Easy air fryer butternut squash is a versatile side dish that pairs well with any entree, and it takes less than 30 minutes to make using simple ingredients from your pantry.
Key Ingredients
Cooking butternut squash in the air fryer is time-saving and is easy to make. Here’s what you need to get started.
- Butternut Squash: Purchase butternut squash in season, usually between late summer and December. If you’re craving butternut squash out of season, I recommend purchasing frozen butternut squash from optimal freshness. Cut the naturally sweet and nutty butternut squash into bite-size pieces for even cooking and easy meal prep.
- Oil: Coat the squash with olive oil or avocado oil before it cooks to help the spices adhere and prevent it from sticking to the air fryer basket.
- Spices: Season the air fryer butternut squash with a simple spice blend made with kosher salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, white pepper, and a pinch of ground nutmeg for balanced flavor.
- Toppings: Drizzle balsamic glaze or maple Dijon dressing over the top and finish the tasty side dish with a handful of toasted pumpkin seeds.
Additions and Substitutions
- Replace the oil. Coat the butternut squash in ghee or savory bone marrow butter for extra flavor.
- Sweeten the side dish. Those with a sweet tooth can toss the air fryer butternut squash with sweet additions like pure maple syrup, brown sugar, honey, or agave nectar.
- Spice things up. Use your favorite seasoning to flavor the squash. Try it with ras el hanout, this Slap Ya Mama seasoning recipe, or add cayenne pepper, ground cinnamon, cardamom powder, or dried herbs to the suggested spice blend for even more flavor.
- Get your veggies in. You might have other vegetables in the fridge that need to be cooked; consider adding veggies like pearl onions, sweet potatoes, parsnips, or Brussels sprouts to the butternut squash.
How to Prepare Butternut Squash
Select a butternut squash with smooth skin that is firm and free of soft spots or blemishes. A good rule of thumb: the heavier the squash, the sweeter it tends to be. Check out this video demonstrating how to cut a butternut squash.
Remove the ends. Cut off the stem and base of the butternut squash to create a flat surface. Then, use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin.
Do I need to peel the butternut squash?
The skin is technically edible, but it doesn’t soften as much as other squash varieties. I recommend peeling the butternut squash before cutting it into pieces.
Slice the squash in half. Use a sharp knife to cut the squash in half from the stem to the bottom, and remove the seeds.
Cube the squash. Cut the squash into ½-inch cubes.
How to Make Air Fryer Butternut Squash
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C) and prepare the butternut squash.
Step 2: Transfer the squash to a mixing bowl and combine with olive oil, kosher salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, white pepper, and ground nutmeg.
Step 3: Arrange the squash in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
Expert Tips
- Arrange the squash in a single layer. You want to cook the butternut squash in a single layer so the pieces cook evenly and caramelize. You may need to cook the squash in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Shake the basket. Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure the pieces cook evenly.
If you enjoy air fryer butternut squash, try more air fryer veggies!
Serving Suggestions
Air fryer butternut squash takes the sweet and savory vegetable to the next level, leaving you with perfectly caramelized squash to complete your weeknight dinner or holiday meal.
It pairs well with entrées like ras el hanout chicken, pork chops, grilled bison steak, Sriracha salmon, air fryer ribeye steak, or a festive tandoori turkey. Serve it alongside simple sides like green beans or mashed potatoes for a complete meal, or use it to top a hearty fall kale salad.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Wait for the squash to cool. Then, transfer the leftovers to a freezer-safe container or bag. Freeze air fryer butternut squash for 4-6 months.
- Reheat: While they won’t be as crispy as they were made fresh, warm leftovers in the microwave or air fryer at 400°F (204°C) for 5 minutes.
More Vegetable Recipes:
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
- 3-4 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon white pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C) and prepare the butternut squash.
- Transfer the squash to a mixing bowl and combine with olive oil, kosher salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, white pepper, and ground nutmeg.
- Arrange the squash in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Remove the ends. Cut off the stem and base of the butternut squash to create a flat surface. Then, use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin.
- Slice the squash in half. Use a sharp knife to cut the squash in half from the stem to the bottom, and remove the seeds.
- Cube the squash. Cut the squash into ½-inch cubes.
- Arrange the squash in a single layer. You want to cook the butternut squash in a single layer so the pieces cook evenly and caramelize. You may need to cook the squash in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Shake the basket. Shake the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure the pieces cook evenly.
Sarah L.
Monday 13th of February 2023
This air fryer butternut squash recipe is a game-changer! I never knew how to make butternut squash crispy until now. It came out perfectly caramelized and delicious, definitely a new staple in my meal prep. Thank you for sharing!