This air fryer acorn squash recipe is roasted to perfection with buttery ghee, sweet maple syrup, and nutty, crunchy hazelnuts. It’s the perfect vegetarian, paleo and gluten-free side dish for a holiday celebration or a weeknight dinner!
Air Fryer Acorn Squash Recipe
It’s no secret I love my air fryer. I love its versatility — I use it for everything from breakfast potatoes to zucchini to mini burger bites, pretty much every day of the week. It’s seriously the best kitchen appliance! I even put together a free air fryer chart to for quick referencing!
My air fryer has become so helpful on “the big cooking days”. You know what days I mean, right? Parties, get togethers, holidays — essentially all of the days you spend so much time prepping and planning for in advance. The days that oven space is at such a premium you half wonder if you should rent the AirBnb down the road just to have a second kitchen to cook in.
That’s when the air fryer becomes a God-send! And if you have a healthy side dish you can make in the air fryer, even better. This delicious air fryer acorn squash recipe is the perfect fall side dish for any meal you can think of!
The sweet flavor of this healthy dish is unbelievable. The first time I made it, my husband took one bite and said, “Oh man, this is like candy!” Air-fried acorn squash is truly so simple to make and is a delicious way to incorporate more veggies into your diet. So if you’re looking for a cozy side for those winter months, or a way to save oven space during the holidays, check out this quick recipe!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
You’re going to love this super quick recipe:
- Acorn squash in the air fryer only takes a fraction of the time to cook than it would in the oven. Plus you get to keep the oven space for the Thanksgiving turkey. Score!
- It only takes 20 minutes to make acorn squash in the air fryer. A great addition to dinner time on a busy weeknight.
- Make this dish with just four simple ingredients. You’ll be surprised at how YUMMY the flavor is with so few ingredients.
Ingredients
So here’s what you need to make this perfectly sweet and savory recipe in your own home.
- acorn squash: The star of the show! Make sure to choose the freshest acorn squash you can find for the best results.
- hazelnuts: Chopped hazelnuts bring out the nutty notes in the acorn squash and add a nice crunch.
- maple Syrup: This adds deep, sweet flavor. Alternatively, you use sugar free maple syrup for a lower carb option. A touch of honey is also a good substitute!
- ghee: Ghee is made by removing the milk solids from butter, so it’s Paleo compliant. You can substitute an equal amount of butter if that works for you. I like Tin Star ghee. For added flavor, you could use an herby compound ghee.
- salt & black pepper: Make this sweet and savory acorn squash with a bit of salt and pepper. It will bring out all of the flavors just perfectly.
How to Make Air Fryer Acorn Squash
Before you begin prepping the dish, preheat your air fryer 400°F (204°C).
While that preheats, cut the acorn squash in half and scoop out the seeds.
Once the squash are cut in half, scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Then set the squash halves inside your preheated air fryer, leaving a little space between each.
Spoon ghee inside each squash, and rub it gently onto the sides and cut side of the squash. Pour in the maple syrup and season with salt and pepper. Close the air fryer and cook for 14-16 minutes, depending on the size of your air fryer.
Finally, transfer the squash to a plate or platter and then sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts. I like to toast the hazelnuts first to bring out their nutty flavor, but that’s an optional step you can skip if you’d like.
Oven Instructions
You can definitely make this recipe using a traditional oven if that works better for you! Either way will be absolutely wonderful. To cook in the oven:
Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) and then place the squash cut side up on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Spoon the ghee into each squash half and use the back of the spoon to rub the ghee onto the sides and flesh.
Add the maple syrup and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, depending on the size of your squash, until cooked through and tender. Serve and enjoy!
How to Store Leftover Acorn Squash
Allow leftover acorn squash to cool completely. Then wrap individually in plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for 2-3 months. Allow to thaw before reheating.
To reheat, place in a preheated oven or air fryer and heat until warmed through. You may need to add a touch of additional ghee or maple syrup.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Acorn Squash
This delicious, golden acorn squash will pair wonderfully with so many different dishes. If you’re making it for a quick dinner, serve with a main dish like brown sugar pork chops, air fryer chicken drumsticks, or Instant Pot pork butt.
For the holidays, you can serve this great side dish with all of your favorite main courses and sides. From maple mustard pork loin and roast turkey breast, to healthy sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole, this acorn squash goes great with all of the classics.
Add in cozy desserts like apple pie donuts and hot chocolate cookies and you’ve got the perfect holiday meal.
Tips for Success
This easy side dish recipe is really simple, but check out these few tips and tricks to ensure success:
- If your air fryer baskets are deep and adding ghee and maple syrup in a preheated air fryer is a hand burn risk, prep the squash separately before you transfer them to the hot air fryer. I prefer to add the ghee and maple syrup once the squash is set in the air fryer to avoid the squash tipping and spilling over during transfer, but risk of a burn is not worth it, and my air fryer basket is relatively shallow.
- Acorn squash are notoriously difficult to cut through. To make the process a bit easier, just microwave the squash for 1-2 minutes, then allow it to cool. This softens the skin just enough to make it easier for your knife to cut through smoothly
- Try to purchase acorn squash that are shaped normally. If they’re too funky or oddly shaped, then they may not sit in the air fryer basket well.
FAQ
It is not necessary to peel acorn squash before air frying it. In fact, it is best to keep the skin on for this recipe so that the acorn squash are still sturdy while they cook in the air fryer.
The green part is just the skin of acorn squash and yes, it is edible. However, you do not have to eat the skin if you prefer. You can scoop out the tasty and tender inside of the roasted acorn squash and just eat that!
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Potato Slices
- Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Air Fryer Frozen Brussels Sprouts
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Air Fryer Acorn Squash
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 medium acorn squash
- 2 Tablespoon ghee
- 2 Tablespoon 100% maple syrup or swap sugar free maple syrup for a lower carb option.
- 1 Tablespoon chopped hazelnuts
- pinch cinnamon optional
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400F.
- Meanwhile, cut each squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Carefully add the squash to your air fryer basket.
- Spoon 1/2 Tbsp of ghee inside each squash half, and use the back of the spoon to rub a little ghee onto the sides and cut side of the squash.
- Pour 1/2 Tbsp of maple syrup into each squash half.
- Season lightly with salt and pepper and close the air fryer. Cook for 16-18 minutes, until softened and crispy on the edges. Test by poking through the flesh with a paring knife. If it slides smoothly, it's done!
- Carefully remove the squash from the air fryer and sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts and cinnamon, if using. Serve immediately.
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