Air Fryer Butternut squash is an easy way to make perfect roasted butternut squash. A quick and delicious side dish for Fall/Autumn and the holidays.
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What says ‘Fall’ better than some cinnamony roasted butternut squash? I’m always partial to the sweet scents of cinnamon and maple especially in the Fall / Autumn and I love to season everything in it – from sweet potato to butternut squash.
After I bought my air fryer this year, I found that the process of roasting veggies is so much easier and quicker in the air fryer - I prefer to roast my veggies in the air fryer rather than in the oven now. What's more, with the air fryer, everything crisps up so much better than in the oven.
The next time you’re looking for a quick, healthy, and delicious side dish for your weeknight, or if you are planning a holiday menu, I highly recommend these caramelized roasted butternut squash. The air fryer does a quick job of roasting them, and you will love the caramelization and the crispy edges of the squash.
Why this recipe works
- 10-minute recipe for crispy, caramelized, cinnamony butternut squash
- Easy side dish for Fall and the holidays
- 4 ingredients only!
- Healthy, high in nutritonal value
List of Ingredients
To make butternut squash in the air fryer you will need:
Olive Oil - I prefer olive oil for a neutral flavor. You can use butter if you like.
Cinnamon, Maple Syrup - Cinnamon is a classic Fall flavor and Maple syrup helps in giving a nice caramelization to the butternut squash. You can skip these and go for optional seasonings if you like (see recipe variations below)
Butternut squash - I prefer to buy fresh, instead of using pre-cut butternut squash. Do not use frozen butternut squash, as it will not crisp up as well as fresh.
Salt - Use kosher or sea salt to season. I prefer to add salt midway through the air frying cycle. Salt can bring out the moisture in the vegetable and this will prevent it from crisping up. It is recommended to add it towards the end.
How to roast butternut squash in the air fryer
To make butternut squash in the air fryer, get hold of a nice big butternut squash – I prefer to use a fresh one, instead of precut pieces. To prep the butternut squash, cut it up into two halves and peel the skin using a vegetable peeler. Once peeled, start to chop into large cubes. From the bottom half of the butternut squash, take out the stringy bits and seeds and discard them.
Once you have cubed the butternut squash, toss it in a mixing bowl along with olive oil, maple syrup and cinnamon. Don’t add the salt just yet.
In a preheated air fryer, add the cubes of butternut squash in a single layer without crowding. Cook at 370 F (190 C) for 10 minutes, flipping once midway. Add the salt mid-way through, toss and continue to air fry until the 10 minutes cycle is complete.
Once done, the butternut squash cubes will look like this.
Alternative Method – Make it in the Oven
If you do not have an air fryer, you can make the roasted butternut squash in the oven. Simply follow the same steps as above to chop and season the butternut squash.
Then transfer the butternut squash to a baking tray, in a single layer.
Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, until caramelized and done. Season with salt and serve.
Recipe Variations
Try different seasonings
Air fryer Butternut squash can be made with as few or as many ingredients as you want. In this recipe, I have used maple, cinnamon, salt, and olive oil. You can also try these seasonings if sweet roasted butternut squash isn’t your thing:
- Cumin and paprika
- Ginger powder and cinnamon
- Minced fresh garlic
- Rosemary, Thyme, Sage
Make butternut squash air fryer fries
Another way to enjoy this recipe is to make butternut squash air fryer fries, instead of cooking them as cubes. To make the fries, simply cut the butternut squash into long thin fries. Season with olive oil and air fry at 400 F fr 10 minutes, flipping them midway for even frying. Finally, season with salt and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-cut fresh butternut squash will work well for this recipe, instead of using fresh whole butternut squash. Make sure that the pieces are around 1 inch in size - small cubes will need less time in the air fryer or oven. Do not use frozen butternut squash - they will not roast as well as fresh-cut pieces.
To make it easier to cut the butternut squash, you can soften the skin a little before peeling your butternut squash. Simply use a fork to pierce the butternut squash a few times, then put it in the microwave for 2 minutes. This will help soften the skin a bit before you start to peel the butternut squash.
Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, toss up the butternut squash cubes along with olive oil, maple syrup, and cinnamon.
- Preheat your air fryer (I used my Instant Vortex) at 370 F (190 C).
- Once preheated, add the seasoned cubes of butternut squash in a single layer without crowding.
- Cook at 370 F for 10 minutes, flipping once midway. Add the salt mid-way through, toss and continue to air fry until the 10 minutes cycle is complete.
- Take out the cooked squash and garnish with chopped-up parsley (optional). Air Fryer butternut squash is now ready to be served.
Alternative method - in the oven
- Follow the same steps as above to season the butternut squash cubes in a mixing bowl.
- Then transfer the butternut squash to a baking tray, in a single layer.
- Bake the squash at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, until caramelized and cooked. Season with salt and serve.