Learn how to make air fryer acorn squash slices for a delicious side dish! They're sweet, savory, and versatile.
Acorn squash is a round and relatively small winter squash. It has a hard exterior that's dark green in color, sometimes with orange spots. It's natural sweetness and nutty flavor really comes through when roasted or air-fried
You should be able to find acorn squash year-round but peak season is from early October through December. If you enjoy this air fryer acorn squash recipe, you'll love my creamy dairy-free butternut squash soup, caramelized honeynut squash, and roasted spaghetti squash.
Why you'll love this recipe
- It's SO MUCH faster than roasting in the oven!!
- Involves minimal prep work and clean up.
- Plus it doesn't heat the whole house up.
- This recipe is especially convenient during Thanksgiving and Christmas when oven space is limited.
How to cut an acorn squash
- Using a sharp knife, cut the acorn squash in half lengthwise.
- Scoop out the seeds with a spoon and discard.
- Place the acorn squash halves cut-side down on the cutting bowl.
- Cut into ½-inch slices.
Make it sweet or savory
This recipe is easy to adapt depending on whether you want to make your acorn squash sweet or savory in flavor.
- For sweet acorn squash: Season with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
- For savory acorn squash: Season with 1 teaspoon dried herbs (like thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, a mix of your favorite, or an Italian seasoning blend) and ½ teaspoon garlic powder
This air fryer is convenient and easy to use. It's large enough to cook in big batches, yet compact enough to fit on the countertop.
Cooking tips
- Depending on the size of your air fryer, work in batches to ensure even cooking.
- Air fry acorn squash halves instead, just double the cooking time to 20 minutes.
- Do not peel acorn squash. If desired, the skin peels off very easily after cooking.
- If your squash is difficult to cut, soften it in the microwave before slicing. Poke the skin of the acorn squash using a fork then place whole squash on a plate. Microwave for 1-2 minutes then slice when it's cool enough to handle.
- Optionally top cooked acorn squash with fresh herbs and flaky sea salt.
- Store leftover acorn squash in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Serving suggestions
Serve air fryer acorn squash slices as a healthy side dish along with crispy sweet potatoes or air fryer brussels sprouts. Acorn squash pairs perfectly with my sausage stuffing casserole (or the meatless version!), smoked turkey, and dairy free mac and cheese.
Cooking acorn squash in the air fryer is easy enough to make for busy weeknights, yet impressive enough for holiday dinners. I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you give it a try, let us know what you think by leaving a rating and comment.
Air Fryer Acorn Squash Slices
Equipment
Instructions
- Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the acorn squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon and place squash halves cut-side down on the cutting board. Cut into ½-inch slices.
- Transfer slices of acorn squash into a large bowl and coat with olive oil and seasonings of choice. Arrange acorn squash in a single layer in air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 400F for about 10 minutes, flipping once halfway through. When the squash is fork tender and golden brown, remove from air fryer and repeat with remaining slices.
Notes
Nutrition
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