Make this Air Fryer Butternut Squash recipe in 20 minutes. Toss butternut squash in a simple seasoning blend and air fry until tender!
Quick
Air fryer fast
You’ll Learn: The no-fuss method for enjoying roasted butternut squash flavor in half the usual time
Worth It: The flavor and texture of oven-roasted squash in a fraction of the time
Bonus: It’s a perfect meal prep ingredient
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy weeknight side dish – this recipe is great for weeknight eating. You’ll have perfectly crispy butternut squash in a total time of less than 20 minutes.
- Perfect for meal prep – I love easy air fryer recipes for meal prep! With minimal prep time, they are so easy to add to the mix. You can either cube the squash in advance and wait to cook them, or you can cook it, store it in the fridge, and reheat throughout the week.
- Butternut squash in half the time – Roasted butternut squash can take so long to get crispy in the oven, so I love that this recipe cuts the cooking time in half in the air fryer!
Serving Suggestions
I love how versatile these air fryer butternut squash are. They are the perfect side for any breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I love to pair these with cast iron chicken thighs or lemon herb spatchcock chicken. It would be great with blackened salmon, or with air fryer steak bites to make this a whole air fryer meal.
For lunch or dinner, these are great to throw into a fall harvest salad. I love adding the leftovers to poached eggs and crispy bacon for breakfast.
During the holiday season, this air-fried butternut squash makes the perfect Thanksgiving side dish that is so easy to make.
Ingredients
- Butternut squash – The recipe calls for half of a butternut squash, but you can also double the recipe and cook in batches. To make this recipe even easier, you can buy pre-cut butternut squash cubes.
- Olive oil – I use olive oil for this recipe, but you can use avocado oil, or any oil you would like.
- Salt – I use kosher salt here. If you only have table salt, make sure to half the amount to avoid making it too salty.
- Smoked paprika – Smoked paprika adds so much great flavor to the squash. The smoked style adds even more depth than a regular paprika, but regular or hot paprika would also work in this recipe.
- Cinnamon – The cinnamon brings out a little sweetness in the squash that really makes it so delicious.
Ingredient Substitutions
This recipe is already gluten-free, vegan, and dairy free, so it works for so many dietary restrictions. This method would also work beautifully for sweet potatoes or any of your favorites in winter squash season.
You can mix up the spices by adding black pepper or garlic powder to make it more savory, or add brown sugar or maple syrup to make it taste a bit sweeter.
For the holidays, I love to shake in some dried herbs to the seasoning blend.
How to cut butternut squash
If you are use a whole butternut squash, start by cutting off 1/4 inch from the stem and the bottom to create flat surfaces. Then use a vegetable peeler to peel the skin off. Use a sharp knife to cut the squash in half crosswise, separating the neck from the bulb. Then cut each half lengthwise to create quarters.
Next, use a spoon to remove the seeds from the bulb. Now, you should have four quarters of your squash ready to cut. Place each piece onto its flat side and slice them cross wise to create slices. Finally, cut each slice into 1 inch cubes. You can also cut these smaller or bigger depending on the size you prefer.
How to make
Step 1: prepare Ingredients
Cube your butternut squash into 1-inch cubes and place in a medium sized bowl. Mix the salt, smoked paprika, and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Toss the squash in the oil, then add the seasoning blend and toss to combine.
Step 2: Add Squash to the air fryer
Preheat air fryer to 400F for about 5 minutes. Pour the squash into the air fryer basket or tray in a single layer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may want to do these in batches to make sure they get crispy.
Step 3: Cook the Butternut Squash
After five minutes, toss the squash. Cook for another five minutes, then toss again. Cook for 3-5 more minutes, or until the squash is fork tender and reaches your desired crispiness.
Storage and Reheating
Allow it to cool completely, then store leftover squash in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes until warmed through.
Check out these other Air Fryer Recipes
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
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Recipe
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
Ingredients
- 1/2 butternut squash or 4 cups cubed butternut squash
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Cube your butternut squash into 1/2 inch cubes and place in a medium sized bowl.
- Mix the salt, smoked paprika, and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Toss the squash in the oil, then add the seasoning blend and toss to combine.
- Preheat air fryer to 400F for about 5 minutes. Pour the squash into the air fryer basket or tray. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may want to do these in batches to make sure they get crispy.
- After five minutes, toss the squash. Cook for another five minutes, then toss again. Cook for 3-5 more minutes, or until the squash reaches your desired crispiness.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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