Cheesy Pesto Chicken Lasagna Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

• Gluten free

• Meat

  • 2 cups Chicken

• Produce

  • 3/4 tsp Garlic powder
  • 3/4 tsp Parsley, dried
  • 1 Parsley and/or basil, fresh
  • 1 Spaghetti squash, medium large
  • 1/2 cup Tomato

• Refrigerated

  • 1/2 Egg [use the white or the yolk

• Condiments

  • 1/4 cup Pesto, homemade or store-bought

• Baking & Spices

  • 1/2 tsp Italian spice blend [like mrs. dash
  • 1/4 tsp Salt

• Dairy

  • 6 slices Mozzarella, fresh
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, packed
  • 1 cup Ricotta cheese

Found on peasandcrayons.com

Description

Ingredients

• 1 medium-large spaghetti squash
• 2 cups chopped chicken, cooked via your favorite method!
• 1/4 cup homemade or store bought pesto
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/2 an egg [use the white or the yolk!]
• 1/4-1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, packed
• 3/4 tsp garlic powder
• 3/4 tsp dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp Italian spice blend [like Mrs. Dash]
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup chopped tomato, plus extra for topping
• 6 slices of fresh mozzarella or 2-4 oz freshly grated mozz
• fresh parsley and/or basil to garnish
• optional: you can absolutely use your favorite red sauce in place of the chopped tomato or go all out and use a little of both!

Directions

• Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Slice your spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.
• To prevent sticking, rub the rim of the squashs flesh with a teeny bit of olive oil or simply place a little water inside your baking dish. Both work great!
• Place inside a baking dish or atop rimmed, lined baking sheet [some liquid will escape] and roast face-down for 40-60 minutes.
• Cooking time will depend on size and the once rock-hard exterior of the squash will be visibly softened with a tender inside.
• The squash can be roasted and stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days awaiting its stuffage with your lovely lasagna ingredients. You can also make the whole shebang one weekend and pop it in the fridge until about 35 minutes before dinnertime. Wind up with a little bit leftover? It reheats marvelously the following day! Now lets get back to the recipe!
• If they arent already in one, add your cooked squash to baking dish.
• Cook chicken via your favorite method or squirrel away leftovers from the previous nights dinner to use in the lasagna.
• Chop chicken into bite sized pieces and toss in 1/4 cup of pesto.
• Set aside.
• Next whisk up an egg yolk [or grab the whites from one large egg] into your ricotta and add freshly grated parmesan cheese, garlic powder, dried parsley, salt, and your favorite Italian seasoning blend.
• Set aside.
• Line each cooked spaghetti squash with chopped tomato or a thin layer of your favorite red sauce!
• Top each with your seasoned ricotta; pile it on!
• Next add your pesto chicken [itll start to look mile high at this point, just go with it!] and sprinkle with some extra chopped tomato.
• Top with sliced or grated mozzarella and cover the baking dish in foil, leaving a little room at the top [like a tent!] so the mozz doesnt stick.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for around 35-40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
• Garnish with fresh parsley and/or basil leaves and dig in!
• Leftovers taste phenomenal the next day and can be reheated via oven or microwave; up to you!