Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves Recipe

Air fried butternut squash halves on a plate from the top view.

Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves Recipe

If cooking the whole butternut squash sounds daunting, try cooking them in the air fryer. The good news is that with this recipe, making Air Fryer Butternut Squash Halves is not only easy but also convenient compared to other methods.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Diet Gluten Free, Vegan

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 32

Total Time 37

Servings butternut squash

Calories 379kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

Equipment

1 Air Fryer

Ingredients

1 whole butternut squash approximately 2.5 pounds, cut in half lengthwise
1 teaspoon olive oil
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon Kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

Pre-heat the air fryer to 375 degrees F.
Using a sharp chef’s knife, place the whole butternut squash on its side on your cutting board. Hold it firmly in the middle with your non-dominant hand. Trim the stem (the top) by cutting about ½-inch off. While still holding it firmly on its side, cut it vertically (or from top to bottom direction) in the middle. As you are cutting, you may have to jerk it back and forth while applying a little pressure to loosen it.*
Brush the cut sides of the butternut squash with olive oil and season with garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Place the butternut squash halves cut side down* and cook for 22 minutes.
Flip the butternut squash halves and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
Insert a knife in the “neck” of the squash. If it pierces easily, it should be ready. If it does not feel tender, cook in 1-minute increments until done.

Notes

Yields: This recipe makes one whole butternut squash with two halves, which is good for 2 servings. The nutritional values below are per serving.
Cutting the squash: It is imperative that you use a sharp knife and take your time as you are cutting the squash. If you are new to the process, be sure to check out our how-to guide to cutting butternut squash like a pro.
Sweetener: If you prefer, you can use a sweetener like maple syrup or brown sugar. However, we recommend brushing (or sprinkling) your butternut squash halves with the sweetener of your choice in the last 5 minutes of air frying to prevent over-caramelization or burning.
Start with skin side down ensures that your squash halves cook more evenly, as it allows for better air circulation and helps trap moisture in the skin of the squash to keep the veggie from drying out. It also results in better caramelization, as the flesh side of the squash will have more direct contact with the heat of the air fryer basket.
Storage: You can store your leftover halved squash in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Reheat: To reheat your air-fried squash halves, cook them in the air fryer at 350 degrees F. for 5-7 minutes or until heated through.
Cubed Butternut Squash: If you prefer to air fry cubed butternut squash, check out our Air Fryer Butternut Squash recipe.

Nutrition