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Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves

Name: Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 medium butternut squash; 1-2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 teaspoon Salt (to taste); 1/2 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper (to taste); 1 teaspoon Optional seasonings: cinnamon (nutmeg, or your favorite herbs)

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These Air Fryer butternut squash halves have a delicious caramelized outside and a soft, sweet inside that makes them perfect as a fall side dish.

They barely need any effort to put together, and air frying crisps them up perfectly. Use the halves to hold your choice of filling, or scoop out the flesh to use it as a base for your soups, curries and pasta sauces.

Cooked Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves plated with a garnish of fresh herbs."

Butternut squash is one of my absolute favorite veggies to cook, especially during fall.

I’ve tried a LOT of different recipes using it in my Air Fryer- everything from crispy Air Fryer squash to Air Fryer butternut squash fries.

And this time, I wanted to experiment with something more robust, hearty and versatile, and that’s when I thought of this recipe.

If you love some great, easy air fryer vegetable recipes and perfect fall foods such as air fryer kabocha squash, air fryer spaghetti squash, or even air fryer ranch seasoned broccoli, this recipe will be the perfect addition to your fall recipe collection.

Deliciously roasted Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves served on a white plate, showcasing their golden brown color.

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Easy and delish: If you love roasted butternut squash, this easy recipe is perfect for you. You’ll be able to make it in a jiffy in your Air Fryer.
Healthy: It is the perfect healthy and nutritious side dish you can make for the holidays or enjoy at any other time of the year.
Perfect for meal prep: It can be an excellent addition to your meal prep. You can build a lot of healthy recipes using these squash halves.

Ingredients For the Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves Recipe

A close-up of Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves on an a plate, with other ingredients.

Butternut squash: Start with a firm, ripe butternut squash that has an even outside, without any soft spots on the surface.
Olive oil: Just a light drizzle can enhance the roasting process.
Seasonings: Keep it simple. I used just a bit of salt and pepper. You can also use some cinnamon, nutmeg or other savory spices that have those beautiful warm fall flavors.

Variations & Substitutions

To bring some fall flavors and deliciousness to the squash, drizzle them with some maple syrup and top them with some chopped nuts like walnuts and pecans before you serve.
Lend the squash a spicy twist by sprinkling some cayenne or paprika on the halves. I love using my homemade Old Bay seasoning sometimes to bring a bit of different flavor and deliciousness.

How to Make Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves

Fresh butternut squash cut in half, ready for seasoning before air frying.

Start by preheating the Air Fryer at 375 degrees.

Prep squash: Begin by washing and drying the butternut squash and slicing it in half lengthwise.

Scoop time: Use a spoon to scoop out the center of the squash and discard the seeds and the stringy portion.

Seasoned butternut squash halves brushed with olive oil and spices, prepared for the air fryer.

Season: Brush the squash halves with olive oil and sprinkle some salt and pepper over the surface.

Air fry: Place the butternut squash halves in the Air Fryer basket, cut side up. Cook them for around 25-30 minutes or until the edges start to brown.

Golden brown Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves after cooking, displayed on a plate for serving.

Check for Doneness: Test the squash for doneness by piercing it with a fork. It should be soft and easily penetrated by the fork tines.

Tips & Tricks to Make Butternut Squash Halves in Air Fryer

Choose a medium sized squash for best results. Pick a squash that is firm, but not too soft. That way, it’ll hold its shape even after being cooked.
To make sure the squash is cooked through, score its flesh using a sharp knife.
Don’t overcrowd the Air Fryer basket, and leave a bit of room to allow the hot air to circulate throughout the basket and get the butternut squash crispy.
Let the butternut squash rest for a few minutes after you get them out of the basket. This keeps the squash nice and juicy.
Get adventurous with the toppings. Top the halves with a pat of butter (if you’re not vegan) or some goat cheese, walnuts and pecans.
Line the Air Fryer basket with liners to make cleanup easier!

Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves on a rustic wooden table, beautifully plated with a side of greens.

Storage Instructions

Refrigeration: I stored my leftover butternut squash halves in an airtight container in the refrigerator. These can stay fresh for 2-3 days, possibly more.

Freezing: To make it last longer, you can store your leftovers in a freezer safe container or bag and freeze it for months.

Reheating: You can reheat the butternut squash halves in the microwave or your Air Fryer- whatever you prefer.

Serving Ideas & Suggestions

There are lots of ways you can put these air fried butternut squash halves to use. Scoop out their flesh and use it to make butternut squash soup, a delicious curry or cube them up and team them up with some roasted apples and sausages.

My personal favorite way to enjoy these roasted squash halves is to load them up with some Air Fryer chili, top with lots of cheese and give them a quick broil again.

This can be an incredibly healthy and delicious low-carb meal to try.

You can also use the roasted squash as a base for a pasta sauce or as a filling for your vegetarian lasagna.

Another amazing idea is to add some chunks of the roasted butternut squash into your favorite salad- I love adding it to my BBQ chicken salad.

FAQs

Should I peel the butternut squash before I air fry it? You don’t need to, but if you really want to, you can. Keeping the peel on gets it nice and crispy, so I would highly recommend keeping it on.

Can I cook the squash with the seeds still inside? You can, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The seeds can turn too hard when they’re air fried, and you won’t enjoy eating them. I know I didn’t.

My butternut squash is too hard for me to slice through. How do I cut it? If your butternut squash is hard, microwave it for a few minutes to get it to soften up, and then slice it.

How will I know the butternut squash is cooked through? The best way to check if the squash is done cooking is to poke it with a knife or a fork. If it gets through easily, it is done. If it still feels tough and hard, it needs some more time to cook.

How long do I need to cook the butternut squash halves? Depending on the kind of Air Fryer you’re using and the size of the squash, it can take anywhere between 20-30 minutes for the squash to cook through.

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