Air Fryer Butternut Squash

Air fryer butternut squash is a fantastic side dish for fall and winter. Soft roasted cubes of butternut squash are made with minimal effort, ready to be enjoyed with your favorite meals.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Top tips
• Serving suggestions
• Variations
• Leftovers
• Frequently asked questions
• Recipe

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Butternut squash is one of my favorite seasonal vegetables. It's really versatile, and has a wonderful flavor that pairs incredibly well with both sweet and savory dishes.

One of my favorite ways to prepare squash is to roast it. Roasted chunks of squash can be used in a variety of dishes, or served as an amazing side dish with hearty fall meals. Butternut squash is very similar to pumpkin, and this can therefore double as a roasted pumpkin side for holiday dinners.

Roasting the squash is an air fryer has completely changed the game for me. It's super easy, really quick, and you don't have to use your oven which means that it's free to cook your main dish.

Ingredients

For this recipe you will need butternut squash and some seasoning. I like to use maple syrup, sage, salt and cinnamon, which gives the squash a thin glaze with amazing fall flavors. You can substitute these with any herbs or spices that you like. Check out some suggested flavor variations below!

You will also need an air fryer. I use this one from Amazon.

💡 TIP! You can follow the exact same instructions to cook air fryer pumpkin or other types of squash.

Instructions

Start by preparing your butternut squash. You want to peel off the skin with a vegetable peeler, then remove the seeds and dice it. Coat the squash evenly with the remaining ingredients.

Preheat your air fryer to 360 °F / 180 °C. Add the seasoned squash chunks, and air fry for about 10 minutes. Shake the basket, and air fry for another 10 minutes, or until the squash can easily be pierced with a fork.

Place the squash in a serving bowl, and top with cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Top tips

• The cooking time can vary depending on which air fryer you use, or the size of the butternut pieces. Make sure to check them to prevent them from burning.
• You can omit the toppings, or add others if you prefer.

Serving suggestions

• Butternut squash curry - Turn these soft vegetable chunks into a healthy, delicious Thai style curry.
• Air fryer pork tenderloin - Serve the butternut squash with your favorite pork recipe for a complete meal all made in an air fryer.
• Gammon steaks - Gammon and butternut squash go surprisingly well together.
• Honey glazed roast chicken - This is a perfect side for your holiday roast chicken.
• Butternut squash pasta sauce - Use the pumpkin pieces to make this delicious and creamy pasta sauce.
• BBQ meatloaf - The meatloaf glaze is a perfect pairing with the roasted squash.
• Air fryer chicken breast - Juicy chicken breasts pair well with any side.

Browse my collection of healthy air fryer vegetable recipes for more easy side dishes.

Variations

• Add curry powder and allspice for an Asian version of the dish.
• Serve the squash with freshly chopped parsley and crumbled feta cheese on top.
• Use rosemary and olive oil for a Mediterranean flavored squash recipe.
• Cumin, garlic powder and smoked paprika gives the dish Southern vibes.

Leftovers

Leftover air fryer squash can be stored in airtight containers in a refrigerator for up to 4 days. Enjoy them cold in a salad, or reheat them to serve as a side dish for dinner.

You can also freeze the cubes. Keep in mind that they tend to be extremely soft when defrosted, but they are still perfectly fine to use in dishes like soup.

Frequently asked questions

Recipe