These Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves are tender and succulent inside with a beautifully caramelized exterior. No peeling, chopping, or long oven roasting required! Season with maple syrup and cinnamon - a 30-minute fall side dish!
If you are looking for more butternut squash side dish ideas, then try the mashed butternut squash or the butternut squash casserole recipe!
Why You'll Love This Mashed Butternut Squash
This is one of the easiest ways to cook butternut squash! No peeling, wrestling with a hard squash, or chopping it into cubes or slices. Simply cut it in half, remove the seeds, and let the air fryer do the work.
Air frying brings out the squash’s naturally rich, nutty sweetness in less time than oven roasting, giving you tender, succulent flesh with beautifully caramelized edges and minimal effort. Naturally sweetened with maple syrup and a hint of warm cinnamon, it makes a delicious fall side dish. And any leftovers are incredibly versatile—use them in soups, salads, or mash the flesh into a cozy side dish the next day!
-maria doss
★★★★★
"Absolutely delicious!! My squash was large but fit in my air fryer. I reduced the Maple Syrup bc I don’t like things too sweet. I used 1 tablespoon. Just right. Lots left over so I’ll freeze one half and finish off the other one. Thanks."
-TRISH
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Mashed Butternut Squash
- Common mistakes to avoid when air frying butternut squash
- More veggie side dishes for Fall
- Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves
- Tips for Success
- FAQ'S
- How to cook butternut squash in air fryer?
- Seasoning variations
- Ways to eat air fried butternut squash halves
- How to store, freeze, and reheat
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 yellow squash cooks evenly and consistently. It also reduces the cooking time because it starts 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, then 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.
More veggie side dishes for Fall
Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 butternut squash 2 to 3 pounds
- 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil divided
- 1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Prep squash. Cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise from the stem to the bottom. Scoop out the seeds and stringy fibers from the cavity. Brush one tablespoon olive oil on the flesh side.1 butternut squash
- Air fry. Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Once hot, place the squash cut-side down in the basket and air fry for 20 to 23 minutes, or until the flesh is tender and easily pierced with a knife.
- Flip and finish. Carefully flip the hot squash cut-side up using tongs. Brush the flesh evenly with the glaze, then increase the air fryer temperature to 400°F. Air fry for 7 to 9 minutes, or until the surface is golden and beautifully caramelized.Make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the 1 ½ tablespoon maple syrup, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, and remaining ½ tablespoon olive oil.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
Tips for Success
- 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.
FAQ'S
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!
Yes! Butternut squash skin is edible and softens as it cooks. It also contains fiber and nutrients, but the texture can still be a little tough or chewy, depending on the squash and cooking method.
If you prefer a smoother texture, simply scoop the cooked flesh away from the skin before eating.
There are several good reasons to cook butternut squash in halves, especially if you’re looking for an easy, fuss-free method:
Less prep: No tedious peeling or difficult chopping. If you’ve ever cut a butternut squash, you know it can be a bit of a workout!
More caramelization: The larger cut surface gives you plenty of room for the maple-cinnamon glaze to caramelize, while the flesh stays moist and tender.
Beautiful presentation: Roasted halves look especially pretty on a Thanksgiving or holiday table.
So many ways to use them: Serve the halves as a side dish, stuff them with your favorite fillings, or scoop out the flesh to make mashed squash, pasta sauces, muffins, breads, pancakes, waffles, and more.
It depends on how you’re cooking it. If you’re air frying butternut squash halves, there’s no need to peel the skin. It acts like a natural shell, helping the tender squash hold its shape so you can easily flip and remove it from the air fryer without it falling apart.
However, if you’re making air fryer butternut squash cubes or chunks, it’s best to peel the squash first so you can eat the pieces easily once they’re cooked.
Don’t throw those seeds away! Rinse them, remove any stringy pulp, and dry them thoroughly. Toss with a little oil and your favorite seasonings, then roast until golden and crisp.
They make a crunchy, healthy snack that’s especially fun to munch on during movie night! For step-by-step instructions, check out my roasted butternut squash seeds recipe.
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How to cook butternut squash in air fryer?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
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.
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.
👉 Looking for an oven baked version? Try the oven roasted butternut squash.
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:
- Make into a casserole - Skip the maple syrup and cinnamon. Instead, mash the cooked flesh and use it as the base for the creamy sweet butternut squash casserole.
- As a side dish: Slice and serve as a side dish for weeknight dinner, during the fall season.
- In a salad: Chop and toss with leafy greens, nuts, seeds, cheese, and your favorite salad dressing for a satisfying meal.
- In a whole grain bowl: Top the squash halves with cooked grains like cooked quinoa, farro, or brown rice, chicken or chickpeas, baby spinach and a drizzle of your favorite dressing.
- Soup: Blend the flesh with some chicken broth and seasonings. It is especially delicious when made like the Thai carrot soup, by replacing the carrots with squash.
- In pasta: Toss with cooked pasta, browned butter, grated Parmesan cheese, and fresh herbs like sage or parsley.
- Stuffed: They can be stuffed with various fillings such as whole grains, black beans, roasted vegetables, and cheese.
- Make tacos: Use as a filling for vegetarian tacos or burritos, along with black beans, salsa, and other toppings. This will make a delicious substitute for sweet potatoes in the sweet potato and black bean tacos!
- Make a pie: Skip the oil and seasonings. Roast as given in the recipe, cool and scoop out the flesh to make the best butternut squash pie recipe for Thanksgiving dessert.
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.
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Hi, I’m Maria! I share easy, flavor-packed dinners, high-protein meals, and irresistible baking ideas. If you’ve ever asked, “Don’t know what to cook tonight?” you’re in the right place. And yes—there’s plenty here for breakfast, snacks, and dessert too. More about maria ->
Trish
Absolutely delicious!! My squash was large but fit in my air fryer. I reduced the Maple Syrup bc I don’t like things too sweet. I used 1 tablespoon. Just right. Lots left over so I’ll freeze one half and finish off the other one. Thanks.
JJ
I love this recipe although admittedly i didn't use the glaze. I had to cut in 4 pieces due to small air fryer. I used olive oil, salt and pepper, and when done, vegan parmesan cheese. YUM! Great for work lunch. For my halloween party tomorrow, I am going to dice after cooking and top toasted baguettes slices along with diced tomatoes and parmesean cheese. Easiest way to cook it. Thanks!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear, and I love the idea of making them into toasts! Happy halloween - Maria ♡
Cynthia Winney
Delicious! Followed oven recipe.
Added Salt, pepper & garlic pepper along with the butter. Squash was tender & creamy on the inside & a little crusty on the outside. Perfect!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear, so glad you loved it - Maria ♡