Sweet and savory – and that’s even before the spiced maple butter glaze and fresh herb garnish – Air Fryer Acorn Squash is a super simple side dish that impresses easily. Whether serving acorn squash in halves for scooping or slices for spearing, you get oven-roasted taste in half the time.
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I don’t know if it’s the color, or the fact that every year the pumpkin spice epidemic gets worse, but come October I cannot get enough beta carotene-laced starchy vegetables in my diet.
Carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash, oh my! I want ’em mashed and roasted; I want ’em sweet and salty; and I’ll take ’em with a fork or a spoon.
While I don’t play favorites, I’ve started to show more love to the under-appreciated acorn squash. Its taste and texture lie somewhere between butternut and spaghetti squash, so it needs a little push in the flavor department. But it does come in it’s own handy built-in bowl, which makes it prime for stuffing and serving as a main dish, or pureeing into an acorn squash soup.
And best of all, “roasted” acorn squash in the air fryer is ready in half the time of roasted acorn squash. More winter squash, faster. Let’s go!
Why the Air Fryer?
As with most air fryer recipes, the shortest (literally and figuratively) answer is that cooking acorn squash in the air fryer is faster.
Trust me, I’ve tried all the methods, but if there’s one thing I learned when learning how to cook acorn squash, it’s that while oven roasted acorn squash is still my favorite, I can get a close approximation in half the time when I use my air fryer.
Just be advised – most basket-style air fryer models can only accommodate 2 halves at a time. But the upside here is that the air fryer is a terrific option for small-batch cooking!
Can I Eat the Skin of an Acorn Squash?
Technically, yes! While the skin isn’t QUITE as delicate as delicata squash, it’s definitely nowhere near as tough as butternut or spaghetti squashes.
I usually don’t eat the skin when I’m cooking and serving air fried acorn squash halves simply because I’m relying on it to act like a bowl. I DO eat the skin on slices.
Bottom line, once it’s cooked, you can try it, and if you don’t like it, you can peel it right off. The important thing is you DON’T need to peel first (and we don’t recommend trying) before you cook acorn squash in the air fryer.
How Long to Cook Acorn Squash in the Air Fryer?
Cooking acorn squash in the air fryer takes around 18 minutes total, regardless of whether you’re cooking halves or slices.
How to Make Air Fryer Acorn Squash Slices
Get oven baked taste, fast, with air fryer acorn squash slices. These half moon slices get tender and caramelized in half the time! Season with spiced maple butter and garnish with fresh herbs for a sweet-n-savory finish.
- Slice the acorn squash in half, then slice into 1″ thick half moon pieces. Toss the squash pieces with olive oil and salt until evenly coated, then place into the air fryer.
- Air fry at 370°F for 10 minutes.
- Remove the basket from the air fryer and toss the slices. Return the basket to the air fryer and cook 8 minutes more at 370°F. Taste for texture and air fry 2-3 minutes longer if the squash isn’t completely tender.
- Whisk melted butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg until very smooth.
- Drizzle the maple butter over the cooked squash and toss until evenly coated. Garnish with chopped fresh thyme or sage, and serve right away.
How to Make Air Fryer Acorn Squash Halves
Air fryer acorn squash halves get nice and tender in the first half, then develop deep, sweet caramelization (and crispy skin) after the flip, thanks to a spiced butter glaze.
- Prep squash, slice in half, then rub all over with olive oil and season flesh with salt.
- Arrange squash cut side down in air fryer basket.
- Cook 10 minutes at 390°F.
- Flip squash over and brush flesh with spiced maple butter.
- Return to air fryer and cook 6-8 minutes more at 390°F, until flesh is tender and can be easily flecked with the tines of a fork.
- Serve warm, right away.
Chef’s Tips!
- To prep acorn squash for the air fryer, first begin by washing and drying the skin. You’ll cook acorn squash with the skin on, so treat it like any other vegetable.
- Use a sharp chef’s knife (dull knives can slip!) on a flat, stable cutting surface.
- Use a melon baller to remove the seeds and pulp – the sharper edges make for easy work!
- Even if you don’t plan on eating the skin, be sure to air fry acorn squash with the skin on. It will peel off easily once cooked, and the same cannot be said for peeling raw acorn squash.
How to Reheat Air Fryer Acorn Squash
Put it right back in the air fryer! Reduce the temperature to 350°F and heat slices for 3-4 minutes (in a single layer), and halves for 5-6 minutes.
Did you try acorn squash in the air fryer? I’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.
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Recipe
25-Minute Air Fryer Acorn Squash
Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin RecipeRecommended Equipment
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- whisk
- Melon Baller optional
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
Air Fryer Acorn Squash (Sliced)
- 1 acorn squash, washed and patted ry
- 2 tsp olive oil
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage or thyme
Air Fryer Acorn Squash (Halves)
- 1 acorn squash
- 1 tsp olive oil
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tbsp maple syrup or brown sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage or thyme
Instructions
Air Fryer Acorn Squash (Sliced)
- Slice the squash in half, then remove the seeds. Place cut side down on a cutting board and divide into 1″ thick half moon shapes. Transfer the slices to a bowl; add the olive oil and salt, then toss until evenly coated.
- Arrange the seasoned squash slices in an even layer in the basket of your air fryer. Cook at 370°F for 10 minutes.
- Remove the basket, stir the squash and flip the slices. Return the basket to the air fryer and cook at 370°F for 8 minutes more.
- Whisk the melted butter with maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg until smooth. Drizzle the spiced butter mixture over the squash, toss until well combined, then garnish with fresh thyme or sage. Serve immediately.
Air Fryer Acorn Squash (Halves)
- Slice the squash in half, then remove the seeds. Rub each half with ½ teaspoon olive oil, then season with salt all over.
- Arrange the acorn squash halves cut side down in the air fryer. Cook at 390°F for 10 minutes. In this first stage, the squash will effectively steam, and the flesh will soften.
- Whisk the melted butter with maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg until smooth. Remove the basket, flip the squash using tongs, then brush the flesh with half of the spiced butter mixture.
- Return the basket to the air fryer and cook at 390° for 6-8 minutes more, or until the flesh is tender and lightly caramelized.
- Brush the squash with the remaining spiced butter mixture, then garnish with sage or thyme, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Wash the squash before slicing, as the skin is edible.
- We like using a melon baller to remove the seeds quickly and efficiently.
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