Quick And Easy Air Fryer Butternut Squash Recipe (2024)

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This air fryer butternut squash is one of the ultimate fall staples. This orange color squash is super adaptableand works well in soups, snacks, and with salads.

  • Quick And Easy Air Fryer Butternut Squash Recipe (1)

Although this served perfectly well on its own, roasting the squash in the air fryer with olive oil, salt, and pepper turns it into a desirable side to complete any meal.

How To Cut butternut Squash?

Squash of any kind is intimidating to cut. But I promise you, once you get the hang of it, you’ll see it is not as overwhelming as it may seem. Follow the steps below to cut the squash perfectly each time.

Wash the squash. It’s always a great rule of thumb to wash any vegetable prior to handling it. This way, all of the germs are washed away from previous handling.

Peeling the squash. It’s as simple as “peeling it”. Best to use a vegetable peeler to peel the butternut squash.

Cutting the butternut squash.After peeling it, it’s time to cut it into cubes. Simple cut the squash in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, lay the squash face down, then slice it horizontally or into half-moon shape, then slice it vertically to have cube size butternut squash.

Ingredients For Air Fryer Butternut Squash:

After washing, peeling, and cutting your squash, it’s time to air fry them to golden perfection.You only need a few ingredients to roast them in the air fryer.

  • Butternut squash cubes
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Maple syrup
  • Pumpkin Spice
  • (Kosher) salt to taste
  • Ground Pepper to taste
  • Quick And Easy Air Fryer Butternut Squash Recipe (2)

How to Roast Butternut Squash In The Air Fry

  • Pre-heat your air fryer. No need to add parchment paper in the basket as you’ll want to get a better caramelized edge if you air fry the squash directly in the basket. No foil necessary.
  • Use extra-virgin olive oil.When roasting butternut squash you in the air fryer, you don’t need much. Toss it in some olive oil with salt, pepper, and maple syrup or honey to balance out the savory flavor. Feel free to add cayenned pepper or pepper flakes for some heat, and dried herbs if you’d like.In a large bowl, add the cubes to a bowlalong with the ingredients. Toss until the cubes are well coated.
  • Don’t overcrowd your basket.Roast the squash in batches if you can. A crowded basket will keep the squashfrom roasting in the air fryer and getting the golden crustthat we’re looking for.Arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket, do not overcrowd, and air fry on 400F for 15-20 minutes, or until fork tender and a little crispy on the outside. Stir at the mid-way point to make sure all sides are perfectly cooked. Carefully remove from the air fryer and serve immediately as a side.
  • Quick And Easy Air Fryer Butternut Squash Recipe (3)

How to store your butternut squash

When storing butternut squash as a whole, it can be placed in a vegetable basket over the counter and be stored for weeks at room temperature, uncut. However, when they are cut, the squash can be stored in an airtight container for a day or two prior cooking or roasting.

Once the squash is cooked or roasted, the squash can be stored in airtight container in the fridge for a few days. They are great forsalads,roasted beets, and meal prepping!

Our favorite uses for butternut squash

One of the many reasons why we like butter squash is because of how versatile they are. Roasted squash makes a great side as is of course, but it also can be used in place ofsweet potatoes, and it is great for soups, like thisHaitian Squash soup or soup joumou.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are you supposed to peel butternut squash before cooking?

Yes. Peeling the squash before cooking it will allow the squash to roast to a golden color.

Can you fry frozen butternut squash?

Yes, you can definitely air fry frozen butternut squash. It also does not need to be thaw out first.

What does roasted butternut squash taste like?

Roasted butternut squash can be sweet and savory. However, it adapts well to any seasoning.

  • Quick And Easy Air Fryer Butternut Squash Recipe (4)

Air Fryer Roasting Tips For Making This Butternut Squash Recipe:

  • If the skin is too hard to peel, try boiling the squash for 10 minutes to soften up the skin. Whencompletely cool to touch, start peeling with a knife or peeler.
  • Buying pre-cut butternut squash cubes at the grocery store will save you time and effort when it comes to roasting the squash.
  • It is best to keep the sizes the same as much as possible when it comes to roasting the squash. This will allow the squash to cook evenly.
  • Although this recipe is great as is, feel free to jazz them up with your favorite spices. Oregano, dried herbs, cayenne pepper for some heat are all great to balance out the sweet flavor.

Other Fall Recipes You’ll Enjoy:

Looking for more fall recipe inspiration? If you love traditionalThanksgiving foodsand fall flavors, thisbutternut squash recipewill fit right in on your menu rotation!

There’s nothing like fall veggies likesquash,Brussels sprouts, andbeets.All of which are perfect to add to agreen saladorasparagus salad.

We’d especially love to know if you tried this recipe, tag us onInstagramorFacebookso we can see your beautiful dish.

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Also, we would appreciate if could give it a star rating below!

Quick And Easy Air Fryer Butternut Squash Recipe (6)

Butternut Squash Air Fryer

Savory Thoughts

Turn this delicious orange color squash into a tasty side dish. This air fryer Butternut squash recipe is one of the ultimate fall staples.

5 from 8 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 18 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 43 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4 People

Calories 196 kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 Cups Cubed Butternut Squash
  • 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Spice
  • ½ Cup Maple Syrup
  • Salt And Pepper To Taste
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, add the cubes to a bowl along with the ingredients. Toss until the cubes are well coated.

  • Arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket, do not overcrowd, and air fry on 400F for 15-20 minutes, or until fork tender and a little crispy on the outside. Stir at the mid-way point to make sure all sides are perfectly cooked. Carefully remove from the air fryer and serve immediately as a side

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 4PeopleCalories: 196kcalCarbohydrates: 42gSaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 83mgPotassium: 576mgFiber: 3gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 297IUVitamin C: 48mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 5mg

Making this recipe?Mention @MSavoryThoughts or tag #SavoryThoughts!

Tried this recipe?Mention @SavoryThoughts or tag #SavoryThoughts!

Quick And Easy Air Fryer Butternut Squash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is squash good in the air fryer? ›

Butternut squash gets tender with slightly crispy edges when it's cooked in the air fryer. The simple seasonings here complement the subtle sweetness from the squash. Serve this quick and easy side dish with just about anything, from roast chicken to pork.

What is the cooking method for butternut squash? ›

Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Place the squash cubes on the baking sheet and toss with a drizzle of olive oil and pinches of salt and pepper. Roast 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown around the edges.

Do you have to cut butternut squash before cooking? ›

Ditch the struggle. Learn how to roast butternut squash the EASY WAY without any prep work. No pre-peeling, chopping or deseeding (yes really!). Just whole-roast it in the oven until soft and tender.

What 5 foods should you not put in an air fryer? ›

Take a gander of this list of top foods that should never make their way into your air fryer.
  • Wet Batters. ...
  • Cheesy Items. ...
  • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  • Baked Goods. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  • Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

What should you not put in an air fryer? ›

Though certain foods become crispy and juicy in an air fryer, others can get messy or dry. Pros recommended using an air fryer when preparing frozen food, cookies, and bacon. Avoid putting overseasoned food, wet batters, and cheese in your air fryer — they can make a mess.

How does Rachael Ray cook butternut squash? ›

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Halve the squash lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and drizzle with EVOO. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and fresh nutmeg and roast until just tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.

Do I need to peel butternut squash before roasting? ›

You don't have to peel it before roasting. That's right. You do not have to suffer through peeling an entire slippery butternut squash if you're going to roast it.

Why is my roasted butternut squash mushy? ›

Don't overcrowd the pan: When roasting or sautéing butternut squash, make sure that you don't overcrowd the pan. If the pan is too crowded, the squash will steam rather than roast or sauté, which can cause it to become mushy.

Why is my butternut squash mushy? ›

There could be a few reasons why your roasted butternut squash is turning out soggy: Overcrowding: If you overcrowd the baking sheet with butternut squash pieces, they will release more moisture and steam, making it difficult for them to roast properly.

Can you eat butternut squash raw? ›

That's right, you can eat butternut squash raw (yep, we said it). Raw butternut squash is carrot-like and holds up well in crunchy salads and slaws. If opting for raw squash over cooked squash, start by peeling away the tough outer skin (FYI, you can eat the skin when it's cooked.

How to prepare butternut squash for roasting? ›

Prep: Peel and cube the butternut squash. Season: Toss the butternut squash cubes with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Roast: Arrange the seasoned cubes on a baking sheet and roast in the preheated oven until the squash is lightly browned and tender.

Should I microwave butternut squash before cutting? ›

You need to microwave the squash first! Simply poke holes in the butternut squash before microwaving it for around 2 minutes. Monique says this extra step makes “peeling SO much easier.” Microwaving the squash softens its skin and helps chefs save more of the precious orange insides.

Do air fryers cook vegetables well? ›

First, it's quick and easy. These air fryer veggies cook in half the time it takes to make roasted vegetables in the oven! Second, it's delicious. The air fryer vegetables are perfectly tender, with crisp, caramelized edges.

Are air fried vegetables still healthy? ›

Air-fried vegetables are also just as healthy as cooking them on the stovetop, oven, or microwave. With only a tiny amount of oil needed to provide an outer crisp, there is nothing unhealthy about it! This low-calorie food will fit perfectly into any paleo, keto, or low-carb eating plan.

Do vegetables lose nutrients when cooked in air fryer? ›

Nutrient-dense foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains, fatty fish and lean meats are generally just as nutritious in the air fryer as in the oven.

Why are my vegetables not crispy from the air fryer? ›

Tips for Roasting Vegetables in the Air Fryer

Don't overcrowd your insert, or else the air fried veggies will turn out mushy. Go light on the oil. Too much, and the vegetables will become oversaturated and not crisp up.

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