Air Fryer Butternut Squash

Learn how to make crispy and tender butternut squash in the air fryer with simple ingredients like olive oil, salt, and herbs. This foolproof method ensures a deliciously golden exterior and a creamy interior, ideal for a nutritious and flavorful side dish that pairs well with any main course.

Why This Recipe Works:

• Efficient Cooking Method: The air fryer’s rapid air circulation cooks the butternut squash evenly and quickly (compared to traditional oven roasting), resulting in a crispy exterior and tender interior, enhancing the natural sweetness and texture of the squash. If you are looking to make this in your oven you can also check out this recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash.
• Healthier Alternative: Using an air fryer requires less oil compared to traditional frying methods, making this recipe a healthier choice that retains the nutritional value of butternut squash without added fats.
• Versatile Flavor Profile: The simplicity of olive oil, salt, and herbs allows the natural flavor of the butternut squash to shine through, while also being adaptable to various seasonings and spices to complement different cuisines and dishes.

Supplies Needed:

• Chef’s Knife & Cutting Board
• Vegetable Peeler (optional)
• Air fryer (I love this Ninja Foodi convection oven air fryer)
• Large Bowl
• Spatula or Tongs

How to peel and cut a butternut squash:

Peeling, cutting, and preparing a butternut squash is quite simple, but there are a few tips and steps you can take to do this the easy way!

Here are a few tips for safely cutting and prepping a fresh butternut squash:

• 1. Take a knife and poke a few holes into the rind of the squash (this helps release any steam).
• 2. Microwave the whole squash to help soften the outside rind for 2-3 minutes.
• 3. Cut the ends off with a chef’s knife to stabilize the squash for safer cutting and trimming off your rind.

4. Next, you need to remove the butternut squash skin. Some people prefer to peel the skin off with a vegetable peeler, but I like to trim it off with a knife like I cut the rind off a watermelon.

I find this method provides more control over the process and it makes it go much faster.

Once you trim the skin off, you can slice it in half, down the middle, and scoop out the inside seeds.

Once the seeds are out, cut the butternut squash into 1-inch cubes and set the squash pieces into a bowl to be seasoned. Discard the rind and seeds.

Can you air fry frozen butternut squash?

Yes, you can but it can change the texture and total cook time of the recipe. You may need to adjust as necessary until the squash is cooked through and lightly golden brown.

Precut frozen squash is a great choice if you can’t find this veggie when it’s out of season or you need to save time by finding it already pre-chopped.

What flavors and seasonings pair well with butternut squash?

Because this squash is naturally a little sweeter, you can get creative with some of the different flavor variations and seasonings.

I love to use the book, The Flavor Bible by Karen Page and Andrew Dorenburg to reference when working with different foods.

Here are some general flavor profiles they mention you can use for butternut squash:

• Bacon + Maple Syrup + Sage
• Crème Fraiche + Nutmeg + Sage
• Cilantro + Coconut + Ginger

I like other savory spices like garlic powder, allspice, cayenne pepper, or Aleppo pepper. You can get creative with sweeteners like brown sugar and honey or try making a twice baked butternut squash as well.

Ingredients:

• Butternut Squash: Find a nice medium-sized squash for this recipe. I like to have about 3-4 cups total (chopped). Squash season will be the best time for this recipe, but you can still make this year round.
• Oil: You can oil the squash with avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil. The benefit of air frying is you can use less oil (it acts more as a binder for your seasonings) overall, keeping it lower in fat.
• Seasonings: I like to use sage, salt, black pepper, and a little Aleppo pepper for some heat.
• Honey: I use this at the end to balance out the savory flavor of the spices. Adding any sugar during the cooking process, however, can cause it to burn or over-caramelize so be cautious of this.
• Goat Cheese: This is a strong cheese, so a little goes a long way. I like to add this at the end to balance out the sweetness in this dish.
• Fresh Basil: It adds a bright color and a pop of freshness to the dish.

Cooking Instructions and Tips:

1. 1. Once your squash cubes are prepped, add them to a bowl with your seasonings and your oil of choice.
2. 2. Preheat your air fryer before cooking for the best results.
3. 3. Place your squash pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the pieces so they cook evenly (this also prevents steaming and encourages browning).
4. 4. Flip halfway through your cooking process to allow it to brown on both sides and caramelize. Once the squash is tender (check it with a fork) you can remove it and place it into a serving bowl and add your other ingredients (goat cheese, honey drizzle, and fresh basil).

What temperature should I cook butternut squash in the air fryer?

Air fryer recipes should be approached like you’re using the convection setting on a traditional oven.

This speeds up the cooking process, so you want to cook at a lower temperature than you would if you were baking.

I found that 370 degrees F. worked best in my Ninja air fryer.

The total cooking time was 20 minutes at this temperature and I flipped the squash cubes halfway through cooking for even browning.

How to serve this perfect side dish:

Here are some tips for serving this healthy side dish-

• Add your honey drizzle (or maple syrup) after it comes out of the air fryer to naturally use the heat of the cooked squash to help coat everything. Fold it in gently with a spatula.
• Use crumbled goat cheese (the smaller pieces mix in more easily).
• If you’re not serving right away, wait to add the basil until right before so it doesn’t brown and wilt. You can also garnish with fresh parsley as well.

Have leftovers after serving? Store them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.

Reheat on half power in your microwave or at a lower temperature in the air fryer.

More Air Fryer Recipes To Try:

• Air Fryer Pork Belly
• Air Fryer Cheese Curds
• Air Fried Salmon
• Air Fryer Crab Cakes