Can I make this squash in an oven instead?

You sure can! Oven instructions are included in the recipe card below, or check out my oven-roasted butternut squash (cubes & halves) recipe !

How do I store leftover squash?

Store leftover squash in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. You can serve leftovers cold in salads, or reheat in your air fryer if you prefer the leftovers to be warm and slightly re-crisped.

Can I freeze the leftover squash?

Yep! Place completely cooled air fried butternut squash in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months, and thaw in the fridge when you're ready to eat. You can reheat it in the air fryer, oven, or even blend it up into soups (like my favorite ever Thai-spiced butternut squash soup !).

Air Fryer Butternut Squash (Quick, Roasty & Caramelized)

Name: Quick & Roasty Air Fryer Butternut Squash (Easy Side Dish!)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 cups cubed butternut squash (from ~2 pound squash); 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon salt, more to taste; 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Description

This air fryer butternut squash recipe makes tender, caramelized cubes in 20 minutes. Perfect for healthy sides, bowls, salads, or meal prep!

Ingredients

Units Scale

4 cups cubed butternut squash (from ~2 pound squash)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt, more to taste
1/4 teaspoon pepper

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Instructions

Prep squash. Place the butternut squash cubes in a large bowl and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
Air fry butternut squash. Place the squash in your air fryer in an even layer. Some may be overlapping slightly and that's okay, as long as it's not in a tall pile. Air fry the squash for 20-22 minutes at 390 degrees, stirring or flipping halfway through to evenly cook all the pieces. The number of batches you need to do will depend on your air fryer (see notes). The squash is done when the edges are golden brown, and the thickest pieces can be easily pierced by a fork. Once done, remove from the air fryer and serve!

Equipment

Ninja Foodi

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Peeler

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Notes

Air fryer size. I use a 5-quart Ninja Foodi, which is perfect for air frying up to 4 cups of cubed squash at one time. For less squash (such as 2 cups of cubes), reduce the cook time to 15-18 minutes, depending on how much squash is covering the bottom. If you have a smaller or larger air fryer, you may need to adjust the amount of squash and cook time accordingly. The best way to achieve great results is to check halfway through to see how quickly the squash is cooking!
Oven roast. No air fryer? Roast butternut squash cubes in your oven at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes (depends on your oven; check for doneness by seeing if squash can be easily pierced with a fork and starting to brown on edges). Just like with the air fryer, stir the squash halfway through to get even heat exposure.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Side dish
Method: Air fry
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 162
Sugar: 5 g
Sodium: 299.8 mg
Fat: 7.2 g
Saturated Fat: 1 g
Carbohydrates: 26.6 g
Fiber: 4.6 g
Protein: 2.3 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg