This Paleo-friendly spaghetti squash chow mein is a flavorful, fun way to serve up this healthy vegetable!
Oh yes, you read that title correctly. We made chow mein from spaghetti squash and it is KILLER. I served it to my husband who, after a few bites, asked again “this is really spaghetti squash? I would NOT have guessed.” I fashioned this chow mein after one of my before-Paleo fast food loves: Panda Express. Holy cow I loved that place. As a poor college student, it was the one place I’d go for a treat ($10 meals were a real indulgence). I’d get myself two servings of the orange chicken (our version is Baked Gluten Free Orange Chicken) and a big scoop of their noodley, briney, impossible-to-stop-when-you’re-full chow mein.
This spaghetti squash chow mein is the bees knees and the process is simple. All you need to do is roast the spaghetti squash until it’s cooked through. While the squash is in the oven, start on the sauce! For the sauce, all you need to do is pour one jar worth of coconut aminos into a large skillet. Let it reduce over medium/low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it’s thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Once the sauce is thickened (the consistency of a teriyaki sauce), spoon it into a separate bowl and whisk in the remaining sauce ingredients. To the same skillet, add the olive oil and the onions. Saute the onions until they start to brown, then add the garlic, cabbage, and the celery. Leave them over medium/high heat so that they start to develop a slight char. Once the veggies are cooked to your liking, add the sauce and spaghetti squash! Stir to combine, garnish with sesame seeds + green onions, and enjoy!
Note: if the spaghetti squash releases a lot of water once mixed with the sauce, it just means that it wasn’t cooked through well enough first. Spoon off the liquid and heat until cooked through.
Spaghetti Squash Chow Mein
Ingredients
- 1 large spaghetti squash
- 1, 8 ounce jar coconut aminos
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 onion finely chopped
- 1/2 head green cabbage finely chopped
- 1 cup celery chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons white sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoons green onion coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Cut the spaghetti squash in half, scrape out the seeds, and place it in a rimmed baking dish face-down with 1/4 cup of water. Bake at 375 F for 1 hour, or until soft. Once cooked, set aside until cool enough to handle. Once cooled, scrape the squash out into a large bowl.
- For the sauce, add all the coconut aminos to a large skillet over medium heat. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it thickens to coat the back of a spoon. Scrape the sauce into a separate bowl and add the vinegar, sesame oil, and fish sauce. Whisk to combine and set aside.
- To the skillet, add the olive oil and the onion. Saute the onion for 5 to 10 minutes, or until browned and fragrant. Add the cabbage, celery, and garlic. Saute over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally so that it develops a slight char.
- Once the vegetables are cooked, stir in the spaghetti squash and the sauce. Mix to combine, garnish with the sesame seeds and onion, and serve!
Nutrition
I made this last night it was a HUGE hit. It also tastes exactly like the panda express chow mien!
I’m so glad you liked it!!
So good! Didn’t have any celery or green onions but super delicious even without!! Can’t wait to make this again…and it tastes almost better the next day. Thanks, Cassy for a great recipe!
OMG, this was soooo good. I added pork and egg to mine. Seriously a must make. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for fixing the printing issue, and for all you do to help make meals delicious, healthy, AND exciting! Can’t wait to make this one tonight 🙂
I’m so sad I am unable to print the majority of your recipes 🙁 they look so good but the only one I’ve had luck with printing was the paleo chicken parm casserole recipe. Not sure why that one works but not the others. Just wondering if this was done on purpose? Or, if not, if others were experiencing a similar issue?
Hi Victoria – we are looking into this and it should be fixed soon! Thanks for letting us know.
We’re investigating this, Victoria! Stay tuned.
Cassy, you are a genius! This recipe is absolutely delicious and so reminiscent of a Chinese take-out dish, but better. Thanks for sharing!!
I’m so glad you liked it, Sam!!
This is delicious! made it with the orange chicken from aganist all grain! so yummy
Awesome! I have an orange chicken recipe coming, too 😉
This is fantastic! Thank you. Had some shiitakes so added those. Really tastes like rice noodles! Best spaghetti squash I have ever had!!
I’m so glad you liked it!! Love the addition of the mushrooms.
Cassy, I made this last night and it was so good! I had a hard time finding spaghetti squash this time of year, but I finally found two small ones to roast instead of one big one. I also added in some diced chicken thighs to make it a complete meal. This is such a good recipe! I’m amazed at how much it really tastes like chow mein (without the horrible noodles and MSG :D)
Yay!!! I can’t tell you how (STILL to this day) I was tempted by Panda Express simply for the chow mein. Coming up with an alternative was a necessity 😉
Just made this and it is SO good! You a very talented, Casey!
I’m so glad you liked it, Laura!!
Do you put the 1/4cup of water in the baking dish with the squash on top? Can’t wait to try this looks amazing!
Yes! The water sits around the squash while it bakes 🙂
This sounds incredible BUT I find coconut aminos to be expensive. $7 for the brand in the link which would make this a fairly pricey meal since I would need to use the full bottle. I typically use it sparingly (like soy sauce) rather than cooking with it because of the cost. If anyone knows of a less expensive brand please let us all know. Possibly Braggs? Love your stuff!
Hi Cameron! I’ll keep my ear to the ground, but this is the only option I’m aware of. Braggs aminos is MUCH more salty than this option, so it will change the dish quite a bit.
Looks great! Do you think you could add protein (like chicken) to this for a complete meal? If so, when would you suggest doing so to grab all the flavors? Thanks!
Chicken would be great! I have an orange chicken coming soon 😉
Emily Chase, click on her link in the recipe.
<3
Which brand of coconut aminos do you use? I have a difficult time getting the Coconut Secret brand to reduce as you describe.
I use Coconut Secret! The trick is to be patient. Low heat for 15ish minutes will bring the sauce together.