Spaghetti Squash w/ Chickpeas & Kale Recipe

Sun-dried tomatoes give this vegan spaghetti squash recipe a savory pop. Hearty from chickpeas & kale, it's a great fall or winter weeknight dinner.

fall / vegan

The first time I had spaghetti squash, it was served with a big scoop of store-bought marinara sauce mixed in. It was slimy and goop-y and decidedly not spaghetti-like.

About a month ago, ditching the pasta idea completely, I planned a post for bbq spaghetti squash tacos. I have a super cute photo to prove that the meal existed, but the recipe ended in total disaster.

So, long story short, I’ve learned that I prefer my spaghetti squash as simple as possible and most importantly: sauce-less. The roasted strands come out of the oven with a nice al-dente bite, but, smothered in sauce, they become just too mushy for me. Check out this post to see how I cook spaghetti squash to get the yummy al dente strands you’ll want for this recipe.

In this recipe, the roasted squash strands are lightly tossed with olive oil, garlic, rosemary, and a good squeeze of lemon. I added chickpeas and kale to make it a full meal and toasted some pine nuts for crunch. Sun dried tomatoes add a nice pop of flavor, but you could add anything briny that you like – freshly roasted tomatoes, capers, or maybe some chopped kalamata olives.

So while spaghetti squash is not pasta and it never will be, this veggie-packed bowl just moved up my list as a healthy weeknight favorite.

If you loved this recipe, try these roasted fall vegetable recipes next:

4.9 from 181 reviews

Spaghetti Squash w/ Chickpeas & Kale

This easy spaghetti squash with kale is a great healthy weeknight dinner! Flavored with rosemary, lemon, and sun-dried tomatoes, it's a delicious vegan and gluten-free dish.

Author: Jeanine Donofrio

Recipe type: Main Dish

Serves: 2 to 3

Ingredients

1 spaghetti squash
1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 shallot, sliced thinly
1 whole garlic clove
½ tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
Pinch of chile flakes
½ cup chickpeas, cooked drained and rinsed (or roasted)
2 (packed) cups chopped kale leaves
1 tablespoon lemon juice
¼ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (or capers or olives)
¼ cup toasted pine nuts
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400F.
Prepare your squash following the directions in this post.
In a large skillet over medium heat, add enough olive oil to lightly coat the pan, then add the shallots, the whole garlic clove (we’ll remove it later), rosemary, chile flakes, and pinches of salt and pepper.
Once the shallot starts to soften add the chickpeas and cook for a few minutes until lightly golden brown. If you’re using roasted chickpeas, add them at the end of the recipe instead. Remove the garlic clove, add the kale and lemon juice, and stir.
Once the kale is partially wilted, add the squash strands, the sun-dried tomatoes, a little grated Parmesan, and more salt and pepper, to taste. Toss to incorporate. Remove from heat and top with toasted pine nuts and extra grated cheese.

Notes

Vegan option - skip the cheese