Air Fryer Butternut Squash (Simple and Sweet)

Cook butternut squash in less than half the time as roasting simply by using the air fryer! Seasoned with just maple syrup and a little oil, salt and pepper, these bite-sized pieces are perfect for adding a nutritional boost as a delicious side dish to any dinner plate!

Air fryer butternut squash cubes on a white plate with a large black spoon.

Butternut squash is easily one of my favorite fall and winter vegetables that I have no problem stretching into the spring. Its sweet and nutty flavor is perfect for creamy butternut squash soup as well as for adding to pesto pasta. I also love adding them to quinoa salads.

But the simplest way to enjoy butternut squash is simply on its own! When cooked to perfection it will caramelize, creating a crispy golden brown sear on the outside while remaining sweet and tender on the inside.

My favorite way to prepare butternut squash is by roasting it. My oven-roasted butternut squash definitely takes longer in the oven (35-40 minutes vs. only 13 minutes using the air fryer), but rewards you with a heightened flavor and texture that can only be had going the long route.

That being said, I don't always have that kind of time to get veggies on the table, especially when I'm pairing it with a main dish as I'm scrambling on a busy weeknight. And on those nights (which happen frequently!), I go for the air fryer.

It took me a few tries experimenting with different temperatures and cooking times, but the recipe below gets my butternut squash as close to the roasted version as possible in less than half the time.

A close-up shot of air fryer butternut squash cubes with a black serving spoon.

Ingredients

I prefer to use just a few simple ingredients as cooked butternut squash on its own has such a sweet and savory flavor. See the recipe card below for quantities.

Butternut squash: Select ripe squash that has a darker shade of tan or beige and feels heavy for its size (if using a whole squash rather than pre-cut). I recommend cutting it up yourself rather than buying it pre-cut for the best results.

Avocado oil: I prefer the neutral flavor of avocado oil here but olive oil works just as well too. Cooking in the air fryer requires less oil than roasting in a regular oven.

Maple syrup: Just a tablespoon adds a hint of sweetness.

Salt and black pepper: I like to keep it simple with the spices but any that you crave will work.

How to Cut a Butternut Squash

The first step to cooking fresh butternut squash is to dice it up into small cubes. The smaller the pieces, the faster they will cook so I like to aim for approximately 1-inch squash cubes. Peeling and cutting a butternut squash takes about 10 minutes.

To save additional time you can buy pre-cut butternut squash from the grocery store, but those are typically cut into larger pieces so you'd still need to cut them down a little further. I also find they are not as fresh and can sometimes even be slimy.

Below are step-by-step instructions on how to cut a butternut squash:

A knife cutting the ends off a butternut squash on a wood cutting board.

Hands using a vegetable peeler to peel the skin off a butternut squash on a wood cutting board

Cut off both ends of the squash using a large sharp knife.
Use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin off the entire squash.
Lay the squash horizontally and cut off the bulb (the thicker round portion) from the neck (thinner portion).
Stand the bulb flat-side down and cut in half vertically.
Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds from the bulb.
Cut both the bulb and the neck into strips.
Group multiple strips at a time to dice into small cubes.

How to Make Air Fryer Butternut Squash

Once you've diced the butternut squash, the hardest part is done! All that's left is to season and let the air fryer do its thing.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F.

2. Season the squash pieces. In a large bowl, toss the butternut squash with oil, maple syrup and seasonings.

Seasoned butternut squash cubes in a glass bowl.

3. Load the air fryer basket. Fill the basket with the squash, making sure to spread the pieces into a single layer. Try to avoid overlapping as that will make them soggy.

Butternut squash cubes in a black air fryer basket.

4. Air fry for 13 minutes. Toss halfway through by removing the basket and shaking. The should be golden brown and crispy on the outside once fully cooked. Sprinkle lightly with additional salt for flavor if desired.

Cooked butternut squash in a black air fryer basket.

Recipe Tips

Preheat the air fryer. Allowing the air fryer to fully preheat before cooking makes a huge difference. When I tried without preheating, the butternut squash came out much softer and didn't have the same level of crispiness. I also find it doesn't cook as evenly if you don't preheat it.

Cut the squash into evenly-sized pieces. Smaller pieces cook faster (and get crispier) than larger ones, so try to cut them as evenly as possible. Larger cubes will result in longer cooking times.

Toss the squash more than once while cooking. Opening the air fryer to shake the basket lets out steam and therefore helps make them less soggy. Tossing just once is fine, but 2-3 times throughout the process will crisp them up further and result in more even cooking for the entire batch.

Add more seasoning after cooking. I like to add a little more salt afterwards to enhance the flavors a bit more. When preparing for the kids, I'll often sprinkle some maple sugar and they go crazy for it!

Feel free to use any seasonings you like! Garlic powder, paprika and dried herbs such as Italian seasoning or thyme are all great options. Mix and match to keep it interesting!

Cooked air fryer butternut squash cubes on a white plate served with tzatziki sauce.

How to Serve Air-Fried Butternut Squash

This healthy side dish is clean and crisp on its own, but to take it to the next level I love pairing it with a delicious sauce!

This dairy-free tzatziki sauce is made by blending cashews, lemon, cucumber, apple cider vinegar, fresh dill and garlic (pictured above).
This green goddess sauce is loaded with fresh herbs to complement the warm, sweet and savory squash.
This creamy dairy-free honey mustard sauce adds zest and a little kick!

For more ideas, you can find all my sauce recipes here.

Storage

Store leftover squash in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. I love having extra on hand to enjoy later. For best results in terms of maintaining its crispiness, reheat in the air fryer at 380 degrees F for about 5 minutes.

Air fryer butternut squash on a white plate with a black serving spoon.

Nutritional Benefits of Butternut Squash

Butternut squash offers up vitamin A, vitamin C and other nutrients such as fiber, potassium and magnesium (see nutritional information from the USDA). It also contains phytochemicals (natural plant chemicals) that support vision, heart and gastrointestinal health.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes for Veggies

You can find all my air fryer recipes here.

I hope you enjoy this air fryer butternut squash recipe! It is my go-to when I need to shorten the cooking time but still want to serve up a delicious side dish. Happy cooking!