Air Fryer Butternut Squash
Air Fryer Butternut Squash gets caramelized spots just like roasting them, so they’re sweet, a bit smoky and utterly delicious in a fraction of the time.
Roasted butternut is one of our favorite ways to enjoy this quintessential fall veggie. It brings out the natural sweetness and is just an easy and delicious side dish for the holidays or a weeknight meal.
Roasting butternut squash in the air fryer has that same delicious flavor in a fraction of the time. Instead of roasting for 45 minutes to an hour in the oven, it takes about 20 minutes to roast them in the air fryer.
This squash is the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas since it doesn’t require the use of the oven, but it’s also a great side dish for a random weeknight.
What you Need
- ½ small Butternut squash: We use about half of a 2½ pound squash, about 4 cups. Cut them into pieces that are similar in size for the best outcome. As a great time-saver, use pre-cut butternut squash.
- Olive oil: Just a bit of oil to baste the pieces.
- Maple Syrup: Use real maple syrup, not the imitation stuff.
- Spices: Dried spices are added for flavor including garlic powder, paprika, cinnamon, salt and pepper. If your family likes a bit of spice, add a pinch chipotle or chili powder.
How to Make it
Carefully cut the butternut in half. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon.
Peel the squash with a sharp vegetable peeler.
Cut the squash vertically into slices of equal thickness.
Cut the slices into cubes that are about the same size (1-inch cubes) and add them to a medium bowl. Add the remaining to the bowl.
Mix up the ingredients so all the cubes of squash are covered.
Arrange the squash cubes on the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Roast the squash at 350°F for about 20-25 minutes. After about ten minutes, remove them from the air fryer, shake the basket, or flip them with a small spatula. Return the basket to the air fryer and continue air frying for another ten minutes. If they aren’t fork tender, return them to the air fryer and roast for another 5 minutes.
How to Store Leftovers
Storage: Allow the squash to cool to room temperature. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezing: For longer storage, add the leftovers to a freezer bag or vacuum pack it. Store in the freezer for up to three months. Frozen squash is a great meal prep idea. Just remove it from the freezer and reheat it.
Reheating: Reheat the squash (even frozen squash) in the air fryer at 400°F for 5-8 minutes until hot and crisp again.
What to do with Leftover Squash
- Make soup with the roasted butternut.
- Use it in quiche.
- Top a green salad with hot or cold roasted squash.
- Add it to risotto or rice.
- Make squash tacos.
- Mash it and use it as a low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes or make fritters or pancakes.
Variations
For a different flavor profile, instead of using the maple and cinnamon flavoring, you could substitute brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, sage, thyme or rosemary.
More Squash Recipes
- Roasted Butternut Squash
- Butternut Squash Soup
- Butternut Squash Cake
- Honeynut Squash
- Blue Hubbard Squash
- Mashed Potato Squash
- Turban Squash
- Sweet Dumpling Squash
More Air Fryer Recipes
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I hope you enjoyed the recipe today.
Enjoy. And have fun cooking!
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
Ingredients
- ½ small butternut squash, cut in cubes 4 cups
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon coarse kosher or sea salt
- ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle pepper optional
Instructions
- Cut the squash in half. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon.½ small butternut squash, cut in cubes
- Peel the squash with a sharp vegetable peeler.
- Cut the squash vertically into slices of equal thickness.
- Cut the slices into cubes that are about the same size (1-inch cubes) and add them to a medium bowl. Add the remaining to the bowl.
- Mix up the ingredients so all the cubes of squash are covered.1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, ½ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon coarse kosher or sea salt, ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper, ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
- Arrange the squash cubes on the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Roast the squash at 350°F for about 20-25 minutes. After about ten minutes, remove them from the air fryer, shake the basket, or flip them with a small spatula. Return the basket to the air fryer and continue air frying for another ten minutes. If they aren’t fork tender, return them to the air fryer and roast for another 5 minutes.
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- Make soup with the roasted butternut.
- Use it in quiche.
- Top a green salad with hot or cold roasted squash.
- Add it to risotto or rice.
- Make squash tacos.
- Mash it and use it as a low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes or make fritters or pancakes.
