How to Cook Orangetti Squash

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     *If you are unfamiliar with spaghetti squash, you will probably be even less familiar with orangetti squash.  I got my hands on some a couple of years ago and my family really enjoyed it.  I posted this orangetti squash with chicken recipe then and it has become one of our most searched for posts! Since I was able to get a spaghetti squash the other day, it reminded me of this recipe which the spaghetti squash would totally work with.  So here is a re-post of how to cook orangetti squash! 

        A few posts ago, I told you about Market on the Move and how I was able to get a ton of squash, as well as other vegetables for $10. In this post, I gave you a recipe for a Carrot/Squash Loaf using the yellow squash I got a ton of.  Another type of squash that I was able to get, I was less familiar with.  It is called Orangetti Squash.  

Orangetti is very similar to Spaghetti Squash, only it is smaller, more orange and a little sweeter.

          At our house, we have some people who are less keen on beef and would prefer chicken. We have Maddy who is trying to eat a little more vegan.  Then, we have my husband and I who just like to eat! In order to accommodate every one, I decided to make a deconstructed Chicken Cacciatore, using the orangetti squash as a replacement for the pasta!  Madalynn left out the chicken and simply ate the orangetti with the sauce. Either way, the result was delicious.  Here is how I cooked orangetti squash:

First, I cut open the orangetti and cleaned out the seeds. (Be sure you have a sharp knife because of the tough outer skin.) It smelled like pumpkin and the seeds looked like pumpkin seeds. I was tempted to roast them. I didn't.

          I placed the halves of the orangetti squash on a foil lined pan.  I drizzled a little olive oil on the squash and sprinkled it with salt and pepper.  Then, I put it in a 350 degree F. oven and baked it until tender.  (About 45 min. I think, just stab it with a fork to test it.)  While it was baking, I started my chicken.

I used chicken breasts on the bone which I first parboiled and then cut off the bone. I cut it into large chunks and browned it in olive oil, adding Italian seasonings, salt and pepper.

Next, make your favorite marinara sauce, or open a bottle of it and doctor it up to make it taste the way you want. Keep all of these elements separate if you want the deconstructed version of this recipe. Otherwise, you can throw the chicken in with the sauce at this point.

When the orangetti squash is tender, shred it into "spaghetti" with two forks. If you want, drizzle a little more olive oil and add a little more salt and pepper.

             Now you are ready to serve!  This is a great one dish meal! 

Just put a layer of Orangetti, a layer of chicken, top with sauce and sprinkle on a little grated Parmesan. It is so tasty!

Orangetti Squash vs. Spaghetti Squash

         I think I enjoyed the taste of orangetti squash a little more than spaghetti squash.  It has a sweet mild flavor that blended so well with the sauce. As I mentioned before, the orangetti squash is also slightly smaller than spaghetti sauce.  I ate more for lunch the next day. (When I put it away, I went ahead and mixed it all together!)  

            If you find Orangetti Squash in the grocery store, don't be afraid to give it a try! 

        If you need recipe cards, recipe boxes, bowls or cutting boards, or anything, check out Etsy for some cute ideas! Don't forget our Etsy shop where you can find some sweet printables to help your life. 

Here is a Southwestern Breakfast Version of Orangetti Squash.