Top 3 Best Chicken Caprese Spaghetti Squash Boats are a low-carb dinner idea that’s bursting with flavour and topped off with a balsamic glaze!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Spaghetti squash – this recipe is intended for spaghetti squash but if you’d like to create your own spin on this low-carb pasta, use zucchini noodles.
- Olive oil – or another neutral oil like sunflower seed oil, grapeseed oil or avocado oil.
- Chicken breast – chicken thighs will work well in this recipe and may offer a juicier cut of meat.
- Cherry tomatoes – grape tomatoes, standard salad tomatoes or plum tomatoes will work. However, plum tomatoes will be drier.
- Bocconcini cheese – fresh mozzarella will work well in place of bocconcini.
- Fresh basil – fresh basil is the best choice for this recipe. In a pinch, use spinach leaves instead.
- Salt & pepper – to taste.
Balsamic glaze
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- Balsamic vinegar – this is the only way to make a balsamic glaze.
- Brown sugar – if you’re in a pinch, use another sweetener like honey or maple syrup.
- The microwave then bake the squash.
- Scrape out the flesh.
- Add the chicken to the boats and cook.
- Make the balsamic glaze.
- Bake with the tomatoes and cheese.
- Top with fresh basil, drizzle with balsamic glaze and serve!
Is spaghetti squash healthy?
Yes! Spaghetti squash is a nutritious vegetable that is most commonly known for its spaghetti texture. It’s high in lots of nutrients and is a popular low-carb substitute for traditional pasta.
Here are just some of the nutritional benefits of spaghetti squash:
- Low in carbs and calories
- Rich in antioxidants including vitamin C and beta carotene
- Great source of fibre, which helps your digestive health
Frequently Asked Questions
Spaghetti squash has become a popular healthy alternative to regular pasta because of its thin strands that are similar to noodles. Though it looks similar to pasta, it does taste different and has a slightly neutral and sweet flavour. When you combine it with the chicken, tomatoes, bocconcini, basil and balsamic glaze, you’ll hardly notice the difference!
For this recipe, you’ll need to cook the spaghetti squash on it own for about 25 minutes before adding in the toppings and cooking for longer. The total cooking time is about 45 minutes, but trust me, it’s worth it!
Caprese chicken is an Italian chicken dish that consists of chicken topped with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, fresh basil and balsamic vinegar or a balsamic glaze. This recipe is a low-carb spin on the classic made in spaghetti squash boats!
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to enjoy, reheat the spaghetti squash in the oven at 350° Fahrenheit until fully warmed up.
Freezing this recipe
Unfortunately, this dish is not freezer-friendly. That being said, you can definitely freeze the squash on its own – just make sure to scoop out the noodles before freezing. The squash will last in the freezer for up to 6 months in an airtight container or freezer bag. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight then follow the regular cooking instructions.
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Chicken Caprese Spaghetti Squash Boats
These Chicken Caprese Spaghetti Squash Boats are a low-carb dinner idea that’s bursting with flavour and topped off with a balsamic glaze!
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Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 394kcal
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 F. Microwave each spaghetti squash for 2-4 minutes in the microwave to soften them (the amount of time will depend on how large they are and how difficult they are to cut into). Cut spaghetti squash in half then scrape out seeds. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper then bake in the oven for 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and scrape out flesh using a fork. It won’t be cooked through and it doesn’t have to be perfect, even if you just get a little bit up the rest will come up during cook time. Top each spaghetti squash with raw chicken, then place back in the oven another 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make balsamic glaze (if not using storebought) by bringing balsamic vinegar and brown sugar to a boil over medium heat. Simmer for 10 minutes on med-low heat until it reduces and thickens.
- Remove spaghetti squash from oven again, and add cherry tomatoes and bocconcini cheese. Bake another 10 minutes until cherry tomatoes start to burst and cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven, generously top with fresh basil leaves, then drizzle with balsamic glaze. Serve and enjoy!
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Notes
Use a store-bought balsamic glaze to cut down on prep time.
Store the leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days then reheat in the oven at 350° F.
Nutrition
Calories: 394kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 968mg | Potassium: 529mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 850IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 270mg | Iron: 1.6mg
