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If you love a sweet and savory side dish, you’ll love this Air Fryer Acorn Squash. It’s quick and simple, and roasts to perfection in the air fryer in just 20 minutes!
You guys, I’m so excited to finally share with you my new favorite way to enjoy acorn squash!
While I love the caramelized goodness of oven roasted acorn squash and the quick cooking of Instant Pot acorn squash, the air fryer combines the best of both worlds!
With this recipe, you can cook your squash quickly (just like the Instant Pot), but you have the caramelized brown sugar deliciousness of oven roasted squash!
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Why this recipe works
- You don’t need to use your oven, which frees up valuable cooking space to prepare other sides or your main dish!
- The squash cooks in a fraction of the time it takes in the oven! While oven roasted squash is delicious and definitely worth the wait, sometimes you just want to speed up the process so you can dig in that much quicker.
- It’s a simple side dish for fall entertaining. You only need 7 ingredients, there’s little prep time and it makes a beautiful presentation on your holiday table!
- The addition of sage and crumbled bacon to the butter and brown sugar filling is pure bliss! Every bite tastes sweet and rich with a hint of salty deliciousness.
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What is an Air Fryer?
The Air Fryer is a healthier alternative to frying foods. It's basically a small, powerful convection oven that sits on your countertop.
It circulates hot air around the food you're cooking, which is what gives it that crisp texture that mimics fried food (without all the grease).
Read more about the health benefits of using an air fryer.
I personally use this Ninja MAX XL Air Fryer because it hold 5.5 quarts, which is more than most. It has worked great so far and we just love how easy it is to use!
Other air fryer recipes
Ingredients
You’ll need 1 small acorn squash for this recipe. (We’re going small so it will fit in the air fryer). Acorn squash is a winter squash with green skin and orange flesh. It’s firm with ridges and resembles the shape of an acorn.
For the base of the cooking liquid/filling, the recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of butter. For maximum flavor, I like to use salted butter. If you use unsalted butter, just add an additional sprinkle of salt to each squash half. Salt will enhance the sweet flavor.
Two teaspoons of brown sugar pairs with the butter to create a sweet and buttery liquid filling. It will caramelize as it cooks, which enhances the flavor of the sweet and nutty squash.
I love the flavor of sage with squash, so we’re adding 6-8 leaves of fresh sage to the filling.
For a little saltiness to complement the sweet, add 1 piece of cooked crumbled bacon. Just a little goes a long way here!
Lastly, to add extra cozy vibes, you’ll add ¼ teaspoon of allspice for a warm spice flavor.
Step by step instructions
STEP 1: Slice the acorn squash in half and use a spoon to remove all the seeds. (You can save the seeds and roast them like these curry roasted pumpkin seeds).
STEP 2: Divide the ingredients in half and place them in each half of the acorn squash (you'll use all of the ingredients, half in each side).
Place 1 tablespoon of water on the bottom of the air fryer. This keeps it from smoking.
Place the acorn squash halves (filled with the ingredients) upright in the air fryer basket. **If both sides won't fit, you'll have to cook them one at a time.
STEP 3: Cook at 375F degrees for 15-20 minutes. Start checking for doneness at 15 minutes.
**Check for doneness using a knife - if it pierces the flesh, it's done. Be careful not to pierce a hole in the bottom of the squash or the filling will leak out.
STEP 4: Remove and use a spoon to mix the ingredients in with the flesh of the squash.
STEP 5: The squash can be eaten in the skin, removed from the skin, or with the skin (the skin is edible).
STEP 6: Drizzle some maple syrup and a pinch of salt over the top to serve.
Expert tips
- If your air fryer model requires preheating, you should preheat it while you prepare the squash.
- Different air fryer brands and models will vary, so you may need to adjust the temperature and air frying time slightly.
- Don’t forget to add water to the bottom of the air fryer. This will help prevent any smoking as the squash cooks.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer and the size of your squash, you may need to air fry the squash halves one at a time.
- Keep the squash halves cooking cut side up the entire time. If you flip them over, the liquid will run out and make a mess in the air fryer.
- If your squash halves are a little wobbly, you can cut about ⅛ to ¼ inch off the bottoms to help them sit evenly. Just be careful not to cut too much off as any holes in the bottom will cause the liquid to run out.
- If you lose the liquid, you can just heat 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 teaspoons of brown sugar in a bowl and mix it together with the squash flesh.
Common questions
For this recipe, we’re just cutting the squash in half, but you still want to be careful as the shape of acorn squash makes it tricky to cut. Use a sharp knife or a cleaver and cut the squash straight down the middle, parallel with the ridges.
Wrap your non-cutting hand in a towel and hold one side as you cut down the middle. You can also place a damp cloth under your cutting board to prevent it from slipping. If your squash halves don’t sit evenly, you can cut about ⅛ to ¼ inch off the bottoms to help level them up.
To cook the squash quickly, you’ll want to set your air fryer to 375F degrees. If you set it any higher, you risk the filling and the outside of the squash burning before the squash flesh is fork tender.
At 375F degrees, it will take the squash about 20 minutes to fully cook. Start checking the squash after 15 minutes, as some air fryers cook faster than others.
It will be fork tender and browned around the edges. To check for doneness, just pierce the inside flesh of the squash. If you can easily pierce it, it’s done. Be careful not to pierce through the skin as your roasting liquid will leak out.
Yes, acorn squash skin is edible! Just make sure the skin isn’t too thick as it may be tough. I usually just scoop the squash flesh out and leave the skin, but you can absolutely eat the skin and enjoy the entire squash!
No need to peel the squash before air frying it. In fact, it’s better if you leave the skin on. It saves time and reinforces the squash so the roasting liquid doesn’t leak out.
If the squash flesh is left in the skins, you can place the leftover acorn squash on a sheet pan, and warm in the oven on 350F degrees until heated through, or pop it in the air fryer for a few minutes. If you’ve scooped the squash out of the skin, you can just reheat it in the microwave until warmed through.
Yes, you can freeze cooked acorn squash. Just scoop out the flesh and brown sugar butter mixture into a freezer safe container. It should last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
Recipe variations and ad-ins
Replace the brown sugar with coconut sugar or maple syrup.
Replace the allspice with ground cinnamon, apple pie spice or pumpkin spice.
For a little kick, add a dash of cayenne pepper to each squash half.
Add more crumbled bacon or use crispy prosciutto in its place (which is amazing paired with sage).
Instead of sage, use a few sprigs of fresh rosemary.
Make it a meal
We love acorn squash as a side dish for the holidays. Here are a few of our favorite recipes to pair it with:
- Buttery Roasted Turkey Thighs
- Roasted Duck with Orange Sauce
- 20 Minute Cranberry Chutney
- Traditional Stuffing
- Sous Vide Potatoes
- Sautéed Green Beans with Bacon
- Pecan Pie Bars
If you love this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below and let us know your favorite thing about it. We'd also love to connect on Instagram! Follow us at @went_here_8_this for awesome recipes and all sorts of fun food stuff 🙂
Recipe
Air Fryer Acorn Squash
Ingredients
- 1 small acorn squash
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 6-8 leaves fresh sage
- 1 piece cooked crumbled bacon
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Slice the acorn squash in half and use a spoon to remove all the seeds.
- Divide the ingredients in half and place them in each half of the acorn squash (you'll use all the ingredients, half in each side).
- Place 1 tablespoon of water on the bottom of the air fryer. This keeps it from smoking.
- Place the acorn squash halves (filled with the ingredients) upright in the air fryer basket. (If both sides won't fit, you'll need to cook them one at a time).
- Cook at 375F degrees for 15-20 minutes. Start checking for doneness at 15 minutes. (Check for doneness using a knife or fork. If it pierces the flesh, it's done. Be careful not to pierce a hole in the bottom of the squash or the filling will leak out).
- Remove and use a spoon to mix the ingredients in with the flesh of the squash.
- The squash can be eaten in the skin, removed from the skin, or with the skin (the skin is edible).
- Drizzle some maple syrup and a pinch of salt over the top to serve.
Expert Tips:
- If your air fryer model requires preheating, you should preheat it while you prepare the squash.
- Different air fryer brands and models will vary, so you may need to adjust the temperature and air frying time slightly.
- Don’t forget to add water to the bottom of the air fryer. This will help prevent any smoking as the squash cooks.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer and the size of your squash, you may need to air fry the squash halves one at a time.
- Keep the squash halves cooking cut side up the entire time. If you flip them over, the liquid will run out and make a mess in the air fryer.
- If your squash halves are a little wobbly, you can cut about ⅛ to ¼ inch off the bottoms to help them sit evenly. Just be careful not to cut too much off as any holes in the bottom will cause the liquid to run out.
- If you lose the liquid, you can just heat 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 teaspoons of brown sugar in a bowl and mix it together with the squash flesh.
Nutrition
Dannii says
I am always looking for new ways to use my air fryer and this squash looks delicious, and perfectly cooked too.
Danielle says
Thanks!
Aimee Mars says
I made the oven-roasted version of acorn squash the other night for dinner and my husband loved it, which I'm happy about cause I love it too. I've never tried it in the air fryer though and love how it's the perfect combination of oven and Instant Pot. Oh, and that bacon!
Danielle says
The bacon is really good with the squash! I like using the air fryer for those busy holidays when the oven is taken.
Toni says
I love doing this with my air fryer! Turns out perfect everytime!
Danielle says
So glad you like it!
Savita says
This sounds so easy. Loved the idea.
Danielle says
Thanks!
Claudia Lamascolo says
I never thought to make this squash in the air fryer and it turned out quick and perfect loved it!
Danielle says
So glad you liked it!