Air frying is a great way to cook squash for a healthy and delicious fall side dish. We’re cooking acorn squash, butternut squash, and delicata squash in the air fryer and oven for a nutritious side dish that’s full of flavor.
Oh my Gourd!
Did you know that squash is actually a part of the gourd family? Yep, it’s true! Gourds, squash, and pumpkins all belong to the Cucurbitaceae family and come in 4 main varieties including ornamental gourds, bottle gourds, sponge gourds, and snake gourds.
Commonly thought of as vegetables, squash are actually fruit, producing blossoms and even containing seeds! However, that doesn’t make them any less delicious or nutritious, and every variety has its own unique qualities!
Best Squash to Air Fry
This method of roasting squash is such an easy way to make a fast and healthy side dish. You want to choose squash that have a lower water content. I also have a recipe for air fried spaghetti squash!
Acorn Squash
As its name suggests, acorn squash has an acorn-like shape and ridged skin that varies in color but is most commonly a dark green color and often has a patch of bright orange towards the top of the squash.
Taste: Fairly mild in flavor and fibrous in texture, acorn squash has a sweet and nutty flavor
Nutrition: Low in calories and high in nutrients, acorn squash is especially rich in vitamin C, B vitamins, potassium, and magnesium.
Butternut Squash
Light orange and bell-shaped, butternut squash is easily recognized by its thin neck and bulbous bottom.
Taste: Sweeter than other squash varieties, many people claim that butternut squash has a caramel-like flavor. Soft in texture once cooked, butternut squash has a nutty flavor similar to that of a sweet potato.
Nutrition: Containing a long list of vitamins and minerals, butternut squash has the highest amount of vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium. In fact, one serving will provide more than 450 % of the recommended daily intake for vitamin A!
Delicata Squash
Also known as peanut squash, Bohemian squash, and sweet potato squash, delicata squash is arguably the most unique in appearance. Easily recognized, it has a cylindrical shape and has cream-colored skin with green and orange stripes.
Taste: As its nickname, sweet potato squash might suggest, delicata squash has a taste similar to that of sweet potatoes. Known to have a brown sugar-like flavor, it is often described as tasting like a cross between corn and pumpkin pie.
Nutrition: Containing nearly 6 grams of fiber per serving, delicata squash is also a great source of vitamin A and vitamin C.
Fun Fact: Delicata squash is technically a summer fruit but is typically classified as a winter food because it is harvested late in the season.
Can I Eat the Skin of Squash?
Technically, the skin of squash is edible, but it’s not always super tasty. Acorn and delicata squash varieties will have a softer, more palatable skin. However, butternut squash has a tough skin that proves fairly difficult to chew through.
Nutrition Tip: If you want to enhance the nutritional benefits of squash, pair it with cinnamon to enhance its anti-inflammatory properties no matter how you cook it!
How to Air Fry Squash
No matter which squash variation you choose to make, the process remains the same! The best part is that air fryer squash is super easy and always delicious. Just pick your squash, slice it into cubes or rings, and follow the directions below.
- Preheat. To start, preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
- Combine and Brush. In a small bowl, combine melted butter or oil, cinnamon, maple syrup, and sea salt. Then, place the squash pieces on a baking sheet, brush them with the cinnamon sauce.
- Cook. Once the squash has been coated, spray the air fryer rack with a cooking spray, and spread it in even layers on the prepared rack. Cook for 12-18 minutes (depending on type of squash), flipping halfway.
Note: Cooking times can vary based on the brand and model of your air fryer, as well as the type of squash and the squash cut. For instance, delicata squash rings will cook the fastest. So, be sure to check it after 10 minutes!
4. Serve. Once cooked, remove the squash from the air fryer, place it on a serving dish or baking sheet. Season to taste before serving, if desired. \
Oven Method
No air fryer? No problem! Air fryer squash works perfectly in the oven, too!
Just follow the same steps, preheating the oven to 400°F and coating the squash in the cinnamon butter mixture. Then, place it on a baking sheet, and let it cook for 20 minutes before flipping the squash over with a wooden spoon or spatula and putting it back in the oven for 10-25 minutes or until the squash is tender. Once cooked, season to taste, and serve warm!
Storage Tips for Roasted Squash
Think you can’t make air fryer squash ahead of time? Think again!
Refrigerator: Once cooked, air fryer squash can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freezer: Roasted squash can be stored in the freezer for 10-12 months. Just be sure to remove the skin first!
Reheat: For the best results, reheat your air fryer squash in the skillet, oven, or air fryer for a minute or two until it has heated through. I don’t recommend microwaving leftovers as it can cause the texture to become rubbery.
Helpful Tools
Air Fryer Squash Recipe
- Total Time: 25-30 minutes
- Yield: 1 ½ to 2 cups cubed squash or 1 medium squash 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Roast or air fry your favorite squash with this simple, flavorful recipe — an easy, versatile side dish you can make any way you like!
Ingredients
- 1 medium acorn squash, top, stem, seeds, and bottom removed; cut into quarter moons
- 1 medium butternut squash (about 1 ½ pounds), peeled, seeds removed, cubed
- 1 medium delicata squash, sliced into rings with seeds removed
Seasoning (per 1 pound of squash):
- 2 tablespoons melted butter, dairy-free butter, or refined coconut oil.
- 1 to 1 ½ tablespoons pure maple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
*Cook your choice of squash (above) or 1 ½ -2 cups cubed variety squash
Air Fry:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the prepared squash (chopped, peeled, etc.) on the sheet.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, and sea salt.
- Brush the squash pieces with the maple-oil mixture, coating evenly. Sprinkle with a little extra salt if desired.
- Lightly grease the air fryer rack or basket with cooking spray, then arrange the squash in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding.
- Air fry times: Butternut squash cubes: 14–18 minutes. Acorn squash slices or half-moons: 12–16 minutes. Delicata squash rings: 12–15 min. Flip or shake halfway through for even browning.
Note: Cooking times can vary based on the brand and model of your air fryer, as well as how thickly the squash is cut. - Transfer to a serving dish and repeat as needed until all the squash are cooked.
- Season to taste before serving.
Oven Method:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease or butter a large baking sheet.
- Spread the prepared squash (chopped, peeled, etc.) evenly on the baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, and sea salt.
- Brush or drizzle the mixture over the squash, tossing to coat evenly. Sprinkle with a little extra salt if desired.
- Roast for 20 minutes, then flip the pieces and continue baking for another 10–25 minutes, or until the squash is golden and tender.
Note: Cooking times may vary depending on the type and size of squash. Check progress around the 15-minute mark. - Remove from the oven and season to taste before serving.
Notes
Butternut Squash Measurements: 1 small butternut squash weighs around 1 – 1 ½ pounds and yields 1 ½ – 2 cups diced squash.
Butternut Squash Halves Substitute. To AIR FRY butternut squash halves (about 1–1½ pounds total), place them cut side down in the basket and cook for 15–20 minutes to help caramelize and deepen the flavor. Flip and continue cooking for another 5–10 minutes, or until the flesh is fork-tender and golden. For thicker halves, add 3–5 minutes more as needed. To ROAST butternut squash halves, place them cut side down on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F for 45–60 minutes, depending on thickness, until tender and lightly browned.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 small acorn squash
- Calories: 158
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 5.8 mg
- Fat: 11.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 7.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 14.6 g
- Fiber: 2.1 g
- Protein: 1.2 g
- Cholesterol: 30.5 mg
My favorite is definitely delicata squash! Easiest to cut and you can eat the skin! And such a yummy flavour!
The air fryer is so great for veggies like squash! I love how it seems to concentrate the flavor and texture is excellent, especially of the acorn squash. It is a Fall favorite for us!
Totally agree!
This is awesome, thank you for all of this info!! I needed this!
So glad! Which one will you try first?