This Air Fryer Butternut Squash recipe is an easy fall and holiday side dish that requires just a few ingredients and comes together quickly in your air fryer. It's seasoned with herbs and spices and a little maple syrup, so it roasts up sweet, savory and tender in the air fryer.
I normally enjoy this sweet winter squash in creamy soups like roasted red pepper and butternut squash soup or carrot and butternut squash soup. But, it's also delicious roasted in the air fryer, either as cubes or squash halves. Instructions for both are included in the recipe!
Quick Look: Air Fryer Butternut Squash
- ⏱ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 👩🏻🍳 Air Frying Time: 15 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 25 minutes
- 🍽 Servings: 4
- ⚡ Calories: 128 per serving
- 🌱 Diet: vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free
- 🔥 Flavor/texture: tender and sweet caramelized edges with a mix of sweet, savory and smoky flavors.
- 👌 Difficulty: assembly is quick and easy; the hardest part is peeling and chopping the squash (but I've included tips for this)!
- ❤️ Why you'll love: just 8 basic ingredients needed; recipe includes instructions for preparing as squash cubes or squash halves; can be prepped in advance.
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Why this recipe has been a reader favorite for 7 years
- Taste and texture: The squash turns out so tender and sweet with caramelized edges.
- Deliciously snackable: The recipe is so good, I normally eat half of the squash cubes straight out of the air fryer before they make it to the serving dish!
- Elevated fall flavors: Dried sage enhances the seasoning mix, while maple syrup and smoked paprika add a sweet and smoky twist.
- Perfect holiday side dish: It's a great recipe to prep for holiday meals like Thanksgiving or Christmas.
- Convenient and efficient: You can peel and cut your squash a day in advance, and cooking it in the air fryer is faster than oven roasting and frees up valuable oven space.
- Versatile serving options: The recipe includes instructions to air fry the squash as cubes (similar to my air fryer home fries) or halves (with the skin left on).
Table of Contents
- Quick Look: Air Fryer Butternut Squash
- Why this recipe has been a reader favorite for 7 years
- Ingredient notes and substitutions
- How to cut butternut squash into cubes
- How to cook butternut squash cubes in the air fryer
- How to roast butternut squash halves in the air fryer
- What to serve with butternut squash
- Storage and reheating tips
- Expert tips
- Air fryer butternut squash FAQs
- More recommended squash recipes
- 📖 Recipe
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Butternut squash - You'll need one medium-sized squash for this recipe, which will yield about 4 cups of cubed squash. I usually buy a 2 ½ to 3 pound squash to make sure I have enough.
- Oil - I used olive oil, but you can also use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil.
- Maple syrup - Adds a touch of sweetness and helps to caramelize the edges of the squash cubes. You can also substitute with brown sugar.
- Italian seasoning - I love the mix of dried herbs in Italian-style seasoning. (It's my fave way to season my air fryer carrots and air fryer baby potatoes)! If you don't have any, feel free to make your own with a mix of dried thyme, rosemary, marjoram, savory, sage, oregano and basil. Or use any combination of these herbs.
- Dried sage - The Italian seasoning includes dried sage, but I love the pairing of butternut squash with sage, so I decided to add more. If you don't have any, feel free to leave it out or just use more Italian seasoning.
- Garlic powder - A staple in most of my savory dishes! I don't recommend substituting with garlic salt as the squash will end up too salty.
- Smoked paprika - Adds a hint of smokiness to the recipe. You can substitute with sweet paprika but it won't add the same smoky flavor.
- Salt - Don't go over board on salt, but feel free to add more to taste once the squash is ready to serve.
How to cut butternut squash into cubes
I have a separate post on how to peel and cut a butternut squash with step by step photos. Below is a quick overview.
- Make sure you have a large sharp knife and that your cutting surface is stable. Cut the top and bottom off the squash. By doing this, you can stand up the squash and it's easier to work with.
- Peel the squash with a vegetable peeler. I prefer a Y peeler but a swivel will work too. Avoid trying to peel it with a knife.
- Once peeled, cut the squash in half where the neck meets the body. Stand the neck on its end and cut it in half. Cut each half into slices and then cut into 1-inch cubes.
- Cut the body in half and scoop out the seeds. (Save the seeds to air fry them like these air fryer pumpkin seeds). Slice each half into slices and then chop the slices into 1-inch cubes.
How to cook butternut squash cubes in the air fryer
Step 1: Add the squash cubes, oil and maple syrup to a bowl and toss to combine.
Step 2: Add the seasonings and toss until the cubes are well coated.
Step 3: Arrange the squash cubes in a single layer in your air fryer basket.
Step 4: Air fry on 400F for 13-15 minutes, or until fork tender.
How to roast butternut squash halves in the air fryer
If you want to save time, just cut your squash in half, scoop out the seeds and air fry. No peeling or chopping required!
Step 1: Cut your squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and any stringy flesh. Brush the flesh with one tablespoon of oil.
Step 2: Air fry the squash cut side up at 360F for 15 minutes.
Step 3: Carefully brush with remaining oil and maple syrup and sprinkle on the seasoning. (Only use about ¼ of the seasoning that you would use for the squash cubes as there is much less surface area to cover).
Step 4: Air fry for another 10-15 minutes, or until fork tender. When it's cooled enough to handle, scoop the flesh out and enjoy it mashed, or in casseroles, soups or sauces.
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What to serve with butternut squash
- It makes the perfect holiday side dish to serve with your turkey or ham, whole wheat stuffing and roasted Brussels sprouts with prosciutto!
- My favorite way to dress up squash is with some homemade savory pecan granola and fresh chopped parsley.
- You can also add some roasted pumpkin seeds or toasted pecans. The crunchy texture with the fork tender squash is delicious!
- The squash cubes also work well in grain bowls or salads, like this roasted root vegetable salad.
- You can even mash the squash halves and serve it like I do my mashed acorn squash recipe.
Storage and reheating tips
The squash cubes are best served and enjoyed immediately. If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To reheat the squash cubes, air fry them on 400F for 3-5 minutes. Just note that they will have a softer texture once reheated.
The squash halves can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. I prefer to scoop out the squash first and then store it. When ready to eat, just reheat it in the microwave for a minute or two.
Expert tips
- Prepping squash halves. Make sure you buy a squash that fits in your air fryer. You can cut about ¼ inch off the bottom to help stabilize it and make it easier to cut in half. You may also need to cut the stem off to fit it in your air fryer.
- Size of squash cubes. When cutting the squash into cubes, you'll want them to be close in size so they air fry evenly. This recipe uses 1-inch cubes. If you have smaller or larger cubes, you will need to adjust the air frying time.
- Pre-cut squash. If you want to save a bit of time, you can buy pre-cut butternut squash cubes at your grocery store.
- Single layer. You'll want to air fry the squash cubes in a single layer so they cook evenly. Make sure to stop and shake the basket a few times while cooking.
- Air fryers can vary. Different air fryer brands and sizes will differ so you may need to adjust the air frying time slightly depending on your air fryer. The squash is ready when it's fork tender.
- Avoid fresh herbs. You'll want to stick with dried herbs and garlic powder for this recipe. Fresh chopped herbs and minced garlic do not coat the squash evenly and burn quickly. Save the fresh herbs for a garnish at the end!
Air fryer butternut squash FAQs
Fresh squash cubes are best for this recipe. While I sometimes use frozen butternut squash for other recipes, I don't recommend using them in this air fryer recipe. The cubes get a bit watery, which results in a soft and mushy texture.
If you are air frying the squash in halves, then you'll want to leave the skin on. If you are air frying the squash as cubes, you'll want to peel the skin.
Absolutely! You can substitute buttercup squash, honeynut squash, acorn squash or sugar pumpkin in this recipe. Just note you may need to adjust the air frying time slightly. You can also try this recipe for air fryer pumpkin fries!
More recommended squash recipes
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If you make this recipe, please leave a review and rating below to let me know what you think. If you have a question, drop that below too!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
Ingredients
- 1 medium-sized butternut squash, (about 2 ½ - 3 lbs or 4 cups cubed)
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried sage
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
For squash cubes:
- Peel and chop the squash into 1-inch cubes. You'll need 4 cups of squash cubes. (See section above on how to cut a butternut squash).
- Add the squash cubes, oil and maple syrup to a bowl and toss to combine.
- Add the seasonings and toss until the cubes are well coated.
- Arrange in a single layer in your air fryer basket.
- Air fry on 400F for 13-15 minutes, or until fork tender, stopping a few times to shake the basket.
For squash halves:
- Cut the squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and any stringy flesh. Brush the flesh with one tablespoon of oil.
- Air fry flesh side up at 360F for 15 minutes.
- Carefully brush the flesh with remaining oil and maple syrup and sprinkle on the seasoning. (Only use about ¼ of the seasoning that you would use for the squash cubes as there is much less surface area to cover. You can also just season it with salt and pepper if you prefer).
- Air fry for another 10-15 minutes, or until fork tender.
Notes
- If you want to save a bit of time, you can buy pre-cut butternut squash cubes at your grocery store.
- Cut the squash cubes close in size so they air fry evenly. This recipe uses 1-inch cubes. If you have smaller or larger cubes, you will need to adjust the air frying time.
- Air fry the squash cubes in a single layer so they cook evenly, and shake the basket a few times to rotate them around.
- For the squash halves, make sure you buy a squash that fits in your air fryer. You may need to cut the stem off to fit it in.
- To add a little spice to the squash, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes.
- Use dried herbs and garlic powder for this recipe. Fresh chopped herbs and minced garlic do not coat the squash evenly and burn quickly.
- Different air fryer brands and sizes will differ so you may need to adjust the air frying time slightly depending on your air fryer. The squash is ready when it's fork tender.
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Nutrition Facts per Serving
Disclaimer
Nutrition information is an estimate only and will vary depending on the substitutions made and the brands used.
Did you make this recipe or have any questions?
I love reading your comments and addressing your questions, so please leave your comments and ratings or questions below!
I first published this air fried butternut squash recipe in October 2019, back when I was using a toaster oven style air fryer for my recipes. Since my go-to is now a larger basket style air fryer, I decided to update the recipe to reflect this. I also included a few tweaks to the recipe, new photos and more helpful tips for readers.
Jacie says
I just made this and am in love with it!! Thank you so much
Leanne says
So glad you loved it!
Natalie says
I really want to make this!! Will it still taste okay for leftovers?
Leanne says
Hi Natalie! The squash fries are best enjoyed right out of the air fryer. If you have leftovers, you can reheat them in the microwave or oven but the texture will be softer. Hope that helps!
Carrie says
So good! I used avocado oil and a honey butternut squash. I have the vortex plus and only needed 10 minutes of cook time. Thanks!!
Leanne says
Hi Carrie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe. And thanks for sharing your substitutions and the cook time for the Vortex Plus!
Kelly says
Perfect side dish at our Thanksgiving dinner this weekend.
Leanne says
So good to hear! Thanks Kelly!
Julie says
We are new to a plant based diet and to the air fryer and love both. The butternut squash recipe is right on. I’ve applied it to some other “sturdy” veggies and it works great for those too. Way to go on this!
Leanne says
That's so good to hear Julie! Thanks for letting me know. I'm glad you're enjoying your air fryer!
Julie says
I made this tonight. The seasonings were good however the squash was still a little more mushy than I care for. The next time I cook this I will do it at a slightly higher temperature
Leanne says
Hi Julie. Thanks for your feedback. If you air fry them at a higher temperature, just keep an eye on them so they don't burn.
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
This is genius!! I was about to buy a butternut squash, but I didn't know what to do with it. Now I need to buy a butternut squash AND an air fryer, or else I won't be able to stop thinking about this!!
Leanne says
Haha! Thanks Cathleen! Hope you were able to buy both and give this recipe a try!
Jaida ~ Sweet Beginnings says
These look amazing, Leanne! The hubs has been asking me if I want an air fryer and I keep debating, because space and yet another appliance, but the more I'm seeing recipes like this one, the more I'm thinking I DO need one!
Leanne says
We love our air fryer! Thanks Jaida!