Name: Air Fryer Butternut Squash
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 butternut squash (skin removed, cut into equal size cubes); parsley (optional to garnish); olive oil spray; salt and pepper (to taste, optional); 2 tbsp olive oil

Jump to Recipe

Air fryer butternut squash is a healthy side dish perfect for the holidays or for your family year round. Tender and flavorful cubes of YUM made in a Ninja Foodi, Cosori or Airwave.

Air fryer butternut squash cubes are great! Roasted and seasoned to perfection every bite comes out perfectly tender. One of many easy air fryer recipes we have here on The Typical Mom blog. (affiliate links present)

Roast Butternut Squash Cubes

You may have tried to bake these in your oven before. Let me tell you that air fryer vegetable recipes are out of this world. Not only is it quick to make but the texture is amazing overall.

Whether you’re looking for a vegetarian dish or easy side dishes for the holidays, even my kiddos love this one. Serve as is with dinner or with a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar for a healthy dessert idea in a Cosori or Ninja foodi.

My Favorite models are this Cosori or for a dual machine, the Foodi.
You can find more Ninja Foodi recipes here as well; bookmark them both!
It is best practice to put food into a hot basket. this is how to preheat air fryer first.
Here’s a printable free air fryer cooking time chart here for your fridge.

A close-up photo of a hand pulling out the basket of an open air fryer on a light-colored surface. The interior of the air fryer basket is empty and features a mesh design, perfect for cooking your favorite dishes like bang bang shrimp. The edge of the air fryer has a latch mechanism for securing the basket.

Butternut Squash Air Fryer

It is really quite simple to prepare this one. Ok, it is a bit more labor intensive than our sliced mushrooms, zucchini and yellow squash mixture we call air fryer vegetables. BUT we will help you understand how it’s done.

This orange vegetable looks kinda’ similar to a pumpkin when you slice it open. Of course with those we don’t throw out the middle goodness, instead we make air fryer pumpkin seeds.

I mean I guess you could do the same with these but there aren’t enough really to bother if you ask me. Just use a spoon and scoop out the yuck and throw it away, then you’re ready to slice it up.

How to cube butternut squash

Get a cutting board and a sharp knife out so you’re ready for these steps: Lay the gourd on it’s side and cut the bulb off. Meaning that round end that’s kinda weird. Once you do it will be straight on the thin end like you see here above.

Do I need to peel butternut squash before roasting?

Yes. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin on the outside so it’s nice and smooth, you don’t want to eat that.
1. If it is tough to do this you can microwave it for 30 seconds and then try again.
Then slice it in half lengthwise, like you see above.
Scoop out the seeds and a bit of the strings inside the middle, discard.
Put the flat end down on your cutting board and cut it into 1-1.5″ strips.

Then put a few of those strips together and dice into cubes. Keeping them squares about the same width and length are good.

Cubed Butternut Squash

Now you will season these babies however you like. Olive oil is needed to keep each piece moist and have your seasonings stick too. I’d add at least salt and pepper. Toss all of that together so each piece is nicely coated.

I always like to preheat my air fryer for 5 minutes at the recommended temperature. This will ensure your food is cooking at the same temp. throughout the duration of the time.

If you forget don’t freak out, it will still be fine but you might need to add a few more minutes. Cook time will vary slightly for this anyway because if you cube them larger than this it will take longer. Just remove once fork tender.

Air Fryer Squash

Once your squash pieces are nice and tender taste them and add additional seasonings before serving right out of your air fryer basket. If you wanted a bit of sweetness, sprinkle with brown sugar!

Before you jump to the recipe and instructions below this is what you’ll need to get started making air fryer roasted squash.

Butternut squash
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Parsley

Garlic salt and/or powder might be a nice addition too if you love those flavors on your summer squash recipes in general.

How to cook butternut squash in air fryer

Below we have exact measurements needed and instructions. Here are brief step by steps though so you can see;

Time needed: 15 minutes

Air Fryer Butternut Squash Recipe

Prepare
Slice top round bulb off of squash. Peel the outside skin using a vegetable peeler. Cut squash lengthwise, scoop out middle and discard insides. Cube squash into equal size pieces so they cook evenly. Preheat air fryer to 350 degrees F for 5 minutes. Put cubes in a bowl and drizzle on olive oil, toss to coat. Sprinkle with any seasonings you’d like.
Cook
Pour into air fryer basket and cook for approximately 15 minutes shaking the basket halfway through. When tossing you can spray with olive oil spray at that time if they look a bit dry.
Test after 15 minutes by poking with a fork to see if they are tender. Enjoy air fried squash.
Option
If you then want to make this into a homemade butternut squash soup, you can! Follow our recipe here, blend and enjoy.

Gluten free, healthy and cheap too it is one of those foods you can enjoy year round.

What flavors go well with butternut squash?

Think of how you like your sweet potato in air fryer or what you sprinkle on sweet potato cubes oven roasted style. I kinda’ go with that along with a savory touch. You could add oregano, sage, basil, cumin, the list goes on and on. Chili powder will add just a tad of heat if you want.

Serve this with some sliced air fryer frozen chicken breast for a really good for you meal.

Want to try another air fryer vegetable recipe? Our air fryer spaghetti squash and air fryer acorn squash is like nothing else you’ve made. Guarantee you’ll never bake it in the oven again.

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