Air Fryer Butternut Squash {gluten-free, vegan}

Air Fryer Butternut Squash {gluten-free, vegan}

Last Updated on December 16, 2022 by Kayla

It’s fall y’all! That means it’s time for warm, hearty side dishes like this air fryer butternut squash. I used butternut squash for this recipe, but you can use any variety of winter squash.

One of my favorite fall foods is squash. They come in many different sizes and flavors, and squash can be stored easily for a long period of time – winter squash in particular.

Summer vs Winter squash

Summer squash are thin-skinned. Think zucchini and yellow squash. Their shelf life isn’t as long as winter squash. Summer squash tend to have less calories compared to winter squash, and they are high in vitamin C.

As for storage of the summer varieties, many resources such as the USDA recommend storing in the refrigerator for up to one week. Personally, I prefer to store at room temperature on the counter.

Compared to summer squash, winter squash are more durable with a thick, hard skin. Acorn squash, buttercup squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, and pumpkin are some of the better-known winter squash.

Winter squash are easy to store. Store in a cool, dry area away from extreme temperatures. Some winter varieties such as acorn squash can keep fresh for up to 3 months!

What I love most about winter squash is how versatile they are. Roast them, mash ’em, make them into a soup – and my newest favorite, air fryer squash!

How to cook squash in air fryer

My goal for this air fryer butternut squash recipe was to keep it simple. This recipe uses only four ingredients, and from start to finish, takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.

Start by preparing the squash. Peel and cube into bite-sized pieces. I prefer to quarter the squash and lay flat on a cutting board peeling with a knife. Be careful and take your time here!

Gourmia digital air fryer

To be honest, my air fryer sat in the box, untouched for 2 weeks before I had the nerve to unwrap it. My only regret with purchasing this model is that I didn’t build up the courage to use it sooner!

I purchased a 6-quart Gourmia digital air fryer at Costco for around $50. The price point was cheaper compared to some of the other air fryers on the market, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Gourmia 6 Quart Digital Air Fryer

The Gourmia air fryer presets are detailed in the user manual and made my first use a breeze. Most air fryers can have a hot plastic smell for the first few uses, but I didn’t experience this. Maybe the smell of brussels sprouts overpowered the plastic smell! 🙂

Gourmia air fryer presets

To cook butternut squash in the air fryer, I used the “Vegetables” preset which defaults to a 400F cooking temp for 20 minutes. It also includes a reminder to turn food halfway through cooking.

Air fryer squash

This air fryer butternut squash recipe pairs nicely with my air fryer chicken sausage and crispy brussels sprouts recipe. Altogether, this meal comes together quickly and doesn’t require a whole lot of supervision so you can go about your tasks while dinner is cooking!

Air fryer squash with chicken sausage and brussels sprouts
Air Fryer Butternut Squash {gluten-free, vegan}

Air Fryer Butternut Squash {gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan}

This warm, hearty side dish is meant to please the whole family. With only 4 ingredients, this air fryer butternut squash recipe can be prepared in a pinch!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 110 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 medium winter squash peeled, seeded & cubed
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat air fryer while you prepare squash.
  • Add squash to a large mixing bowl. Add olive oil and salt and pepper; toss to coat.
  • Transfer squash to air fryer and cook at 400 degress for 20 minutes, tossing halfway through*.
    *I used the "Vegetables" setting on my Gourmia digital air fryer which automatically defaults to a 20-minute cook time at 400 degrees and includes a reminder to toss vegetables at 10 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

per serving (about 1 cup): 110 calories, 4g fat, 21g carbohydrates, 2g protein

Yours truly,

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