Air Fryer Butternut Squash – Roasted Butternut Squash Made Easy

When I get asked about what is the easiest way to cook butternut squash, I always refer to this Air Fryer Butternut Squash recipe. Chunks of butternut squash that are crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside.

Not only does the squash turn out perfect every time, it cooks much faster than when put in the oven to roast. It is the perfect side dish to serve not only during the holidays but any day of the week.

Best of all the squash will take on the flavor of whatever seasonings that you add to the surface. Therefore it is also a versatile recipe that can be adapted to your specific liking.

However, the seasonings that I have included in the recipe below is my absolute favorite way to flavor butternut squash. It is a garlic herb seasoning that pairs very well with just about any dish.

I serve it every year as a side dish at Thanksgiving and Christmas and it is one of the first side dishes to be gone from the table. But what you may not know is that butternut squash is considered a super food.

Although technically a fruit, butternut squash is considered a culinary vegetable that is full of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. It is low in calories and sugar and can be added to both sweet and savory dishes.

In comparison to many other vegetables, butternut squash is the preferred vegetable in terms of health values.

Which is Healthier – Butternut Squash or Sweet Potato?

Over recent years sweet potatoes have taken over as the healthier choice when compared to a baked potato. Although they can both be part of a healthy diet, sweet potatoes are generally healthier than standard baking potatoes.

Sweet potatoes have a high vitamin A content and are also lower on the glycemic index. In addition, because they are not in the nightshade family, those who have nightshade sensitivities can enjoy a sweet potato without worry.

However when compared to butternut squash, sweet potatoes may lose the health comparison battle. That is because the butternut squash beats the sweet potato because they have fewer calories, carbohydrates and sugar per serving. 

Butternut squash is also rich in calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins B and E.  However, the sweet potato provides more fiber and protein per serving.

While they have their differences, both are considered healthy eating choices. However if you are looking for a lower calorie, low carb side dish, then Air Fryer Butternut Squash is your choice!

I have included a general breakdown of nutritional value between butternut squash and sweet potato based on 1 cup serving size. This was generated from a nutritional calculator and is to be used as a guideline only.

	Butternut Squash	Sweet Potato
Calories	73	126
Fat (g)	0.1	0.0
Carbs (g)	16.6	36
Fiber (g)	2.8	4.3
Sugar (g)	3.1	7
Protein (g)	1.4	2.1

Why Use An Air Fryer To Make Roasted Butternut Squash?

Now that you know the nutritional benefits of consuming butternut squash, you may be wondering why you should use an air fryer to cook it.

The first and foremost benefit of using an air fryer is that it is a huge time saver when it comes to cooking time. You can have this healthy and delicious side dish on the table in under 30 minutes.

And this time includes the amount of time that it takes to peel and cut the squash into bite size pieces.

When making Oven Roasted Butternut Squash, it could take 45-60 minutes to for the squash to cook through and become tender on the inside. Although this is my preferred way to make Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, I prefer the air fryer when making the squash as a stand alone side dish.

Not to mention that you also save space in the oven for larger items such as turkey or ham when making a complete holiday dinner.

And the final reason that I prefer to use the air fryer is that I don’t have to heat up the entire kitchen to make a healthy side dish. Instead of turning on the oven and waiting for it to heat up I toss the pieces in the air fryer.

For other healthy air fryer recipes be sure to check out my Healthy Air Fryer Recipes page.

Air Fryer Butternut Squash Recipe

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 of medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed (approximately 2 cups cubed)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons dry Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Peel and cube the butternut squash and measure out 2 cups. Add cubed squash to a mixing bowl and drizzle extra virgin olive oil on top.

Sprinkle dry Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and ground black pepper on top. Toss to coat.

Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for air fryer ovens and 400°F (200°C) for basket style air fryers. Spray air fryer tray or basket with non stick cooking spray.

Place seasoned squash in the air fryer in a single layer. Cook for 8 minutes, then shake or flip and cook for another 8-10 minutes.

*If you are using an air fryer oven you may want to place the rack on the lower level to prevent the top from becoming too brown.

The squash is done when you easily pierce it with a fork but doesn’t yet fall apart. Carefully remove the butternut squash from the air fryer and serve warm.

Double The Recipe

*This recipe can easily be doubled to serve 4-6 people. However, you may need to cook the squash in batches for even cooking.

Reminder – all air fryer ovens and basket air fryers cook at different rates. Keep a close eye on the butternut squash as it cooks.

The goal is for the squash to have a crispy exterior while being soft and tender on the inside.

If the squash begins to brown too quickly but is not yet fork tender. Turn off the air fryer heat and keep the squash in the warm air fryer to finish cooking through the residual heat.

Enjoy! Mary

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