Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves

Why You’ll Love It

• The squash turns soft, tender, and caramelized on the edges.
• Naturally sweetened with maple syrup and a hint of warm cinnamon, making it a perfect fall side dish.
• No need to cube or peel—just slice in half and air fry!
• Healthy, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
• The air fryer brings out its rich, nutty sweetness in less time.

How to cut a butternut squash in half?

If cutting a whole butternut squash feels intimidating, you're not alone—but it’s easier than you think! Just grab a sharp knife and trim off the top and bottom ends. Or skip trimming if you're keeping it whole for presentation.

To halve it, lay the squash on its side and carefully slice down the middle to make two equal halves. Then, use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and stringy bits from the rounded part. That’s it—ready to cook!

Can you eat the skin of a cooked butternut squash?

Yes, you can! Once cooked, the skin softens and is totally edible—plus, it adds extra fiber and nutrients. However, it can also be unpleasant, tougher or chewy to eat. If you prefer a smoother texture, you can simply peel the skin off before cooking or roasting.

Common mistakes to avoid when air frying butternut squash

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when making air fryer squash, so you get perfectly tender, caramelized results every time:

1. Overcrowding the Basket: Packing too much squash into the air fryer at once prevents hot air from circulating. They will end up steaming instead of roasting.

2. Skipping the Oil: A drizzle of olive oil, coconut oil or melted butter helps the squash caramelize beautifully. And don’t forget to season!

3. Not Preheating the Air Fryer: Preheating ensures that the vegetable cooks evenly and consistently. It also reduces the cooking time because it start cooking immediately, allowing you to achieve a crispy and caramelized exterior.

4. Uneven Cutting: If you are cutting the squash into chunks for air frying them cut into uniform chunks for consistent doneness.

5. Cooking at Too Low a Temperature: Low heat might leave your squash mushy instead of caramelized. A high temperature 375 to 400 degrees is ideal for a nice crispy outside and soft inside.

1 & 2. Make glaze - Mix maple syrup, salt, black pepper, cinnamon and ½ tablespoon olive oil together in a small bowl.

3 & 4. Cut the veggie in half lengthwise from stem to the bottom.

5. Scoop the seeds and pulp out of the cavity.

👩‍🍳 Don't toss the seeds! You can rinse and thoroughly dry them and toss the seeds with olive oil and seasonings. Bake in a preheated 325-degree oven until crisp and lightly browned, about 12 to 15 minutes. It makes a nutritious snack.

6. Brush some olive oil on the flesh side.

7. Place the squash cut side down, in a preheated 380 degree air fryer and cook for 20 to 23 minutes, until tender.

8 & 9. Carefully turn the squash over with tongs.

10. Brush with the prepared glaze and cook at 400°F for 7 to 9 minutes or until the surface is golden and caramelized.

Seasoning variations

• Use brown sugar or honey instead of maple syrup.
• Melted butter, instead of olive oil, will add more flavor and help with the browning.
• Replace ground cinnamon with pumpkin spice.
• Add a pinch of cayenne to the seasoning blend.

Ways to eat air fried butternut squash halves

Air fried squash is a versatile and delicious fall side dish that can be served in various ways. Here are some serving suggestions:

1. Make into a casserole - Skip the maple syrup and cinnamon. Instead, mash the cooked flesh and use it as the base for the creamy butternut squash casserole.
2. As a side dish: Slice and serve as a side dish for weeknight dinner.
3. In a salad: Chop and toss with leafy greens, nuts, seeds, cheese, and your favorite salad dressing for a satisfying meal.
4. In a whole grain bowl: Top the squash halves with cooked grains like quinoa, farro, or brown rice, chicken or chickpeas, baby spinach and a drizzle with your favorite dressing.
5. Soup: Blend the flesh with some chicken broth and seasonings. It is especially delicious, made like the Thai carrot soup, by replacing the carrots with squash.
6. In pasta: Toss with cooked pasta, browned butter, grated Parmesan cheese, and fresh herbs like sage or parsley.
7. Stuffed: They can be stuffed with various fillings such as whole grains, black beans, roasted vegetables, and cheese.
8. Make tacos: Use as a filling for vegetarian tacos or burritos, along with black beans, salsa, and other toppings.

How to store, freeze, and reheat

• Fridge - Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 4 to 5 days.
• Freezer - Freezing is a convenient way to preserve the flavor and texture for future use. Slice them and freeze in a air tight container for about 2 to 3 months. When you're ready to use, simply take out the desired portion from the freezer and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator.
• Reheat - Air fry flesh side up in a pre heated 350 degree air fryer for 3 to 6 minutes, until warmed through.

Recipe tips

• Air Fryer size - I used a 6-quart Instant vortex air fryer and could fit a 21/2 pound butternut squash comfortably without overlapping. If using a large vegetable or a smaller air fryer, cook in batches.
• Cooking time - It depends on the size! A 21/2 pound butternut squash takes about 25 minutes to cook at 380 degrees and then a few more minutes at a higher temperature to brown. Adjust cooking time when using smaller or larger vegetables.