Air Fryer Butternut Squash [Cubes + Halves]

Name: Air Fryer Butternut Squash [Cubes + Halves]
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 14 min
Total time: 29 min
Ingredients: 4 cups of peeled and diced butternut squash (½-inch pieces); 1 ½ teaspoons of olive oil; ½ teaspoon of garlic salt

Tender, crisp, and lightly caramelized air fryer butternut squash cooks in just 15 minutes as a delicious gluten-free, WFPB, paleo, whole30, vegan main, or great side dish for almost any main (and your Thanksgiving table)!

completed Simple Air Fryer Butternut Squash in a white bowl with a utensil in the bowl

Crisp and Caramelized Air Fryer Butternut Squash

Whenever I struggle to think of what to make for dinner, I often rely on the age-old protein + carbs + lots and lots of veggies formula to pull together a quick, delicious, and nutritious meal. Luckily, recipes like this simple air fryer butternut squash make that super easy to do!

This versatile veggie side dish requires just 3 base ingredients (the squash, a little oil, and salt or the seasoning of your choice) and cooks in just 15 minutes thanks to this simple air fryer method. Even better, with its naturally sweet-savory flavor, you can enjoy it with sweet or savory seasonings and easily adapt the seasonings to your dish and dietary needs.

When you air fry butternut squash, you get the same delicious results as roasting (method in FAQs) but in a fraction of the time. The cubes become tender in the middle with a crispy and lightly caramelized outside.

Although butternut squash is available year-round, unsurprisingly, the best flavor is in season (September to the end of the year). Luckily, this air fryer squash is freezer-friendly for up to 4 months! So you can enjoy it all winter long (and once you’ve tried it, you’ll want to!)

The Ingredients

Butternut squash: Use squash that is heavy for its size, with a smooth, matte skin that’s blemish-free.
Olive oil: I used extra-virgin olive oil. Alternatively, another neutral cooking oil would work, like avocado oil or coconut oil (melted).

To use less oil, use an oil spray instead. However, avoid using PAM spray and similar cooking sprays, as they can wear away the non-stick lining in your air fryer basket.

Garlic salt: Or a combination of salt and garlic powder (or even just salt if that’s the mood you’re in).

ingredients for air fryer butternut squash against a white surface

Optional add-ins & Recipe Variations

The seasoning options for air fryer roasted butternut squash are incredibly versatile, including:

Other spices: There are plenty of ways to season the air fryer squash to your liking. Here are just a few options that pair well with the flavor of the sweet-savory squash.
- Black pepper
- Cinnamon
- Smoked paprika
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Cumin
- Garam masala or Curry powder
- Chili/Cayenne powder
- Dried rosemary, sage, or thyme (or use fresh in the last few minutes of cooking)
- Italian seasoning
- Cajun seasoning

Avoid fresh herbs and garlic, as they're likely to burn in the air fryer. If you want to add them, only do so in the last 5-7 minutes.

Sweet version: You could combine brown sugar and cinnamon or even glaze the pieces with a spoonful of maple syrup.
Parsley: Some finely chopped fresh parsley is perfect for garnishing the air-fried butternut squash.
Everything bagel seasoning: Will add flavor and crunch.
Dried cranberries: Cook the air-fried squash with brown sugar or maple syrup and optionally cinnamon. Once cooked, stir in a handful of cranberries (and optionally some pumpkin seeds).

How to Make Air Fryer Butternut Squash?

Air frying butternut squash is ridiculously simple and requires only 4 steps!

First, preheat the oven to 400F/205C.
Then, peel and dice the butternut squash into ½-inch pieces.

process showing post taking off the skin of a butternut squash

halved butternut squash with a knife laid out against a white marble background

How to peel and cut butternut squash?

Rinse the squash and pat it dry with a paper towel. Then, slice a small amount of each end of the squash (about ½-inch) with a sharp chef’s knife.
Next, use a vegetable peeler to peel off the peel until there are no light streaks left.
Next, standing the squash upright (with the thickest part at the bottom), carefully slice it in half and use a spoon to scoop out the fleshy/seedy part.
To chop the ½-inch pieces, simply make ½-inch slices across the length of both squash halves and then cut those down into ½-inch cubes.

Transfer the cubes to a large bowl and toss with the oil and garlic salt.

4. Then spread the butternut squash in the air fryer, making sure to place them in a single layer (only slight overlapping is allowed, but space between is best). Cook for 14 minutes, giving the basket a shake halfway.

pre-cooked Simple Air Fryer Butternut Squash laid out in an air fryer basket

Simple Air Fryer Butternut Squash laid out in an air fryer basket

If you’d prefer them slightly more caramelized/crisp, then cook for a further 1-3 minutes, monitoring them carefully.

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For Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves

Place the halved squash (no need to peel them), cut-side down in the air fryer, and cook for 20 minutes. Then flip it over and cook for a further 8-12 minutes, or until fork-tender.

This way of cooking the squash is perfect for scooping out the flesh and using within sauces, risotto, as a pasta filling, for soup, etc.

Note that your air fryer model and the exact size of your squash can affect the time it will take to cook.

Serving Recommendations

Air-fried butternut squash is a wonderfully versatile and healthy side dish for all sorts of mains. You can also use it for:

Vegan tacos
Sprinkling over vegan pizza
Mixed into a vegan frittata
Tossed into salad bowls
Add to vegan burritos (and burrito bowls)
In vegan enchiladas and quesadillas
As a soup and risotto topper

The halved butternut squash: This way of cooking the squash is perfect for scooping out the flesh and using as an alternative mash, within sauces, risotto, as a pasta filling, for butternut squash soup, add to baked goods, etc.

completed Simple Air Fryer Butternut Squash in a white bowl against a white background

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Make ahead: Peel and chop the butternut squash up to 2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Store: Air fryer butternut squash is best eaten immediately for the best texture. However, feel free to allow it to cool and store the leftovers in an airtight container or Ziplock/Stasher bag for between 4-5 days. They will soften and lose their crispiness in this time, though.

Freeze: Spread the pieces on a baking tray to flash-freeze until solid. Then transfer to an airtight Ziplock/Stasher bag and freeze for 3-4 months. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

Reheat: The best way to reheat the squash is to pop it back in the air fryer for a few minutes (4-6) until it is heated through and slightly crisp. You can also pan-fry the pieces with a bit of oil (to try bringing back crispiness). While it’s possible to microwave the pieces, too, they’ll be soft.

FAQs

Can I use this method with other squash?

This method should work similarly with other hard, slightly sweet winter squash like delicata, acorn, or kabocha squash (and possibly pumpkin, too). Monitor them while cooking, though, as the times may vary slightly.

Can I bake the butternut squash in the oven?

Absolutely. Preheat the oven to 400F/205C, prepare the ½-inch butternut squash cubes, and bake for between 20-25 minutes, or until tender and lightly caramelized. To bake the squash halves, this will take between 35-45 minutes, depending on your oven and the size of the squash.

Do you need to peel butternut squash?

Technically, the peel is edible, though not everyone enjoys the texture as it’s thick and papery once cooked. For this air-fried butternut squash recipe using squash cubes, it’s best to peel it first.
If you’re cooking the halved squash, though, I prefer to leave the peel on and then peel it (or scoop the flesh out) after it’s cooked.

Can I use frozen butternut squash?

Yes, and there’s no need to thaw it first. Just increase the cooking time by a few minutes (or longer, depending on the size of the pieces). Keep an eye on the machine to avoid burning.

Also, when using frozen squash, leave plenty of space between the pieces (cook in batches if necessary), so they don’t just steam and become mushy.

Top Recipe Tips and Notes

Cooking time can vary: According to the size of the squash pieces (if larger than ½-inch) and your individual air fryer. So monitor the pieces and adjust accordingly.
Don’t overcrowd the basket: Otherwise, the squash will steam rather than become caramelized and crisp. Spread the squash in a single layer, with space between (slight overlapping is allowed). Cook in batches if necessary.
Time-saving hack: Some supermarkets sell pre-chopped butternut squash. I haven’t actually tried it to see if the flavor differs, but it will reduce the prep time to practically seconds. If the pieces are 1-inch cubes, though, it’s best to chop them down to ½-inch pieces for the best results.
Cooking different sized pieces: This will obviously affect the cooking time, so adjust accordingly.
If cooking butternut squash halves: Make sure to use squash that fits the inside of your machine. Otherwise, it will need to be quartered. Adjust the cooking time accordingly.
For air fryer butternut squash fries: Slice them ¼-½ inch thick and adjust the cooking time accordingly.

If you try this air fryer butternut squash recipe, I’d love to know what you think in the comments below. I’d also really appreciate a recipe card rating!

Photos by Alfonso Revilla