This Air Fryer Butternut Squash is roasted to perfection, then coated in a brown sugar and butter glaze. It's so easy to make, with only a few minutes of prep time. Just like my Old Fashioned Sweet Potato Casserole, this squash is a great Fall and Winter side dish and serve it for the Christmas and Thanksgiving Holidays!
Winter Squashes, like Butternut and Acorn Squash and Delicata Squash, were always must have recipes at our Thanksgiving table when I was growing up, but it was the only time we ever ate them.
Now, I eat them whenever I can! Butternut squash is absolutely delicious, it's high in vitamins, and so easy to make. I enjoy mine on the sweeter side, but I will give you a savory option below too.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe:
- The recipe only takes a few minutes to prep.
- Stick it in the air fryer and you still have lots of space in the oven. This is especially helpful during Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- It's only a few simple ingredients.
- A great recipe to make on a budget. Squash is usually pretty inexpensive.
- The brown sugar butter glaze is over the TOP!
If you are looking for more vegetable recipes, try my Air Fryer Zucchini Chips, Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots, Sweet Potato Wedges in Air Fryer, and Parmesan Bacon Brussel Sprout Salad.
The Ingredients:
Butternut Squash- Available all year long, but most popular in the Fall season. Low in fat and high in potassium and Vitamin C. It has a similar texture to a sweet potato and pairs really great with sweet and savory. Don't forget to try my Butternut Squash Red Pepper Soup too!
Olive Oil- To assist with roasting in the air fryer. Olive Oil is used instead of butter because of it's higher burning point.
Salt- For seasoning. It also helps in roasting vegetables to draw out moisture and create a crispier exterior.
Brown Sugar, Butter, and Cinnamon- Creates a sweet glaze to pour over the butternut squash. It's delish!
See full ingredients and quantities in recipe card below.
Variations of the Recipe:
If you are looking for a more savory recipe, sprinkle an additional ¼ teaspoon of black pepper over the squash prior to cooking. Skip the brown sugar and butter mixture. When the squash is finished, brush with an additional tablespoon of olive oil and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Don't have an air fryer? Check out this Stovetop Butternut Squash.
Love Squash? Try this Air Fryer Acorn Squash recipe too!
How to Make Air Fryer Butternut Squash:
Step 1: Begin by preheating the air fryer to 375 degrees. Cut the squash in half lengthwise, and remove seeds. Brush with olive oil and salt.
Step 2: Once the air fryer is preheated, place the squash skin side down into the air fryer. Air fry for 25 minutes. Poke with fork to make sure it's nice and tender. If not, air fry for another 5 minutes.
Step 3: Melt the butter in a small saucepan on low heat. Whisk in the ground cinnamon and brown sugar until combined to create the glaze. Brush only a few tablespoons of glaze over the squash and air fry for another 5 minutes.
Step 4: Allow the butternut squash to cool for a few moments. Next, carefully transfer to a serving dish. Brush the remaining glaze over the squash and pour the extra into the holes where the seeds used to be. Serve and enjoy!
You can also mash the inside of the squash for easy serving!
Expert Tips:
- Be careful when cutting the squash in half
- Make sure the inside is fully cooked before serving. It should mash easily, like mashed potatoes would.
- When adding the glazed squash back into the air fryer, you can use a piece of foil under it for easy clean up.
Recipe FAQs:
Yes! If you make it in the oven you can use the recipe, but you will need to increase the cook time to 45 to 50 minutes. You can bake them on a parchment paper or foil lined cookie sheet or in a casserole dish.
A medium sized butternut squash takes about 30 minutes to cook in the air fryer. It saves about 15 minutes versus cooking it in the oven and the results are fabulous!
There are lots of different ways to serve butternut squash. I find the easiest way is to use a spoon to peel up the squash and serve it right in the skin. You can also cut the squash into cubes and serve it or scoop out all of the squash and mash it and serve in a bowl. You can see a few serving example pictures when you scroll down to the bottom.
The time to cook can vary a bit based on the size of squash you buy. If you stick a fork into the finished squash, it should easily sink into it. If it feels hard still, cook in 5 minute increments until it's nice and soft.
Storage:
Store the squash in a sealed container in the fridge and use within 3 to 4 days.
More Air Fryer Recipes You'll Love:
If you tried this Butternut Squash Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
PrintRecipe
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups 1x
Description
This Air Fryer Butternut Squash is roasted to perfection, then coated in a brown sugar and butter sauce. It's so easy to make, with only a few minutes of prep time. It's a great Fall and Winter side dish or serve it for the Holidays, like Christmas and Thanksgiving!
Ingredients
- 1 butternut squash, medium sized
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Begin by preheating the air fryer to 375 degrees. Cut the squash in half lengthwise, and remove seeds. Brush with olive oil and salt.
- Once the air fryer is preheated, place the squash skin side down into the air fryer. Air fry for 25 minutes. Poke with fork to make sure it's nice and tender. If not, air fry for another 5 minutes.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan on low heat. Whisk in the ground cinnamon and brown sugar until combined to create the glaze. Brush only a few tablespoons of glaze over the squash and air fry for another 5 minutes.
- Allow the butternut squash to cool for a few moments. Next, carefully transfer to a serving dish. Brush the remaining glaze over the squash and pour the extra into the holes where the seeds used to be. Serve and enjoy! You can also mash the inside of the squash for easy serving!
Notes
- Be careful when cutting the squash in half
- Make sure the inside is fully cooked before serving. It should mash easily, like mashed potatoes would.
- When adding the glazed squash back into the air fryer, you can use a piece of foil under it for easy clean up.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: side dish
- Method: air fryer
- Cuisine: american
Lisa says
5 stars! Thank you.
Tara Smithson says
Thanks so much for the review! I'm glad you liked it!