Air Fryer Butternut Squash

Why You'll Love Roasting Squash in the Air Fryer

There are so many reasons to love cooking squash in the air fryer!

• The butternut squash cubes come out of the air fryer tender, but caramelized and crisp.
• It's a very simple recipe, with just a handful of ingredients
• You can free up your oven by using the air fryer, especially if butternut squash will be a Thanksgiving side dish or holiday season side dish.
• You can use many different seasoning combinations, (see suggestions below) according to your personal preference.
• In the air fryer, you can roast squash with less oil, making it a healthy cooking method.
• It's quick! Less than half the time as oven roasted butternut.
• And, of course, this healthy side dish is gluten free, dairy free and vegan
• Butternut squash is not only delicious, it's also highly nutritious. Check out Butternut Squash Health Benefits.

How To Choose Your Squash

When you're shopping for butternut squash, look for an all beige skin, with no green.

Butternut squash skin should be hard and have a matte finish, not soft or glossy.

The squash should be heavy for it's size.

Try tapping with your knuckles. It should sound hollow, which means the squash is ripe.

If possible, look for a squash with the stem intact, which means it will keep longer.

How To Cut and Peel Butternut Squash

If you're new to butternut squash, it can seem intimidating to peel and cut it. However, once you get the hang of it, it's easy.

1. First, using a sharp knife, and a sturdy cutting board, cut off the top and bottom from the squash.
2. Peel the squash, using a sharp vegetable peeler.
3. Cut the squash in half where the neck meets the bulb, and with a spoon, scoop out the seeds and stringy parts from the bulb section.
4. Standing the halves upright on the cutting board, cut each one in half.
5. Lay the halves cut side down and slice them into half circles. Cut each half circle into sticks.
6. Finally, cut the sticks into one inch cubes.

Here's What You Need

Just a few simple ingredients!

• Butternut Squash Butternut is probably the most popular of the winter squash, but you can also make this recipe for acorn, delicata, kabocha, or buttercup squashes.
• Maple syrup Just a little maple syrup goes along way to enhance the natural sweetness of this air fried butternut squash, and it also helps to caramelize it.
• Olive Oil Just 2 teaspoons of oil is all that's needed for air fried squash. Don't use extra virgin olive oil, though. Extra virgin olive oil isn't suitable for the high heat of the air fryer due to its low smoke point.
• Seasonings Cinnamon adds warmth and paprika lends a hint of smokiness.

How to Make It

It couldn't get any easier to make these air fried squash cubes.

1. Toss butternut squash cubes, maple syrup, olive oil and seasoning in a large bowl until combined.

2. Place the butternut squash cubes in a single layer layer in the air fryer basket, and cook 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes, you'll have crisp and caramelized cubes of butternut ready to serve.

Variations and Substitutions

Butternut squash is a delicious backdrop to many seasoning combinations. Here are a few great options for seasoning your roasted butternut squash.

• Rosemary & Sage
• Sesame & Ginger
• Italian Seasoning
• Cajun Seasoning
• Lemon & Garlic
• Garam Masala
• Cayenne pepper

Tips For Success

• You can save some time if you buy pre-cut squash cubes. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time if the cubes are larger or smaller than one inch.
• To avoid injury, use a very sharp chef's knife to cut the squash.
• Use a sturdy, stable cutting board. If your cutting board has any wobble, or slides around, set it atop a damp kitchen towel.
• Try to cut your squash into fairly uniform sized cubes, so they will cook evenly.
• You can also make butternut squash fries instead of cubes. Just don't cut the strips into cubes. Serve the squash fries with your favourite dipping sauce.
• Prep this dish ahead. Just peel and cut your squash cubes, toss all the ingredients together and store covered, in the fridge until you're ready to cook.
• The total cook time can vary depending on your air fryer model, so its a good idea to check for doneness after 10 minutes.
• Don't have an air fryer? Cook the fries in the oven at 400° for 25-30 minutes.
• Leftover squash will keep in the fridge 3-5 days, stored in an airtight container.
• To reheat leftovers, air fry at 400° for 5 minutes.

Serving Suggestions

Air fried butternut squash is a great side dish for almost everything. Serve it with any of these air fryer mains:

• Whole Chicken
• Pork Tenderloin
• Flank Steak
• Salmon
• Rutabaga Fries

Want more squash in the air fryer? Try Air Fryer Acorn Squash (Stuffed, Air Fryer Zucchini, or Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash.

Equipment I Used For This Recipe

• Air Fryer This one is perfect if you are new to air frying. It's relatively inexpensive and does a great job: Gourmia AF698
• Chef's Knife A good quality, well sharpened chef's knife like this Classic Professional 8" Chef's Knife is essential for every kitchen.
• Cutting Board Large winter squash, like butternut, need to be prepped on a sturdy cutting board. I prefer a wood board like this Teakwood Cutting Board.