Air Fryer Acorn Squash
Get all the delicious caramelization of roasted acorn squash in less time than roasting in the oven using this Air Fryer Acorn Squash recipe!
A DELICIOUS VEGGIE SIDE DISH RECIPE
Ever get so excited about a recipe? I get that way about certain recipes and this Air Fryer Acorn Squash was one of them. Acorn squash can feel difficult or daunting to some people, but there’s really no reason why it should feel that way. This recipe lets the Air Fryer do all the work and the flavor is on point! I love that it’s on the slightly sweet side (great for those who don’t LOVE veggies but want to be encouraged to try new ones). So much flavor and super easy to make!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
So, I’ve only tested this recipe in a basket style Air Fryer, just like my other Air Fryer recipes. If you have a different style of Air Fryer, I recommend that you follow your specific make and model instructions from the Owner’s Manual. Use your personal experience and knowledge to adjust this recipe to suit your personal Air Fryer as needed.
Acorn squash is found in stores between October and December. Look for one that is smooth and dark green on the outside. Orange spots on the outside are normal.
Yes, I suggest preheating the Air Fryer to 375F for 5 minutes while you complete steps 2,3, and 4 of the recipe.
I recommend air frying this squash cut side up.
Acorn squash is a versatile side dish that goes with almost anything. It’s perfect for your Thanksgiving table or for a Sunday dinner.
If you want to reduce the cooking time, you can also quarter the acorn squash instead of keeping them as halves.
Instead of air frying acorn squash, you could try butternut squash (as long as it fits in your air fryer) and get the same results. You could also sprinkle pancetta in the cavity halfway through air-frying.
Any leftovers should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
You can freeze leftover Acorn Squash by placing it in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months.
If you’re serving this as a side dish, it’ll make about 4 servings. if you’re serving it as a main dish, it’ll be about 2 servings.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- unsalted butter– you can use salted butter if that’s what you have. If you do, I’d recommend cutting the salt in half or just omit it overall if that’s what you would need.
- maple syrup
- salt– If you’re sensitive to sodium, you can omit the salt altogether.
- pumpkin spice– While I like the flavor it adds to the flavor profile, if you don’t care for it, you could try cinnamon. If you don’t have any pumpkin spice on hand, try making your own using my Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice recipe.
- cayenne pepper– optional. But, I really like the touch of heat and flavor it brings.
- whole acorn squash– Look for medium-sized acorn squash. Anything larger will not fit in the air fryer basket (my air fryer is a 5-quart size for reference).
- crushed toasted pecans– optional garnish but adds a nice texture if desired.
HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER ACORN SQUASH
Add the butter, maple syrup, salt, pumpkin spice, and cayenne pepper to a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds or until melted. Whisk the ingredients together with a fork until combined.
Rinse and cut an acorn squash vertically. Remove the seeds and inner membrane. Brush the cut edges and cavity with the butter mixture and place the two halves face up in the air fryer basket.
Heat the air fryer to 375° F and cook the squash for 25 to 30 minutes, basting with the remaining butter mixture every 8-10 minutes.
The squash is done when it is fork-tender and caramelized along the cut edges. Serve with optional toasted pecans and flaky sea salt, if desired.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Air Fryer Acorn Squash
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin spice
- pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 whole acorn squash
- crushed toasted pecans and flakey sea salt (optional topping)
Instructions
- Add the butter, maple syrup, salt, pumpkin spice, and cayenne pepper to a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds or until melted. Whisk the ingredients together with a fork until combined.
- Rinse and cut an acorn squash vertically. Remove the seeds and inner membrane.
- Brush the cut edges and cavity with the butter mixture and place the two halves face up in the air fryer basket.
- Heat the air fryer to 375° F and cook the squash for 25 to 30 minutes, basting with the remaining butter mixture every 8-10 minutes.
- The squash is done when it is fork-tender and caramelized along the cut edges.
- Serve with optional toasted pecans and flaky sea salt, if desired.
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
YUM! I have half an acorn squash in the fridge all ready to be enjoyed for dinner tonight. It never occurred to me that I could fix it in the air fryer, so I will definitely be using this recipe!
I hope you love it Gina!! It really does make it so much easier and faster!
As soon as I got your recipe newsletter today, I knew I had to make this since I’ve been staring at an acorn squash staring at me for days lol! This was so good!! Didn’t use the cayenne pepper but did everything else as written and it turned out perfect! Thank you!
Yay! Thank you Jenny!! I love when acorn squash comes into season! Nothing like fresh squash. Thank you so much for coming back to comment and I am thrilled you enjoyed it!