How do you keep squash casserole from getting watery?

Salting and sautéing the squash before baking helps to remove excess moisture and prevents the casserole from becoming watery. Cream cheese and sour cream lend the filling richness and tang.

How to avoid watery spaghetti squash?

Our favorite way to cook spaghetti squash is baking it . This method avoids adding more water to the squash (which can make your dish watery)—and it also brings out the best flavor. It's also a easy hands-off method!

How to make a casserole less runny?

Simply whisk equal parts butter and flour together . Then, roll the thick paste into little teaspoon-sized balls. Add one ball to your casserole at a time, waiting about a minute before adding another one, until you get the right thickness.

Do you cook butternut squash cut side up or down?

Cooking butternut squash halves Preheat the oven to 400F. Cut off ¼" from the top and bottom of the butternut squash. ... Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the butternut squash halves cut side down. Bake for 50-60minute or until tender. Oct 23, 2021

Is it necessary to peel butternut squash before cooking?

Can You Eat Butternut Squash Skin? It's important to note that while many people choose to remove butternut squash skin (and this is best practice for soup making, where you want smooth results), you can 100% eat roasted butternut squash skin. Slice butternut squash into crescents and roast it with the skin on.

Is butternut squash healthy?

Butternut squash offers nutritional values like vitamin A, potassium, and fiber . Health benefits of this winter squash include managing high blood pressure, preventing asthma, and promoting healthy skin and hair. Contrary to the name, winter squash is grown in the summer and harvested in the fall.

How do you cook squash so it doesn't get soggy?

The secret to zucchini with the best flavor and texture is roasting it in a 450°F oven . Roasting zucchini at a high temperature instead of baking or sautéing helps develop browning and a slight char on the outside, which keeps it from getting soggy.

How to keep a casserole from getting soggy?

To prevent a soupy casserole, be sure to fully thaw any frozen vegetables in a colander over a bowl, and pat dry, squeeze excess moisture out of greens like spinach or chard, and quickly precook watery fresh vegetables like onions, mushrooms or squashes just until they release their moisture.

How do you reduce water in squash?

Straining the squash helps to remove excess water that leaches out of the cooked squash, and it cools the squash before it is added to the casserole. When sautéing, stir the squash often to release steam and prevent browning.

Why is my baked squash watery?

Don't overcook them – This is the #1 reason that noodles become a mushy, watery mess! Stick to the times noted above and don't allow the squash to become soft to the touch. It will still feel hard when it's cooked.

Butternut Squash And Spinach Pasta Casserole Recipe

By Wendy Zitzman

If you are up to putting in some elbow grease in the kitchen and making an incredibly delicious and healthy pasta casserole recipe, well then this Butternut Squash and Spinach Pasta Casserole Recipe with Caramelized Onions is for you.

Loaded with delicious veggies and a fabulous creamy bechamel sauce, each serving is just 5 Points. It does require lots of separate pots and pans for cooking various components of the casserole, but it is oh so worth it.

The garlic sauteed spinach, the onions caramelized in butter, and the roasted butternut squash all combine perfectly in this vegetarian pasta casserole recipe. I used fresh, whole milk buffalo mozzarella to top it with and it was amazing! It’s a big recipe, so we had lots of leftovers, and it re-heated very nicely as well.

This is definitely a Weight Watchers casserole recipe that will impress. And though I made it in the middle of a high temp summer, I’d ideally make this tomato-free pasta recipe in the fall, as the sage and nutmeg give it a fall-like flavor.

Butternut Squash and Spinach Pasta Casserole Recipe with Caramelized Onions

Some serious effort in the kitchen goes a long way in this amazing Butternut Squash and Spinach Pasta Casserole Recipe with Caramelized Onions. Delicious and filling, each serving is just 5 Points+ making it a great Weight Watchers dinner recipe idea.

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep TimePrep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook TimeCook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Total TimeTotal Time 2 hours hrs

ServingsServings 12

CaloriesCalories 192 kcal

Equipment

1 Oven

Ingredients

2 cups dry - high fiber pasta (like Ronzoni Smart Taste)
4 cups butternut squash - cut into small cubes
3 large onions - thinly sliced
16 oz fresh spinach leaves
8 oz fresh - whole milk mozzarella, sliced
15 oz container fat free ricotta
2 tbsp light butter - I used Brummel & Brown
¼ cup whole wheat flour
1 ½ cups fat free milk
½ cup fresh basil - finely chopped
¼ cup fresh parsley - finely chopped
6 cloves garlic - minced
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp dried sage powder
1 tsp chili flakes
1 tsp olive oil
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
½ cup grated Parmesan

Instructions

To roast the butternut squash, preheat the oven to 425F. Lightly spray the butternut squash with an olive oil mister and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast the butternut squash for about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, set a non-stick skillet over medium heat and heat olive oil. Then add cloves of garlic and a pinch of chili flakes.
Heat until garlic begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Add in spinach and sauté until spinach is completely wilted. Set aside on a paper towel to drain.
Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
To caramelize the onions, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onions with a tsp of salt and cook down for about 20-30 minutes, until onions turn brown. Set aside.
To make the creamy sauce, bring the milk, nutmeg, sage, ½ tsp pepper, and remaining chili flakes to a simmer.
In a separate saucepan, make the roux by melting the remaining tbsp. of butter and then add in the flour. Stir until doughy (about one minute).
Whisk the milk into the butter and flour mix (the roux). It should be smooth and velvety, not chunky or too thick. If it is, just add some more milk to thin it out. Add in the Parmesan, and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine ricotta, basil, remaining garlic, salt, pepper, and chili flakes.
Now, preheat the oven to 375.
In a large, 5qt casserole dish, place a layer of noodles, spinach, butternut squash, and onions, and then dot with a third of ricotta. Then cover with about 1/4 of the cream sauce. Repeat with the remaining ingredients until are used up.
Then top evenly with the sliced mozzarella.
See Also
Three Cheese Grits Casserole- (breakfast, brunch, make ahead, recipes)THK's Top 10 Fabulously Healthy, Easy Recipes of 2014 Canning Spaghetti Sauce: Recipe with Meat that Will Save You Money!Vegan Crockpot Chili Recipe
Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until bubbling.
Turn the broiler on and bake for another 5 minutes, or until browned on top.
Remove from oven and let cool for about 15-20 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.08 (1/12th) casseroleCalories: 192 kcal (10%)Carbohydrates: 30 g (10%)Protein: 12 g (24%)Fat: 4 g (6%)Fiber: 4 g (17%)

Course: Main Course Recipes

Cuisine: Italian Recipes

Diet: Low Calorie Recipes, Low Fat Recipes, Vegetarian Recipes

Cooking Method: Baking Recipes

Main Ingredient: Butternut Squash Recipes, Pasta Recipes, Spinach Recipes

Category: Casserole Recipes

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Related Recipes

Crusted Butternut Squash Recipe
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Recipe
Lemon Spinach Pesto Pasta Recipe – 8 Points
Roasted Butternut Squash with Tahini and Za’atar Recipe

AuthorWendy Zitzman

As your average, every day, All American woman, I look forward to sharing with you my thoughts and ideas on many different topics that interest me such as dieting, health & fitness. Trust me when I tell you that this is one site you NEED to bookmark! I have the most amazing recipes with Weight Watchers Points that you won’t believe are low calorie! As an avid Weight Watchers follower, I have learned so many helpful tips and tools over the years that I am eager to share.

TikTok’s Whipped Coffee Recipe

May 18, 2023

Apricot Glazed Turkey Breast Recipe

April 10, 2023

Viral TikTok Salmon and Rice Bowl Recipe

April 4, 2023

Chicken Cacciatore Recipe

March 5, 2023

16 Comments

Mary Beth6 years ago

Would it turn out ok if I just mixed out all together then put it in a casserole dish?
- WendyPost Author6 years ago
  
  I personally haven’t tried it, but I can’t see why it wouldn’t work. Come back and let us know how it goes!
Colleen9 years ago

How much is a serving? 1/12th is rather vague? 1 cup?
Cindy Resnik10 years ago

LOVE this!!!!! To make it even more WW friendly and because I love eggplant so much, Instead of the pasta I used 4 cups of cubed (small cubes) eggplant. SOOO good. It took me a bout an hour and a half but it makes a ton and I am set for the week and I will freeze some. I love your recipes…you had me hooked after I made the salmon with cream sirachi sauce! Keep’em coming and THANK YOU!
av11 years ago

This sounds so good! Do you measure the dry pasta in a measuring cup or by the ounce? Also, what shape pasta did you use?
- LaaLooshPost Author11 years ago
  
  I measured by the ounce.
Molly L.11 years ago

This was a total waste of time and money. I’m sorry, but it was horrible! The whole thing went down the garbage disposal after a few bites.
Dee12 years ago

This recipe is amazing. The flavour was deep: caramelized onions and nutmeg make it delicious, the cream sauce made from whole wheat flour was rich and satisfyling. I make it, freeze it in portions and bring it to work for lunch. It is really satisfying. Well done LAALOOSH, keep them coming!!!!!!!
Dee12 years ago

This recipes is amazing. The flavour was deep: caramelized onions and nutmeg make it rick, the cream sauce made from whole wheat flour was rich and delicious. I make it, freeze it in portions and bring it to work for lunch. It is really satisfying. Well done LAALOOSH, keep them coming!!!!!!!
Benla12 years ago

I tried this one a few weeks ago. I wont be making it again. I don’t know if the recipe calls for way to much Nutmeg, or (more than likely) I was a little heavy handed with the measurement. I am blaming myself. Not the recipe, but mine ended up tasting very christmassy
The time it took to make this was well off the 30min that the recipe states for me, I think all in all it took around 2 hours just to do the preparation. (the onions took forever!).
When i sat down to eat this, it seemed like a LOT of effort for something which was ok, not not worth the time, and once id finished id then had A LOT of washing up to do. lol
Cindy12 years ago

What kind of pasta did you use? Are lasagna noodles OK?
- laaloosh12 years ago
  
  I used Ronzoni Smart Taste. But you can use any kind of high fiber noodles. Lasagna noodles would work well too, just use the whole wheat kind.
cook who needs help12 years ago

I am new to the site. Tried to make this recipe and I ran into some issues… I printed the recipe before the update but I also notice the parsley is not listed in the directions. Garlic and Chili powder are put into a couple pans but there was never clarification of how much went in each pan. I wound up making this in a 2.2 quart pan and it just filled it, not sure how I could have filled a 5 quart pan am I missing something. I had like no noodles too!? This will go in the oven tomorrow but help me so I can perfect it next time
- Life time WW12 years ago
  
  I had the same issues had a 5qt. dish ready and the pasta was lost, transfered to 9×13 could have been smaller. Had the entire family looking to see if I was missing parsley. Was very good but, felt had it to many flavors going on to enjoy any of them. Think also will cut back on amount of garlic.
Terry12 years ago

This sounds fabulous! Do you just layer the roasted butternut squash along with everything else???
- laaloosh12 years ago
  
  Yes! I just realized that I forgot to mention that in the directions. Updating now… ;)

Food Recipes

Butternut Squash And Spinach Pasta Casserole Recipe | LaaLoosh (2024)