepper flakes.
    15-Minute Honey Garlic Chicken

Footer

↑back to top

About

  • Contact
  • Work With Me

Newsletter

  • Sign up for emails!

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
  • Accessibility

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Family Food on the Table

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.