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Home » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes

Air Fryer Butternut Squash

Published: Oct 22, 2021 · Modified: Oct 1, 2022 by Colleen 38 Comments

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Air Fryer Butternut Squash is a quick and easy method to cook this delicious winter squash to crispy, caramelized perfection. This delicious side dish is an easy air fryer recipe that's especially good during squash season when we are loving all the fall flavors.

An overhead view of air fried butternut squash cubes in a black bowl.
Crisp, caramelized butternut squash cubes.

Butternut squash is not only delicious, but it's also a versatile winter squash. You can roast the squash in the oven and mash it like I did here: Mashed Roasted Butternut Squash, or you can put it in a salad like this Butternut Buckwheat Salad. I even like to make Butternut Squash Black Bean Chili. And this squash is always a welcome holiday side dish like Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash. But one of my favourite ways is cooking butternut squash in the air fryer.

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love Roasting Squash in the Air Fryer
  • How To Choose Your Squash
  • How To Cut and Peel Butternut Squash
  • Here's What You Need
  • How to Make It
  • Variations and Substitutions
  • Tips For Success
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Equipment I Used For This Recipe
  • Recipe
  • Comments

Why You'll Love Roasting Squash in the Air Fryer

There are so many reasons to love cooking squash in the air fryer!

  • The butternut squash cubes come out of the air fryer tender, but caramelized and crisp.
  • It's a very simple recipe, with just a handful of ingredients
  • You can free up your oven by using the air fryer, especially if butternut squash will be a Thanksgiving side dish or holiday season side dish.
  • You can use many different seasoning combinations, (see suggestions below) according to your personal preference.
  • In the air fryer, you can roast squash with less oil, making it a healthy cooking method.
  • It's quick! Less than half the time as oven roasted butternut.
  • And, of course, this healthy side dish is gluten free, dairy free and vegan
  • Butternut squash is not only delicious, it's also highly nutritious. Check out Butternut Squash Health Benefits.
A close up of air fryer butternut squash.

How To Choose Your Squash

When you're shopping for butternut squash, look for an all beige skin, with no green.

Butternut squash skin should be hard and have a matte finish, not soft or glossy.

The squash should be heavy for it's size.

Try tapping with your knuckles. It should sound hollow, which means the squash is ripe.

If possible, look for a squash with the stem intact, which means it will keep longer.

How To Cut and Peel Butternut Squash

If you're new to butternut squash, it can seem intimidating to peel and cut it. However, once you get the hang of it, it's easy.

  1. First, using a sharp knife, and a sturdy cutting board, cut off the top and bottom from the squash.
  2. Peel the squash, using a sharp vegetable peeler.
  3. Cut the squash in half where the neck meets the bulb, and with a spoon, scoop out the seeds and stringy parts from the bulb section.
  4. Standing the halves upright on the cutting board, cut each one in half.
  5. Lay the halves cut side down and slice them into half circles. Cut each half circle into sticks.
  6. Finally, cut the sticks into one inch cubes.
How to peel and cut a butternut squash, step by step.
Peeling and cutting a butternut squash.

Here's What You Need

Just a few simple ingredients!

  • Butternut Squash Butternut is probably the most popular of the winter squash, but you can also make this recipe for acorn, delicata, kabocha, or buttercup squashes.
  • Maple syrup Just a little maple syrup goes along way to enhance the natural sweetness of this air fried butternut squash, and it also helps to caramelize it.
  • Olive Oil Just 2 teaspoons of oil is all that's needed for air fried squash. Don't use extra virgin olive oil, though. Extra virgin olive oil isn't suitable for the high heat of the air fryer due to its low smoke point.
  • Seasonings Cinnamon adds warmth and paprika lends a hint of smokiness.

The ingredients to make the recipe on a wooden cutting board.
Ingredients

How to Make It

It couldn't get any easier to make these air fried squash cubes.

  1. Toss butternut squash cubes, maple syrup, olive oil and seasoning in a large bowl until combined.
Butternut squash cubes being tossed in a bowl with seasonings and oil.
Tossing all ingredients together
  1. Place the butternut squash cubes in a single layer layer in the air fryer basket, and cook 15 minutes.
Squash in the air fryer basket ready to be cooked.
Ready to be cooked

After 15 minutes, you'll have crisp and caramelized cubes of butternut ready to serve.

Cooked squash cubes in the air fryer basket.
Crisp and caramelized in just 15 minutes

Variations and Substitutions

Butternut squash is a delicious backdrop to many seasoning combinations. Here are a few great options for seasoning your roasted butternut squash.

  • Rosemary & Sage
  • Sesame & Ginger
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Cajun Seasoning
  • Lemon & Garlic
  • Garam Masala
  • Cayenne pepper

Tips For Success

  • You can save some time if you buy pre-cut squash cubes. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time if the cubes are larger or smaller than one inch.
  • To avoid injury, use a very sharp chef's knife to cut the squash.
  • Use a sturdy, stable cutting board. If your cutting board has any wobble, or slides around, set it atop a damp kitchen towel.
  • Try to cut your squash into fairly uniform sized cubes, so they will cook evenly.
  • You can also make butternut squash fries instead of cubes. Just don't cut the strips into cubes. Serve the squash fries with your favourite dipping sauce.
  • Prep this dish ahead. Just peel and cut your squash cubes, toss all the ingredients together and store covered, in the fridge until you're ready to cook.
  • The total cook time can vary depending on your air fryer model, so its a good idea to check for doneness after 10 minutes.
  • Don't have an air fryer? Cook the fries in the oven at 400° for 25-30 minutes.
  • Leftover squash will keep in the fridge 3-5 days, stored in an airtight container.
  • To reheat leftovers, air fry at 400° for 5 minutes.
A black bowl filled with roasted squash cubes.

Serving Suggestions

Air fried butternut squash is a great side dish for almost everything. Serve it with any of these air fryer mains:

  • Whole Chicken
  • Pork Tenderloin
  • Flank Steak
  • Salmon
  • Rutabaga Fries

Want more squash in the air fryer? Try Air Fryer Acorn Squash (Stuffed, Air Fryer Zucchini, or Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash.

Equipment I Used For This Recipe

  • Air Fryer This one is perfect if you are new to air frying. It's relatively inexpensive and does a great job: Gourmia AF698
  • Chef's Knife A good quality, well sharpened chef's knife like this Classic Professional 8" Chef's Knife is essential for every kitchen.
  • Cutting Board Large winter squash, like butternut, need to be prepped on a sturdy cutting board. I prefer a wood board like this Teakwood Cutting Board.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a rating in the comments below and let us know how it turned out. Did you make any changes? We would love for you to share and your feedback is important! Thank you for visiting The Food Blog!

Recipe

Air fryer butternut squash cubes in a bowl with a wooden spoon.

Air Fryer Butternut Squash

Butternut squash roasted in the air fryer comes out tender crisp and caramelized in half the time as oven roasting.
5 from 27 votes
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Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 side dish servings
Calories: 96kcal
Author: Colleen Milne

Ingredients

  • 4 cups butternut squash one medium, cubed
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat air fryer to 400°
  • In a large bowl, toss all ingredients together so that squash in evenly coated.
  • Put squash in an even layer in air fryer basket
  • Air fry 15 minutes, giving the basket a shake halfway through
  • Serve hot

Notes

  • You'll save time if you buy pre-cut butternut squash cubes. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time is the cubes are larger or smaller than one inch.
  • To avoid injury, use a very sharp chef's knife to cut the squash.
  • Use a sturdy, stable cutting board. If your cutting board has any wobble, or slides around, set it atop a damp kitchen towel.
  • Try to cut your squash into fairly uniform sized cubes, so they will cook evenly.
  • You can also make butternut squash fries instead of cubes. Just don't cut the strips into cubes. Serve the squash fries with your favourite dipping sauce.
  • Prep this dish ahead. Just peel and cut your squash cubes, toss all the ingredients together and store covered, in the fridge until you're ready to cook.
  • Don't have an air fryer? Cook them in the oven at 400° for 25-30 minutes. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 96kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 297mg | Potassium: 514mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 15007IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheFoodBlog or tag #thefoodblog!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bonnie

    December 08, 2022 at 4:36 pm

    Have made this a few times. Absolutely love it!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      December 09, 2022 at 6:13 am

      Glad you love it, Bonnie! Thanks for commenting!

      Reply
  2. Ann

    October 01, 2022 at 4:40 pm

    Wonderful recipe. I love this combination of ingredients!

    Reply
  3. Becka Siegel

    January 15, 2022 at 12:10 pm

    This sounds delicious! If I want to do a savory version, like rosemary and sage, would I still use the maple syrup? What do you think?

    Reply
    • Colleen

      January 15, 2022 at 12:19 pm

      Hi Becka! I would personally leave out the maple syrup. Rosemary and sage will be delicious!

      Reply
      • Becka Siegel

        January 15, 2022 at 12:36 pm

        Ok! Thanks! I'm going to make some for tonight's rice bowls!

  4. Dennis

    November 07, 2021 at 7:58 am

    The squash came out perfectly in our air fryer! Thanks for the cooking inspiration!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      November 07, 2021 at 9:14 am

      You're very welcome, Dennis! I'm so happy it turned out well for you.

      Reply
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