Air Fryer Butternut Squash

Air Fryer Butternut Squash is our new favorite veggie side dish. It's healthy, easy to make, and bursting with fall/winter flavors. It's no secret that we love using our air fryer to make veggies even more delicious—like broccoli fries, breakfast potatoes, broccoli tater tots, and even crispy avocado fries! And butternut squash is no exception.

We love to roast butternut squash in the air fryer because it's faster than an oven—and clean up is a breeze. During the holidays, it's also a great side dish to make when there's limited/no oven space. But there's no need to wait for the holidays to make this recipe...it truly is a great weeknight dish to make any time of year!

Jump to:

• Why you'll love this recipe
• Ingredients
• How to make
• Tips
• What to serve with butternut squash
• Frequently asked questions
• 📖 Recipe

Ingredients

• Olive Oil: Tossing the butternut squash in oil first helps to evenly coat the squash and ensure the seasonings stick. You could substitute a neutral vegetable oil, such as grapeseed oil. But, olive oil adds a bit more flavor, which we prefer.
• Garlic Powder: Fresh garlic tends to burn at high temperatures, giving off a slightly bitter taste. So, use garlic powder instead to add a pleasant garlicky flavor to the roasted butternut squash.
• Fresh Thyme: Thyme pairs really well with butternut squash—and fresh thyme is hard to beat! While we didn't love the flavor of dried thyme quite the same, you could substitute it in a pinch. (Refer to recipe instructions, since dried thyme is not a 1-to-1 substitute for fresh thyme.)

Tips

• Cut evenly: Try and cut the butternut squash into similar sized cubes so they cook evenly in the air fryer.
• Oil first: Toss the butternut squash in oil before adding the seasonings. This will help them stick to the squash for the most flavor.
• Liquid oil vs. spray: In side-by-side tests, we preferred using liquid oil (such as olive oil), rather than an oil spray. The oil spray left a lighter coat of oil, resulting in drier and slightly less flavorful butternut squash.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer: Spread the squash evenly in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding. This will help the squash get crisp and golden-brown. (If you have a very small air fryer, cook in batches if needed).

What to serve with butternut squash

• Pasta: This simple Butternut Squash Pasta with Crispy Breadcrumbs is so yummy. And, it's quick to make for easy weeknight dinners.
• Veggie Tacos: Add roasted butternut squash to these Crispy Air Fried Avocado Tacos. Or, these Smoky Mushroom Tacos.
• Soup: For a healthy meal that's loaded with veggies, serve butternut squash as a side to this Creamy Vegetarian Tortellini Soup. Our Instant Pot Bean Soup and Vegan Red Lentil Soup would also pair well!
• Quiche: If you bought a large squash, you'll probably have enough extra to make this crowd-pleasing Butternut Squash Quiche with Cheese and Onions.
• Vegan Holiday Mains: Air fryer butternut squash is a great dish to make during the holidays! Pair it as a side to these Vegan Meatballs with Mushroom Miso Gravy.

Frequently asked questions

📖 Recipe