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This Air Fryer Butternut Squash recipe is really simple to make and much quicker than using the oven! Perfect for weeknight dinners, use an air fryer to cook your butternut squash. Choose from sweet or savory seasoning options!

Air Fryer Butternut Squash

What is an Air Fryer?

I’m sure most of you know what an air fryer is, since it’s all anyone raves about now! But on the off chance you don’t, an air fryer uses convection heating to circulate air around your food. The food is held inside in a basket and a fan rapidly moves air around the food. It’s a great way to get that crispy, fried texture without a lot of additional fat. Air fryers use little to no oil to get the same effect as traditional deep frying.

Air Fryer vs. Oven – Why Use One Over The Other?

Conventional ovens work differently than air fryers because they produce heat by gas or electric. The heat is slowly dispersed through the oven over time. That’s why it takes a lot longer to cook food in the oven. On the other hand, air fryers use rapid air technology to create heat, which helps them heat up much more quickly. That small size helps them circulate the heat more evenly, crisping up your food without hot spots. Both are great ways to cook your food. Sometimes an air fryer is the better option if you want something done quickly.

MAIN INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE THIS Air Fryer Butternut Squash

  • Butternut Squash

  • Oil – Vegetable or Avocado

  • For Sweet Butternut Squash – Cinnamon & Brown Sugar

  • For Savory Squash – Salt, Paprika, and Garlic Powder

Tips To Follow When Making Butternut Squash in an Air Fry

  • First things first…you need to cut the squash into cubes for this recipe. If you aren’t sure how to properly (and safely) do that, you should totally check out my recent post explaining how to cut butternut squash!

  • Don’t forget to pre-heat your air fryer to ensure even cooking! If your air fryer does not have a pre-heat setting, turn it to the desired temperature (in this case, 390 degrees F) and allow it to run for around 3 minutes before placing your food in.

  • Remember to shake! When air frying smaller items you’ll want to shake the basket every so often to ensure even cooking. Once you open the basket to shake, the air fryer will temporarily pause but will resume cooking your food at the same temperature once you return the basket.

Air Fryer Butternut Squash (Sweet or Savory Option!)

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: SidesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

20

minutes
Calories

300

kcal
Total time

30

minutes

This Air Fryer Butternut Squash recipe is really simple to make and much quicker than using the oven! Perfect for weeknight dinners, use an air fryer to cook your butternut squash. Choose from sweet or savory seasoning options!

Ingredients

  • 4 Cups Butternut Squash (cubed)

  • 1 Tablespoon Vegetable or Avocado Oil

  • For Sweet Squash:
  • 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

  • 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar

  • For Savory Squash:
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt

  • 1/2 Teaspoon Paprika

  • 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

Directions

  • Place cubed squash in air fryer tray or basket then drizzle with oil and toss squash to evenly coat.
  • Pick either the sweet or savory squash ingredients and sprinkle in those respective seasonings. Give squash another quick toss before cooking at 390° Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, pausing to shake tray/basket halfway through. 

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Storage: Store cooked squash in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

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Other Quick & Healthy Recipes

Made with just a few simple ingredients, this quick and easy vegan kettle corn recipe is a deliciously sweet and salty snack, perfect for a night in with friends or family!

Forget the movie theatre popcorn! If you’ve never made popcorn at home on a stovetop before, you definitely need to try my sweet and salty vegan kettle corn recipe. It’s super easy and quick to make (only about 5 minutes!), it tastes better and is no doubt the healthier alternative. I personally prefer stovetop popcorn to other options because I think it tastes significantly better than air-popped popcorn or microwave popcorn.

Making popcorn at home on the stove can be intimidating if you’ve never done it before, but it’s really easy! You only need 3-4 pantry-staple ingredients to make this vegan kettle corn. And hey, if you mess up, no harm no foul. Doesn’t take long to make, so just try again if it ends up being a little too burnt for your taste.

MAIN INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE Vegan Kettle Corn

  • Popcorn kernels – Really any kernels will do the job, but organic popcorn, like the ones from Arrowhead Mills, is preferable!

  • Coconut Oil –  Acting as both cooking oil and flavor booster, this oil gives the popcorn a mildly sweet and almost nutty flavor. You can use vegetable oil, canola oil or avocado oil instead though.

  • Cane Sugar – This is what I prefer to use but you can opt for white sugar, coconut sugar or even brown sugar if you’re feeling something extra sweet!

  • Sea Salt – This is totally optional and can be added to your liking once it’s cooled off.

Kettle Corn Recipe (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

5 from 2 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: SnacksCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

2

minutes
Cooking time

5

minutes
Calories

300

kcal
Total time

7

minutes

Made with just a few simple ingredients, this quick and easy vegan kettle corn recipe is a deliciously sweet and salty snack, perfect for a night in with friends or family!

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable or coconut oil

  • 1/4 cup corn kernels

  • 2-3 tablespoons sugar

  • Sea salt to taste

Directions

  • Heat vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once hot, add in the corn kernels and sugar.
  • Cover pot with lid and shake constantly until you hear a 2-3 second break in between pops. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before serving. Add sea salt to your preferred taste.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Oil: I used coconut oil, but canola oil or avocado oil would work as well.
  • Sugar: I used cane sugar, but white sugar, coconut sugar, or even brown sugar would taste great.
  • To store homemade kettle corn (if you have any leftover!) you can simply place it in a large zip-lock bag and store it in your pantry until ready to enjoy.

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Share it and tag @samdoesherbest on Instagram!

Like this recipe?

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OTHER EASY Snack & DESSERT RECIPES