Spaghetti Squash Pizza Crust Recipe (2024)

By Marjory Pilley Published · Updated

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Spaghetti squash pizza crust will hook you after the first bite! It's a healthy, low-carb, gluten-free, and delicious base for your favorite pizza toppings.

Spaghetti Squash Pizza Crust Recipe (1)

Are you a fan of grain-free, vegetable crusts that masquerade as pizza? We are! Done right, these alternative pizza crusts are not just healthier than a traditional pizza but also very tasty.

But pizza crust made of spaghetti squash may be the recipe that wins over the entire family. The flavor is almost buttery and more subtle than cauliflower pizza bites.

And the crispy crust is perfectly suited for any topping combinations you dream up, from Margherita pizza to meat-lover versions.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • How to Cook Spaghetti Squash
  • Directions with Pictures
  • Toppings Ideas
  • Can you freeze spaghetti squash pizza crust?
  • More Amazing Spaghetti Squash Recipes
  • 📋 Recipe

Ingredients

You'll need just a few ingredients to make spaghetti squash pizza crust:

  • Spaghetti squash- cooked and strands removed. See the section below on how to easily cut and cook this squash.
  • Mozzarella cheese - Mozzarella cheese is mild and does not take over the flavor. Other shredded cheeses, such as Monterey Jack or Colby Jack, can be used instead but will change the flavor profile too.
  • Egg is used as a binder.
  • Oregano and garlic powder are used to flavor the crust.

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash

Cutting spaghetti squash in half is the biggest stumbling block for this and any other recipe that uses this vegetable. But it shouldn't be!

Bake Whole in the Oven or a Slow Cooker

The easiest method is to cook spaghetti squash whole in the oven or a slow cooker. Here's a recap of the process:

  1. Poke 8-10 holes in the outer surface of the squash.
  2. Place squash in a slow cooker or on a baking sheet in an oven preheated to 425 °F.
  3. Cook squash until the outer surface is soft to the touch and a knife can be inserted without much effort.
    • Slow Cooker: 3-4 hours on high or 5-6 hours on low.
    • Oven: 30 minutes, rolling over halfway through.
  4. Allow spaghetti squash to cool for about 10 minutes and carefully remove to a cutting board using oven mitts or a towel. It will easily break apart.
  5. Cut in half and remove seeds.
Spaghetti Squash Pizza Crust Recipe (2)

Cut in Half and Roast

Roasting spaghetti squash in the oven with the flesh exposed deepens the flavor. If you go this route, soften spaghetti squash in the microwave first, so it's easy to cut in half.

  1. To soften spaghetti squash:
    • Poke 8-10 holes in the outer surface of the squash with a knife to allow steam to escape.
    • Place squash on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for about 2 minutes, rotate, and microwave for up to 2 minutes more.
    • Remove from microwave, cut the squash in half and remove seeds.
  2. Brush the inside with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Place squash halves, cut-side down, on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake for about 40 minutes at 375 °F.

There's no getting around the fact that it takes some time to cook spaghetti squash. But, it's hands-off cook time AND you can prepare squash 1-2 days in advance.

Directions with Pictures

Follow these steps to make the spaghetti squash pizza crust once you've cooked and removed the strands from the gourd:

Spaghetti Squash Pizza Crust Recipe (3)
Spaghetti Squash Pizza Crust Recipe (4)

It's very important to remove as much liquid as possible from the spaghetti squash strands to have a firm, crisp crust. This recipe starts with about 4 cups of cooked spaghetti squash. There will be approximately 1 ½ cups once the liquid is removed!

  1. Scrape strands from the skin with a fork and place them in a strainer.
  2. Place a bowl on the spaghetti squash, press down, and allow the liquid to drain. Fold the strands into the middle of the strainer and repeat.
  3. Place the strands on a clean dish cloth and twist to remove any remaining liquid. When I skip this step, it's never quite as crispy!
  4. Break up the compressed spaghetti squash strands. Mix with egg, mozzarella cheese, oregano, and garlic powder.
  5. Shape and flatten the dough so that it is about ¼ inch thick. Place dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper that has been lightly sprayed with cooking spray.
    • We found that smaller, personal-sized pizzas were easy to work with. However, the same process can be used for a large round or free-form pizza.
  6. Bake in a 400 °F oven for about 15 minutes or until the crust is firm and begins to crisp on the edges.
  7. Add sauce and/or toppings, if desired. It's not required. It's that good!
  8. Return pizza to the oven for about 5 more minutes or until the ingredients are heated, and the cheese has melted.
Spaghetti Squash Pizza Crust Recipe (5)

Toppings Ideas

The topping choices for spaghetti squash pizza crust are endless. The pizzas we made had these combinations:

  • Sliced tomato, fresh basil topped, and mozzarella cheese.
  • Spaghetti sauce topped with thinly sliced onion and mushroom.

Use this list to mix and match sauces, cheeses, and toppings and create the ultimate pizza pie.

  • Marinara
  • Alfredo sauce
  • Pesto
  • BBQ sauce
  • Black olives
  • Vegetables such as spinach, mushrooms, peppers, and onions. Note that heavier ingredients such as broccoli, zucchini, and cauliflower should be cooked first.
  • Cheeses including ricotta, Parmesan, and goat cheese.
  • Meats such as pepperoni, sausage, hamburger, and tofu.
Spaghetti Squash Pizza Crust Recipe (6)

Can you freeze spaghetti squash pizza crust?

Prepared and cooked crusts CAN be successfully frozen. Place them in a ziplock bag, remove excess air, and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months.

When ready to enjoy the pizza, remove the crusts to the refrigerator and defrost overnight. The next day cook them in the oven as you usually would with pizza toppings. We don't recommend microwaving because the crust will become soggy.

Spaghetti Squash Pizza Crust Recipe (7)

More Amazing Spaghetti Squash Recipes

  • Spaghetti Squash Alfredo - Just 5 Ingredients!
  • Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin Casserole or Cups
  • Easy Spaghetti Squash Soup

Did you make this recipe?
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📋 Recipe

Spaghetti Squash Pizza Crust Recipe (11)

Spaghetti Squash Pizza Crust Recipe

Spaghetti squash pizza crust will hook you after the first bite! It's a healthy, low-carb, gluten-free base for your favorite pizza toppings.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Marjory Pilley

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cooked spaghetti squash will reduce to 1 ½ cups; see notes for suggested methods for cooking spaghetti squash
  • ½ cup mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ teaspoon oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Remove Liquid from Spaghetti Squash

  • Place strands in a strainer, place a clean bowl on top, press down, and allow the liquid to drain. Fold the strands into the middle of the strainer and repeat.

  • Remove strands from the strainer to a clean dish cloth and twist to remove any remaining liquid. The amount of squash will be significantly less. But, the more liquid removed, the crispier and firmer the crust will be.

Prepare Crust

  • Preheat the oven to 375 °F.

  • Add spaghetti squash strands, mozzarella cheese, egg, oregano, and garlic powder to a bowl and mix to combine.

  • Shape and flatten the dough so that it is about ¼ inch thick. We found that smaller, personal-sized pizzas were easy to work with. However, the same process can be used for a large round or free-form pizza.

  • Place dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper that has been lightly sprayed with cooking spray.

  • Bake for about 15 minutes or until crusts are firm and edges start to brown.

  • The pizza crust is delicious without any toppings, or it can be frozen after it cools.

Finish Pizza with Toppings

  • Remove from oven and top with desired ingredients. Return to oven and cook for about 5-7 minutes more or until cheese has melted.

Notes

See above for more expert tips and directions with pictures.

To cook spaghetti squash whole in a slow cooker or oven:

  1. Poke 8-10 holes in the outer surface of the squash.
  2. Place squash in a slow cooker or on a baking sheet in an oven preheated to 425 °F.
  3. Cook squash until the outer surface is soft to the touch and a knife can be inserted without much effort.
    • Slow Cooker: 3-4 hours on high or 5-6 hour on low.
    • Oven: 30 minutes, rolling over halfway through.
  4. Allow spaghetti squash to cool for about 10 minutes and carefully remove to a cutting board using oven mitts or a towel. It will easily break apart.
  5. Cut in half and remove seeds.

Cut spaghetti squash in half and roast:

  1. To soften spaghetti squash:
    • Poke 8-10 holes in the outer surface of the squash with a knife to allow steam to escape.
    • Place squash on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for about 2 minutes, turn and microwave for up to 2 minutes more.
    • Remove from microwave, cut the squash in half and remove seeds.
  2. Brush the inside with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Place squash halves, cut-side down, on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake for about 40 minutes at 375 °F.

Freezer instructions:

Place pizza crusts in a ziplock bag, remove excess air and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months. When ready to enjoy the pizza, remove the crusts to the refrigerator and defrost overnight. The next day cook them in the oven as you usually would with pizza toppings. We don't recommend microwaving because the crust will become soggy.

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Nutrition

Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 116mg | Potassium: 107mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 242IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional and Food Safety Disclaimer

This recipe was originally published on 11/20/17 and was updated to improve the reader experience.

Spaghetti Squash Pizza Crust Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a good pizza crust? ›

There are many tricks to achieving a tasty, homemade pizza dough that rises into a beautiful pizza crust, such as making sure your ingredients are at right temperature, using half bread flour for a stronger dough and half all-purpose flour for a nice rise, substituting honey for sugar to help caramelize the crust and ...

How to make pizza crust crispy? ›

As you are rolling out and topping your first pizza, switch your oven to broil. Right before you launch, swtich your oven back to bake or convection bake 500F. The idea is to get your Steel even hotter than 500 F for this thin crust bake. It really helps crisp up that bottom.

How do I make my pizza crust more flavorful? ›

Salt: Salt adds necessary flavor. Sugar: 1 Tablespoon of sugar increases the yeast's activity and tenderizes the dough, especially when paired with a little olive oil. Cornmeal: Cornmeal isn't in the dough, but it's used to dust the pizza pan. Cornmeal gives the pizza crust a little extra flavor and crisp.

How do I make my pizza crust more airy? ›

TIPS ON CRISPY AND AIRY PIZZA CRUSTS the first tip is to carefully stretch your dough so that you push the air from center of the dough to the edge—leaving an one inch border. then use your knuckles to gently open it up to a bigger size.

How do I get my pizza crust to brown on the bottom? ›

A baking steel helps the underside of your pizza brown and crisp to perfection. The recommended option is a baking steel, which most home pizza bakers prefer.

How to get a crispy pizza crust without a stone? ›

Place them on a center rack of a cold oven upside-down. Heat the oven to 475°F. Preheating the pans in this way will allow the pizza to cook from the ambient heat in the oven but will allow the crust to become crispy from contact with the hot pan, similar to using a pizza stone.

What is the secret to the best pizza? ›

Here are some secrets to making a mouthwatering pizza:
  • Quality Ingredients:Start with high-quality ingredients. ...
  • Homemade Dough:If possible, make your pizza dough from scratch. ...
  • Proper Dough Resting:Allow the pizza dough to rest and rise properly. ...
  • Quality Tomato Sauce:Use a good-quality tomato sauce.
Jun 12, 2021

Does oil make pizza crispier? ›

Adding oil into your pizza dough will help make it crispier when cooked at lower temperatures.

What is the best flour for crispy pizza crust? ›

Looking to make a basic pizza crust, one with a crispy bottom, a little bit of chew, and enough strength that the slices won't get floppy under all that sauce and cheese? For a no-fuss crust, you need a workhorse flour, and that's all-purpose flour.

What makes crust crispy? ›

In-home ovens do not get as hot as the ovens at pizza restaurants, and the stone or steel underneath the crust while baking helps make the best use of temperature. Always bake your pizza pie on the lowest rack in the oven. This allows your pizza crust to get closer to the heat source, allowing it to become more crispy.

Does olive oil make pizza dough crispy? ›

But too much sauce makes for a soggy, weak crust. To ensure your pizza will have a sturdy base, especially if you eat your pizza New York-style (grab, fold, devour), go easy with the sauce. Brush on the olive oil: To get that crispy, crackly crust, use a brush to slather on some olive oil.

Why is my homemade pizza crust not crispy? ›

The steam from the base can't escape, so it condenses on your crispy surface and turns it wet and soggy. Use a pizza stone or a pan with holes to get a crispy pizza crust. A pizza stone will keep your pizza hot and its porousness will absorb some condensation.

Should you prebake pizza dough? ›

Of course you do. Parbaking, or partially baking the dough to its halfway point in advance can save you a ton of time on pizza party day. You just have to top it and toss it back in the oven before you want to sit down and eat. This is also a great way to get everyone involved in the pizza-making experience.

Do you bake pizza crust before adding toppings? ›

If you're baking the pizza in the oven, whether on a pizza stone or not, I always pre-bake the dough for 4-5 minutes before adding toppings, to make sure the pizza dough cooks crisp on the outside and soft and airy in the middle. Once you add the Pizza Sauce and toppings, return it to the oven to finish baking.

What is the key to the best pizza dough? ›

The secret to great dough isn't kneading or throwing . . .

It's good old-fashioned H20. “Water, water, water,” says Falco. “Pizza dough made at home should be 50 percent water. Pizza needs to cook longer in a home oven, which means the dough needs to be more hydrated.”

Do you put butter or olive oil on pizza crust? ›

SEASON PIZZA DOUGH

Lightly brush the top of the pizza dough with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic salt (don't forget the edges!) This will add flavor and prevent the dough from getting soggy with the toppings.

How to make pizza crust crispy on bottom in pizza oven? ›

How Do You Get a Crispy Crust on a Wood Fired Pizza Oven?
  1. Getting the right temperature. Cooking your pizza in a wood-fired oven is your best chance at getting a crispy crust. ...
  2. Avoid overloading the toppings. ...
  3. Investing in a pizza stone. ...
  4. Don't skip the olive oil. ...
  5. Burning the same type wood. ...
  6. Perfecting the dough.
Jul 25, 2022

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