What is the best type of pumpkin to use for pumpkin fries?

I like to use a pie pumpkin (or sugar pumpkin) for this recipe as they have a delicious sweet flavor and work well for cooking and baking. You can also use Jack Be Littles, which have a sweet taste and smooth flesh, and are smaller and easy to work with. Larger pumpkins, on the other hand (like the ones you carve as jack-o-lanterns), are edible but they tend to be a little watery and stringy. Their large size is also a little more awkward to peel and cut. I don’t recommend them for this recipe.

Can you use another type of squash for this recipe?

Absolutely! You can substitute buttercup, honeynut, acorn or butternut squash. (Or, check out this recipe for air fryer butternut squash cubes ).

Do you need to peel the pumpkin?

Yes, I recommend peeling the skin off the pumpkin for these fries.

Why are my pumpkin fries not crispy?

Pumpkin contains more moisture than potatoes, so these fries won’t get crispy like french fries but you will be able to get some crispy and caramelized edges. If your fries are too soft or even soggy, it could mean that the air fryer basket was too full or the fries were overcooked.

Can I bake them in the oven instead of air frying?

Yes, but in my experience, the edges won't get as crispy or caramelized compared to the air fryer. Arrange the pumpkin slices in a single layer on a large sheet pan. Roast on 450F for 15-17 minutes, stopping at the midway point to flip the fries.

Air Fryer Pumpkin Fries

Description

Sweet and salty with caramelized and crispy edges, these Air Fryer Pumpkin Fries are a delicious alternative to traditional fries and the perfect way to change up your Thanksgiving side dishes!

Ingredients

1 pie pumpkin (approximately 4 pounds)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
Chopped fresh parsley for serving (optional)

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Instructions

Stand the pumpkin on a cutting board. If the pumpkin isn’t level, you can trim the bottom off. Using a sharp knife, start on one side of the stem and cut down one side. Repeat on the other side.
Pull apart the two pumpkin halves and scoop the seeds out.
Cut the stem off and trim the bottoms off each half (if you haven’t already cut the bottom off).
Use a peeler to peel the skin off each pumpkin half. (I like to use a Y peeler to do this).
Cut each pumpkin half into quarters so you have 8 pieces of pumpkin.
Cut each piece into 1/4-inch slices. You should get roughly 10 cups of pumpkin slices.
Add the slices to a large bowl and toss together with the oil and seasonings until well coated.
Place the pumpkin slices in the air fryer basket. Just add enough so they are overlapping in two layers. Don’t fill the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you will need to air fry in 2-4 batches. (See notes below).
Air fry at 400F for 15-17 minutes, stopping a few times to shake the basket and rotate the fries around so they cook evenly.
Repeat with remaining pumpkin slices and serve with a sprinkle of salt and chopped fresh parsley.

Notes

There’s no need to air fry the pumpkin slices in a single layer. It will take forever to air fry all of them! You can overlap the slices in the air fryer basket, just don’t fill the basket and make sure you shake the basket a few times.
I used a Cosori 5.8 quart air fryer for this recipe, which is large enough to air fry all of the pumpkin slices in just 2 batches. If you have a smaller air fryer, you will need to air fry the fries in 3-4 batches.
This recipe makes a lot of fries, so feel free to half the recipe. Just use half the pumpkin or use a smaller pumpkin (about 2 pounds instead of 4).