This butternut squash fries up in minutes in the air fryer, so it's super easy to make a healthy, yet delicious veggie side dish. Free up oven space and get this maple roasted, sweet squash recipe on the table fast.
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We cannot get enough of butternut squash this fall! It's low calorie, fiber-rich and full of nutrients like vitamin A and vitamin C. It makes a great side dish and is versatile enough for sweet and savory recipes. Some of our favorites are butternut squash pasta sauce, 5 ingredient butternut squash soup, roasted brussels sprouts and butternut squash and butternut squash lasagna.
Take this simple (yet delicious) ingredient and fry it up for the perfect, caramelized bite!
5 Simple Ingredients
- Butternut squash: these are mostly in season in the fall and winter, but you can usually find them year round. A medium squash will serve up enough for this recipe!
- Butter: get a quality butter or opt for a plant-based butter like Miyokos. I think the butter adds so much flavor to this dish, but you could use olive oil, olive oil spray or coconut oil if you have it on hand.
- Maple syrup: this pairs really well with the squash and brings out it's natural sweetness. It caramelizes as it cooks and adds a sticky sweet texture and flavor.
Do you leave skin on when roasting butternut squash?
The skin of butternut squash is pretty tough and not something I recommend eating. The easiest way to remove the skin is to use a vegetable peeler.
How to prepare the butternut squash
Don't be intimidated by the prep work involved with this winter squash! You'll have it ready in just 3 simple steps, and it's much cheaper to do it yourself than but it pre-cut. The taste of a fresh squash is worth it!
- Peel: as mentioned above, use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin from the flesh:
- Scoop: use a sharp knife to cut the squash in half lengthwise then use a spoon to scoop out the seedy center.
- Dice: cut the squash into 1 inch strips then cut them across to dice them to make butternut squash cubes.
How to cook butternut squash in the air fryer
- Prep: Follow the instructions above to peel and dice the butternut squash.
- Mix: Place the squash in a large bowl then add the butter, maple syrup, cinnamon and salt and toss well to coat.
- Air fryer: Transfer it to the air fryer basket, trying your best to get it in a single layer, and cook for 10-12 minutes. Open the basked and shake the squash then place it back in the oven and air fry for another 10 minutes.
More delicious butternut squash recipes
- 5 Ingredient butternut squash soup
- Maple roasted butternut squash in the oven
- Roasted brussel sprouts and butternut squash
- Fall butternut squash salad
- Butternut squash pasta sauce
If you love this recipe as much as I do, don't forget to follow me on Instagram and tag me with @what_mollymade so I can see it and feature you.
Recipe
Easy Air Fryer Butternut Squash Recipe (5 Ingredients)
Ingredients
- 1 medium butternut squash peeled and diced into 1 inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons butter or vegan plant-based butter melted
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Recommended Equipment
- Air Fryer
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 5 minutes.
- While it's warming, cut butternut squash. Use a vegetable peeler to peel the skin then cut the squash in half lengthwise, scoop out the seedy center and dice the butternut squash into one inch pieces.
- Place the squash in a large bowl then add the butter, maple syrup, cinnamon and salt and toss well to coat.
- Transfer it to the air fryer basket and cook for 10-12 minutes then open it and use the handle to shake the squash. Place it back in the oven and air fry for another 10 minutes. It should be fork-tender and starting to brown and caramelize around the edges. If your air fryer has an air broil function, you can broil them for 3-5 minutes to get the edges extra crispy at the end. Serve warm!
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