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My air fryer butternut squash recipe is an easy side dish that works for a busy weeknight or for fancy holiday fare. After air frying, serve this roasted squash as-is, or drizzle it with browned butter and sprinkle with crispy sage leaves. (YUM!) You’ll love this simple air fryer squash so much, you may never want to oven bake butternut squash again.
I love all the winter squashes, but I don’t love all the preparation that can be involved. There’s the peeling, the chopping, the 45 minutes to an hour in the oven…
When you air fry butternut squash cubes, you will save yourself a lot of time. Butternut squash in the air fryer takes only 25 minutes to cook. You don’t even have to preheat the air fryer to make air fryer winter squash!
So, are you ready to learn how to roast butternut squash in an air fryer? Let’s do this!
⭐ Air Fryer Butternut Squash Ingredients
This recipe is relatively straightforward, and you only need a few simple ingredients to make it. Here’s your shopping list:
- 2 lbs fresh butternut squash (907g)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 12-15 fresh sage leaves (clip large leaves in half)
- 2-4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Get a printable recipe card at the bottom of the post!
When choosing butternut squash, look for one with smooth skin and no mushy spots. I’m seasoning the squash simply with some salt and black pepper before adding the sage. Some other seasonings for butternut squash include cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic, and herbs such as rosemary and thyme.
Also, if you don’t like the butternut squash toppings I’m using here, you can change things up! Top with goat cheese (chevre), feta, or nuts and seeds (like pumpkin seeds or pepitas).
The Ninja Foodi, Philips, Nuwave, Kalorik, Pampered Chef, Actifry, Instant Pot Vortex, Cosori, Breville, and other air fryers can be used. If you have a small air fryer basket, you may want to cut this recipe in half. Cooking times may need to be adjusted depending on the air fryer you use.
Do you leave the skin on when roasting butternut squash?
The skin of butternut squash is edible, though it tends to be tough in older, larger squash. I usually skip peeling if I have a young, tender squash, however, here I did decide to peel the squash. Air frying is a little different than oven roasting, and I felt the squash was better without the rind in this recipe.
🔪 How to Cut Butternut Squash
Cutting butternut squash is easy! Rinse the squash in cool water, brushing away any dirt. Pat the squash dry with a paper towel.
Cut the blossom and stem ends off the squash with a sharp knife. If you’ll be peeling the squash, you can do that with the knife as well. I find that butternut squash skin is often too tough for my vegetable peeler.
Now you can cut squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Butternut squash seeds can be roasted and enjoyed just like pumpkin seeds, so don’t throw them out!
Slice or cube butternut squash as needed for your recipe. We’ll be cutting the squash into ½-inch (1.27cm) cubes.
Hot tip! Cut and peeled butternut squash from the store can save you a lot of time. You can find fresh cubed butternut squash at Trader Joe’s, especially around the holiday season.
👨🏾🍳 How to Make Air Fryer Butternut Squash
Now that we’ve cut butternut squash, we’re ready to get cooking! Put your cubed butternut squash in a medium-sized bowl. Drizzle the squash with olive oil, and give it a stir.
Dump the squash into the air fryer basket. Sprinkle the squash with salt and pepper, and put the basket in the air fryer.
️⏲️ How Long to Cook Squash in an Air Fryer
How long do you air fry butternut squash? What temperature to air fry butternut squash? Cook butternut squash for a total of 25-30 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190C).
Flip or shake the squash in the basket every 10 minutes or so. The squash should be fork tender with slight browning on the edges when it is done.
You can serve the roasted squash as is, or add some sage and butter. To do so, melt butter in a small pan over medium-low heat. Add fresh sage and cook 3-5 minutes more, stirring constantly.
The sage will get crispy and the butter will brown. Pour this mixture over the squash, stir, and serve immediately. I like to add some shredded or grated Parm on top for a finishing touch.
Butternut Squash Storage
Leftover butternut squash can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat squash, microwave on high for 2½ minutes. You can freeze this squash as well, but it will be a bit mushier when defrosted. 
Can you roast a whole butternut squash in an air fryer?
Yes, you can make air fryer butternut squash halves! Cut the squash in half lengthwise, remove the seeds, and brush with oil. Air fry squash (cut-side up) for 30-50 minutes at 375F (190C), depending on your air fryer and the size of the squash you start with.
Watch How to Make It!
Air Fryer Butternut Squash Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. butternut squash 907 grams
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 12-15 leaves fresh sage (clip large leaves in half)
- 2-4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- With a sharp knife, cut the ends off the butternut squash and peel it. Halve the squash and scoop out the seeds. Cut into ½ (1.27cm) cubes.
- Mix the cut and prepared squash with the olive oil, and dump the squash pieces in the air fryer basket. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, if desired.
- Put the racks in the air fryer and air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 25-30 minutes, flipping the squash or shaking the air fryer basket every 10 minutes. While the squash cooks, you can prepare the browned butter.
- In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter. After the butter is melted, add the sage leaves and let them crisp up as the butter browns, stirring often. This will only take 3-5 minutes.
- After the squash has finished cooking, remove it from the air fryer. Mix it with the browned butter and sage. Sprinkle it with the parmesan while it is still hot. Enjoy!
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Butternut squash is an excellent source of provitamin A carotenoids and a healthy addition to many dietary patterns (such as gluten free and vegetarian). You’re also getting plenty of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber here. Butternut squash is considered a starchy veggie that contains natural sugars. However, this recipe is sugar free in the sense that it contains no added sugar. This means it doesn’t have ingredients like brown sugar, maple syrup, and honey that are typically added to butternut squash. That said, it is one of the higher-calorie veggie options, particularly when combined with the added oil and browned butter. You’re getting a side that is high in carbs and fat and fairly low in protein here. For these reasons, I would not consider this side dish to be your best option if your goal is weight loss. The combination of fat and carbs with minimal protein typically doesn’t promote fullness on fewer calories. You may be able to fit some butternut squash on relaxed low carb diets, but it’s not a good fit for keto diets. Nutrition information is for one serving of the recipe.
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
❓ How to Serve Butternut Squash
You can add plain roasted butternut squash to a low calorie nourish bowl, salad, or grain bowl, or use it as a side dish. Here are some main dishes that go with butternut squash:
🍳 Other Air Fryer Squash Recipes
Need more air fryer recipes for squash? Try these:
- What temperature to air fry spaghetti squash?
- Air Fryer Yellow Squash (without Breading)
- Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Zig Zags
Find directions for air fryer frozen butternut squash in my air fryer frozen vegetables recipe. In this recipe, we’re seasoning frozen cut butternut squash with everything bagel seasoning before air frying. It’s delish and simple.
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂
Could I use sweet potatoes instead of squash for a change. My feelings are that the sweet potatoes would be very nice as well.
Hi Pam! I agree and think that substituting sweet potatoes would work. Thank you for stopping by 🙂 Summer
Terrified Amateur 2020’s stomach growls upon seeing today’s entry; Terrified Amateur 2000, not so much.
Squash is definitely among the dozen or so items I couldn’t stand as a lad, but appreciate greatly nowadays. Especially in the charming way you’ve prepared it, Summer!
Major kudos to you too for growing your own sage (among many other things). You’ve gone quite a way toward realizing the model of our great-grandparents’ generation, and earlier – growing and preparing so much of what we bring to the table. Of course, if you had been around back then, we likely never would’ve abandoned the practice. After a century, the perfect self-sustaining household is back!
I think self-sustaining households are coming back! I’ve been surprised at how well the sage is doing. The plant is beginning to look like a little tree, putting my thyme plant in the shadows. I shouldn’t need to purchase any sage for a good long while. lol