Enjoy gorgeous roasted acorn squash in just 20 minutes by following our Air Fryer Acorn Squash recipe! It's easy, with minimal steps and simple ingredients. Perfect for a family dinner, or for pairing with a holiday meal!
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Acorn Squash in the Air Fryer
Our air fryer butternut squash and air fryer spaghetti squash were both a huge success, so we knew we had to try air frying our other favorite winter squash, too: acorn squash! Roasted acorn squash makes a beautiful, simple side dish for everything from your average weeknight dinner to an elegant holiday meal.
After extensive recipe testing, we've developed the best way to air fry acorn squash so it turns out beautifully browned with soft flesh and a great taste. We're excited to share it with you!
Follow our easy step-by-step instructions below, and keep scrolling for our recipe tips, FAQ, and serving suggestions.
Ingredients for Air Frying Acorn Squash
- Acorn Squash: Cut your acorn squash in half with a sharp knife, then use a spoon or your hands to remove the seeds. After removing the seeds, cut the squash halves into half-inch slices. Be careful when cutting squash! To keep it stable on the cutting board, slice off a portion of the top and bottom so it sits flat on the cutting board and won't rock around or roll.
- Light Olive Oil: You can also use avocado oil. Avoid using an oil with a lower smoke point, like extra virgin olive oil. For more info, see our guide to oils in the air fryer.
- Maple Syrup: Maple and acorn squash is a classic flavor combo. It is so tasty! We recommend real maple syrup. Other great flavor combos include brown sugar, cinnamon, and, of course, butter! (Add butter after air frying so it does not burn.)
- Salt: Kosher salt, or sea salt, works best. Avoid fine table salt.
- Ground Sage: Sage is the perfect complementary flavor to maple syrup and squash.
- Fresh Herbs: Optional, but a little fresh parsley, sage, rosemary, or thyme for garnish adds flavor and color.
How to Air Fry Acorn Squash
Step 1
Preheat air fryer to 400°F. While it preheats, cut acorn squash in half, remove the seeds, then slice each half into ½-inch half moon slices. Be careful when slicing acorn squash; to make it easier, we recommend cutting off the top and bottom so it sits flat on the cutting board and you can easily slice it in half without it rocking or rolling around.
Step 2
Place acorn squash slices in large mixing bowl and gently toss with light olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and ground sage. Be sure to coat each slice as evenly as possible.
Step 3
Place acorn squash slices in air fryer basket and air fry 10-12 minutes, carefully turning slices over halfway through air frying.
Step 4
Squash is done when it is fork tender with slight browning.
Step 5
Be careful when removing the squash from the air fryer basket, as it might want to break apart.
Step 6
Arrange on a serving platter. Drizzle with more maple syrup or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, and garnish with fresh herbs. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- A little overlap is okay, but make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket or the squash won't cook properly.
- We tested this recipe in a 7-quart air fryer. All air fryers are different, so be sure to experiment with yours to find the best timing for your specific air fryer model.
- Squash is ready to remove from the air fryer when it is fork-tender and slightly browned.
Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer Instructions
The following instructions are for toaster-oven style air fryers with a tray, such as the Breville Smart Oven Air. Note that these models take longer to cook than air fryers with a basket.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- Cut acorn squash in half, remove seeds, then slice into ½-inch half moon slices.
- Place acorn squash slices in large mixing bowl and gently toss with light olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and ground sage. Be sure to coat each slice as evenly as possible.
- Place acorn squash slices on the air fryer tray in a single layer, and air fry 12-14 minutes, carefully turning slices over halfway through air frying. Squash is done when it is fork tender with slight browning. Be careful removing from the tray, as it might want to break apart.
- Arrange on a serving platter. Drizzle with more maple syrup or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and garnish with fresh herbs.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Acorn Squash
Air Fryer Thanksgiving
With more than 15 recipes, it's easy to make your entire holiday dinner in the air fryer!
Storage Instructions
- Store leftover acorn squash in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer.
FAQ
Squash can be tricky to cut. We recommend trimming a portion of the squash off so it sits flat against the cutting board. See our guide on How to Cut Spaghetti Squash for an idea of how to safely cut squash.
You do not need to take the skin of acorn squash off. It's edible and tasty!
Air Fryer Side Dishes
- Cubed Sweet Potatoes
- Baby Carrots
- Broccoli
- Green Beans
- See all of our air fryer side dishes!
Leave a comment and review for us below if you enjoyed this recipe, or if you have questions about any of our air fryer recipes!
Air Fryer Acorn Squash
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Cutting board
- Chef's knife
Ingredients
- 1 acorn squash cut into ½-inch slices
- 2 Tablespoons light olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground sage
- fresh herbs such as parsley or sage for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- Cut 1 acorn squash in half, remove seeds, then slice into ½-inch half moon slices.
- Place acorn squash slices in large mixing bowl and gently toss with 2 Tablespoons light olive oil, 1 Tablespoon maple syrup, 1 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon ground sage. Be sure to coat each slice as evenly as possible.
- Place acorn squash slices in air fryer basket and air fry 10-12 minutes, carefully turning slices over halfway through air frying. Squash is done when it is fork tender with slight browning. Be careful removing from the basket as it might want to break apart.
- Arrange on a serving platter. Drizzle with more maple syrup or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and garnish with fresh herbs.
Notes
- A little overlap is okay, but don't overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Squash is done when it is fork tender with slight browning.
- We tested this recipe in a 7-quart air fryer.
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