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Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

Air Fryer Butternut Squash

Published: Nov 12, 2022 by Lexi

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You only need 7 ingredients and about 20 minutes to make a batch of this Air Fryer Butternut Squash! It's an easy side dish that makes great use of one of our favorite seasonal vegetables.

Finished air fryer butternut squash on a white platter.
The easiest air fryer vegetable side dish you'll make all year!

This is one of my favorite easy vegetable recipes to make for meal prep. It comes together in just a few minutes of prep time, and only takes 20 minutes to cook.

Better yet, it stores perfectly in the refrigerator for up to a week, so it's great for adding to lunches and dinners throughout the week as needed.

Jump to:
  • Why We Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Instructions
  • Tips and FAQs
  • Other Squash Recipes to Enjoy
  • 📖 Recipe

Why We Love This Recipe

  • Quick and easy: Just 7 ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry, and 20 minutes of cook time. What more could you ask for?! You can even keep this recipe extra simple by just using oil, salt and pepper for a basic version.
  • Versatile side dish: This squash goes with just about anything. It's also a great recipe to make for meal prep. You can make a big batch and add it to meals all week whenever you need some extra vegetables!
  • Easy to customize: You can change up the flavor profile of this squash by using different herbs and spices. For a spicy version, try a mixture of chili powder, paprika, cayenne, onion and garlic powder!

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make this air fryer butternut squash:

Air fryer butternut squash ingredients including thyme and butternut squash.
Cinnamon is optional, but adds a lovely, slightly spiced/warm flavor.

Ingredient Notes

  • Butternut squash: Squash is the star ingredient here! One medium butternut squash is usually the perfect size for this recipe. We cut ours into 1-inch cubes so they all cook evenly. You can also sub with fresh pumpkin, kabocha squash or acorn squash if preferred.
  • Parsley: This is totally optional, but we think it adds a nice fresh flavor to the squash. You can also totally sub it with another fresh herb of your choice, like oregano or thyme.
  • Olive oil: We love the earthy taste of olive oil but you can also sub with another oil of choice like avocado, sunflower or vegetable oil.
  • Cinnamon: This is optional, but we love the slightly warming, spiced flavor it adds. It pairs perfectly with squash!
  • Salt: We always use fine grain kosher salt unless otherwise noted.

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 400˚F / 205˚C. Whisk together oil, salt, pepper, thyme, parsley and cinnamon.

Add the squash to a large mixing bowl and toss in the oil mixture until evenly coated. 

Left: squash being coated in ingredients. Right: squash placed in air fryer.
Toss well to coat the squash evenly in oil/herb mixture.

Add squash to the air fryer in an even layer and roast for 17-20 minutes. Give the basket or air fryer tray a shake every 5 minutes or so. The squash is ready when it's fork tender and slightly browned.

Butternut squash in the air fryer at two different stages.
The squash should be fork tender and browned on the exterior.

Tips and FAQs

  • Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, toss with a little more olive oil and add them back the air fryer for 5-10 minutes, or until they're warmed through.
  • Freezing: You can freeze these in an airtight container, where they'll keep for 3-6 months. To reheat, toss with olive oil and place back in a 400˚F air fryer for about 10 minutes.
  • Shake the basket: We recommend giving the basket or the air fryer tray a good shake every 5 minutes while cooking. This helps prevent burning and promotes even cooking.
  • Air fryer size: If you have a small air fryer, you may need to cook the squash in 2-3 batches. The squash should be in a pretty even layer – it's okay if there's some overlap – in order for it to cook evenly.
  • Fork test: The butternut squash is finished cooking when you can easily insert a fork into the cubes. If there's any resistance, leave them in for a bit longer!
  • Simplified version: For a super simple version of this recipe that you can add to other recipes (like this curry), leave out the spices and herbs and just use oil, salt and pepper.
  • Oven roasted version: Follow the recipe as stated (keep the temperature at 400˚F), but roast for an extra 10-15 minutes, until fork tender.
  • Serve with:
    • Vegan Meatloaf
    • Lentil Stew
    • Add to a fall salad
    • Add to a grain bowl
    • Lasagna
    • Add to a breakfast bowl or breakfast burrito
    • Enjoy plain with a dipping sauce, like this avocado cilantro crema
Finished butternut squash in the air fryer.
So easy, so delicious.

Other Squash Recipes to Enjoy

  • Overhead of finished butternut squash curry in bowls.
    Butternut Squash Curry
  • Overhead view of grilled spaghetti squash garnished with herbs.
    Grilled Spaghetti Squash
  • Overhead view of butternut squash mac and cheese in a blue bowl garnished with sage.
    Vegan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
  • overhead view of roasted acorn squash salad with pumpkin seed brittle and tahini dressing.
    Roasted Acorn Squash Salad

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook or by subscribing to our newsletter.

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Close up of the finished air fryer butternut squash.

Air Fryer Butternut Squash


  • Author: Lexi
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

You only need 7 ingredients and about 20 minutes to make a batch of this Air Fryer Butternut Squash! It's an easy side dish that makes great use of one of our favorite seasonal vegetables. 


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 6 cups butternut squash, cut into 1 inch cubes (3-3 ¼ pounds squash)
  • 2 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
  • 1 ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400˚F / 205˚C. 
  2. Whisk together oil, salt, pepper, thyme, parsley and cinnamon.
  3. Add the squash to a large mixing bowl and toss in the oil mixture until evenly coated. 
  4. Add squash to the air fryer in an even layer and roast for 17-20 minutes. Give the basket or air fryer tray a shake every 5 minutes or so. The squash is ready when it's fork tender and slightly browned.

Notes

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, toss with a little more olive oil and add them back the air fryer for 5-10 minutes, or until they're warmed through.

Freezing: You can freeze these in an airtight container, where they'll keep for 3-6 months. To reheat, toss with olive oil and place back in a 400˚F air fryer for about 10 minutes.

Shake the basket: We recommend giving the basket or the air fryer tray a good shake every 5 minutes while cooking. This helps prevent burning and promotes even cooking.

Air fryer size: If you have a small air fryer, you may need to cook the squash in 2-3 batches. The squash should be in a pretty even layer – it's okay if there's some overlap – in order for it to cook evenly. 

Fork test: The butternut squash is finished cooking when you can easily insert a fork into the cubes. If there's any resistance, leave them in for a bit longer!

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Air Fryer
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 104
  • Sugar: 3.1 g
  • Sodium: 587.6 mg
  • Fat: 4.8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 16.6 g
  • Fiber: 2.9 g
  • Protein: 1.5 g

Keywords: air fryer butternut squash

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Hi, we're Lexi and Beth, a mother-daughter team from Michigan. The recipes you'll find here are a reflection of how we bring our family together around the dinner table despite various dietary differences.

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