Air Fryer Butternut Squash

This post will teach you how to peel and cut butternut squash, the best time and temperature for air fryer butternut squash, and 5 seasoning blends to keep things interesting. Whether you’re brand new to air frying or a seasoned veteran, you should leave here ready to squash any side dish challenge that comes your way.

How to Peel and Cut Butternut Squash

To prepare a fresh butternut squash, use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin. If you’re having trouble handling a whole squash, you can cut it in half where the wider part meets the longer top and peel them separately.

Once peeled, slice the squash in half vertically and scoop out all the seeds. Then use a knife to dice the squash and you’re ready to rock.

All the recipes and seasoning options in this post are for 1 pound of butternut squash. A whole squash’s yield should be around 2 pounds or so. You can make a double batch, cook each pound with a different seasoning blend, or refrigerate the remaining half for later.

Convenience Note: Using Pre-Cut Butternut Squash

A lot of grocery stores sell pre-cut butternut squash. Unlike pre-minced garlic or fresh herbs, it’s not a significant downgrade going from fresh. I actually used pre-cut for both my butternut squash soup and roasted butternut squash and brussels sprouts recipes. It’s not as cost-effective, but it definitely saves time.

How to Make Air Fryer Butternut Squash

Air frying butternut squash is as simple as tossing diced squash in a little oil and your choice of seasoning. I’ve included 5 different options in this post, but you can use any seasoning blend that works well with roasted butternut squash.

For a pound of butternut squash, 15-20 minutes at 400ºF is the sweet spot. I tested all the variations in this post in a 6.5-quart Ninja Foodi air fryer. You may need to adjust the cook times depending on the size of your air fryer.

Larger units with more surface will cook faster, while smaller units will take longer (and require an extra shake or two during the cook). You can always scale the recipes up or down to work better for your air fryer size.

You’ll want to keep an eye on any seasoning blend that incorporates sugar (like maple syrup, honey, granulated sugar, or brown sugar), as it will caramelize and potentially burn. If you’re using a sugar-heavy seasoning option, reducing the temperature and air frying a bit longer might be a good idea.

Seasoning Options for Air Frying Butternut Squash

Now, let’s get to the good stuff. Click any of the 5 seasoning options below to jump around. You’ll also find a printable recipe card at the bottom of the post with all 5 together in the notes section.

1. Cajun Style
2. Garlic Parmesan
3. Maple Cinnamon
4. Smoked Paprika
5. Chili Garlic

For more seasoning ideas, check out this post on what goes well with butternut squash.

1. Cajun Style

This seasoning blend comes by way of my Ninja Foodi sweet potato fries recipe. It might look like a lengthy ingredient list at first, but it’s worth emptying your spice cabinet. You can use pre-made cajun seasoning options, but you’ll want to use a salt-free option and salt your finished air fried butternut squash to taste.

Here’s what you’ll need for the homemade cajun seasoning:

• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme

Mix the dry spices together in a small bowl. Toss the butternut squash in the olive oil before adding the seasoning blend. Air fry for 15-20 minutes at 400ºF, shaking halfway through.

2. Garlic Parmesan

A tried and true seasoning option I’ve used to make reader favorite recipes like crispy air fryer carrot fries, air fried cauliflower gnocchi, and garlic parmesan keto potatoes.

Here’s everything you’ll need:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2-3 tablespoons grated parmesan
• 1 clove of crushed garlic (or 1/2-1 teaspoon garlic powder)
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and red pepper flakes
• freshly chopped or dried parsley

Toss the butternut squash in the olive oil before adding the dry ingredients. Air fry for 15-20 minutes at 400ºF, shaking halfway through. You can add up to 1/4 cup of grated parmesan for an even crispier exterior.

3. Maple Cinnamon

I adapted this seasoning option from Well Plated by Erin’s cinnamon roasted butternut squash. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary

With the added maple syrup, this variation cooks a bit faster than others in this post. So check on it early around minute 12 at 400ºF. A total of 15 minutes did the trick for me.

Serving tip: This cinnamon maple air fried butternut squash goes perfectly with a fried egg or two.

4. Smoked Paprika

I adapted this seasoning blend from Healthy Seasonal Recipes’ smoked paprika roasted butternut squash.

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

I air fried for 15 minutes at 400ºF, shaking halfway through, and tossed the finished squash with freshly chopped parsley.

5. Spicy Chili Garlic

You may recognize this seasoning blend from my spicy air fryer sweet potato fries. It’s a simple combo that packs a spicy punch.

• 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 tablespoon chili oil
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

If you’re a true spice lover, you can swap the olive oil for extra chili oil. Like the others in this post, 15-20 minutes at 400ºF should get the job done perfectly.

More Air Fryer Side Dishes

• Butternut Squash and Rotisserie Chicken Nachos
• 10-Minute Air Fried Green Beans
• Air Fryer Delicata Squash
• Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts 5 Ways
• Twice Air Fried Potatoes
• Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes
• Balsamic Roasted Carrots
• Air Fried Mexican Potatoes
• Cauliflower Fried Rice

You should be an air fryer butternut squash pro at this point. There’s a printable recipe card with all the seasoning blends included below.

If you have any questions, you can leave them in the comments below. And if you found this post valuable, I always appreciate recipe reviews and shares!