Sweet & Spicy Italian Chicken Stuffed Squash
Have you ever had one of those nights where you just have no idea what to make for dinner so you just stare helplessly in the fridge? That was me last night, but something amazing came out of it!
I really love making stuffed foods. Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers? Yes! Cheesecake Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies? Why not!
For one, they’re generally healthier. By adding the filling to peppers, tomatoes, or squash, you omit the complex carb element. Not to mention the various veggies add a pop of flavor- these Sweet & Spicy Italian Chicken Stuffed Squashes really hit the spot.
What you’ll need:
- 6 medium yellow squash
- 1 cup white onion
- 1 medium tomato
- 1/2 de-seeded jalapeno
- 2 large handfuls of spinach
- 4 hot Italian chicken sausage burgers (or 1 lb of your choice of ground meat)
- 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon*
- Dry Parmesan cheese – to taste
- Black pepper- to taste
**You may think adding cinnamon to the stuffing mix is weird, but trust me! It adds a hint of sweet flavor that complements the spicy sausage & jalapeno perfectly.
Start by cutting the yellow squash long ways (or “hot dog style” 😉 if you remember elementary school art lessons) & scoop out the seed part. I never throw food away, so I save them for things like omelets and salads!
Place each half skin side down on some olive oil spray & place in the oven at 350 for 10 minutes.
While the squash is roasting, brown your meat! I used these hot Italian chicken sausage burgers because they break apart like regular ground chicken (and they’re amazingly delish).
After your meat is browned, add the veggies and spices, [minus the spinach and Parmesan cheese] and allow them to cook together until the onions & jalapeno is soft. [about 5-7 minutes]
Once the squash has roasted for 10 minutes, pull it out of the oven. Take your stuffing mix off the stove and stir in 2 large handfuls of spinach to the mix. I love adding spinach once it’s off heat so that it keeps some of the life and doesn’t wilt down completely.
Spoon out the mixture into 12 parts & place into the hollowed out squash.
Top with dry Parmesan cheese!
Place pans back into the oven at 350 degrees for 10 more minutes.
Plate up & enjoy!
What are you making for dinner tonight?
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