cacio e pepe-ish spaghetti squash

with 5+ protein pairing options + a dressed up springy dinner plan

This isn’t a secret: I’m obsessed with low-effort, high-reward recipes. My goal at the end of the day is to make your life tastier and easier, so meals like today’s new bonus recipe—ones where you’re actively cooking for less than 15 minutes—are my favorite.

Let me tell you about my cacio e pepe-ish spaghetti squash: it’s a light, spring-ready take on the traditional peppery dish for when you want something that feels a little elevated but still fits into a busy weeknight. The squash does most of the work in the oven, and while that’s happening, you’re mixing together a quick, creamy pepper sauce with just a few ingredients. A quick broil at the end brings it all together—nothing complicated, but still so flavorful with cheesy comfort that feels just right for this time of year!

As always, this dish is flexible. Because I want it to work for everyone, the recipe includes more than five protein options with full cooking instructions! It works just as well for a quick dinner as it does for having people over—serving right from the squash halves looks impressive without any extra effort.

In addition to today’s recipe, we have a fancy but easy spring dinner plan for next week! Fancy but easy plans are centered around elevating weeknight dinners without much extra effort—just by using creative combinations of seasonal ingredients and cooking methods. Each recipe is spring-inspired in flavor and color (lots of pops of orange, green, and even some pink!!). As always, the prep day plan is included to guide you through prepping a few simple components to make the week easier.

If you’re a paid subscriber, dinners are handled this week 🤝 If you’re not yet, try it out today! You’ll get access to today’s bonus recipe, plus four more to make next week. A color-coded grocery list and prep day guide are included, so you don’t have to think about it from start to finish. Plus, with a paid subscription, you can access the entire archive of 300+ posts, including the April meal prep plan.

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pictured with shrimp as the protein of choice

Cacio e Pepe-ish Spaghetti Squash

Serves 4 | Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 40 minutes

Gluten-free, vegetarian option