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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. It's a great Fall and Winter side dish and serve it for the Christmas and Thanksgiving Holidays!
Winter Squashes, like Butternut and Acorn 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 these too:
Brown Sugar Honey Glazed Carrots
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.
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!
Frequently Asked Questions About the Recipe:
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.
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.
How to Make Air Fryer Butternut Squash:
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.
While the squash is roasting, melt the butter in a small saucepan on low heat. Whisk in the ground cinnamon and brown sugar until combined.
Transfer into a bowl and set aside.
When the squash is finished, brush about 2 tablespoons of glaze over the butternut squash. Air fry for another 5 minutes.
Allow it to cool for a minute, then 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.
You can serve it by scooping the squash inside the skin or scooping everything into a bowl and mashing (see photos below). Both ways are super yummy! Enjoy!
Storage:
Store the squash in a sealed container in the fridge and use within 3 to 4 days.
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.
- While the squash is roasting, melt the butter in a small saucepan on low heat. Whisk in the ground cinnamon and brown sugar until combined.
- Transfer into a bowl and set aside.
- When the squash is finished, brush about 2 tablespoons of glaze over the butternut squash. Air fry for another 5 minutes.
- Allow it to cool for a minute, then 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.
- You can serve it by scooping the squash inside the skin or scooping everything into a bowl and mashing. Both ways are super yummy! Enjoy!
Notes
Sprinkle with extra cinnamon for a nice finishing touch.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: side dish
- Method: air fryer
- Cuisine: american
Keywords: air fryer butternut squash, roasted butternut squash, air fryer squash recipes, butternut squash in the air fryer
Lisa
5 stars! Thank you.
★★★★★
Tara Smithson
Thanks so much for the review! I'm glad you liked it!