Air Fryer Acorn squash made with simple ingredients like paprika and ground black pepper. This simple air fryer roasted acorn squash recipe is buttery, tender, delicious and savory. Your whole family will enjoy this plant-based side dish the year round.
Acorn squash in air fryer
You can cook acorn squash under 30 mins in the air fryer with readily available pantry staples. You can also make this recipe completely oil free. Simply skip the oil and sprinkle the dry ingredients on the halved squash before air frying.
Air frying veggies will save you a lot of time and the end result won't disappoint ever just like this air fryer brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes, air fryer carrots and potatoes and air fryer roasted beets.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Find the Ingredients with actual measurements at the bottom of the post. The list below is just a reference.
- Acorn squash: Pick an acorn squash with a smooth surface and without any soft or black spots. Make sure that it fits in your air fryer.
- Seasonings: Sweet paprika, ground black pepper, Himalayan pink salt. For a bit of a kick, you can add about ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes. Swap these savory seasonings with 1 tablespoon brown sugar (before air frying) or drizzle 2 tablespoons maple syrup on top of the roasted acorn squash halves before serving. The sugar will caramelize as it cooks, and the squash will brown more.
- Cooking oil: Extra light or light olive oil. You can use a cooking oil spray. You can also use avocado oil.
Tips for success
- Size of squash: Choose an acorn squash that's 2 pounds or less. It will easily fit in your air fryer basket.
- Variations: You can serve the savory squash topped with fresh herbs like parsley. If you are making a sweet version than garnish the roasted squash with some toasted chopped nuts like almonds or walnuts and serve. You can also garnish the savory version of the squash with some vegan parmesan cheese before serving. Sprinkle some ground cinnamon to elevate the flavors of the sweeter version!
- Peel or no peel: No need to peel the acorn squash. Just cut it into half and scoop out the seeds and the stringy parts with the help of a spoon.
- Cook time: The cook time might slightly vary with various air fryer make and models. Make sure that the acorn squash is fork tender, golden brown around the edges before serving.
How to cook acorn squash in air fryer?
Find the detailed step by step recipe along with measurements + Video at the bottom of the post.
- Cut squash: Cut the acorn squash into half with a sharp knife. Scoop out the seeds and the stringy bits with the help of a spoon and discard.
- Season squash: Brush the insides of the squash with olive oil. Sprinkle salt, crushed or ground black pepper.
- Air fry: Air fry for 20 mins at a 325 F pre-heated air fryer. Than change the temperature to 400 F, sprinkle paprika in the insides of the squash and air fry another 5-10 mins or until the edges turn crisp and golden brown. Serve the roasted acorn squash immediately.
Oven directions
- Cut the unpeeled acorn squash into half. Scoop out the stringy bits and the seeds.
- Sprinkle the seasonings on the squash (orange side).
- Bake at 400°F in a pre-heated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, until the squash is fork tender and crisp golden-brown around the edges.
Serving Ideas
You can serve these easy air fryer acorn squash halves as a side dish alongside the following plant-based dishes:
- Instant pot brown rice and vegetables.
- Instant pot Moroccan couscous.
- Coconut brown rice instant pot.
Leftovers and storage
You can store the savory roasted acorn squash for up to 5 days in the fridge. Use airtight containers to store it.
Reheating directions
Microwave oven: Reheat the savory acorn squash recipe in the microwave oven until warm or hot.
Air fryer: Reheat the roasted acorn squash in a 370 degree pre-heated air fryer for 5 mins and serve.
FAQs
Yes, you can leave skin on squash while roasting. The skin is edible.
Yes, the skin of acorn squash is good for you. It contains good amount of fiber.
Baked acorn squash tastes subtly sweet, nutty and creamy. They have a milder taste as compared to other squash varieties.
Overripe acorn squash can be tasteless. It will lack the creaminess and taste bland, stringy and dry. You need to pick an acorn squash that's slightly heavy, has a dark skin with a hint of yellow or orange on the bottom.
Cut the acorn squash into half with a sharp knife. Now, with the help of a spoon scoop out the stringy bits and the seeds.
MORE AIR FRYER RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
- Air fryer mushrooms and onions.
- Air fryer carrots and potatoes.
- Hasselback sweet potatoes air fryer
- Air fryer roasted radishes.
- Air fryer baby gold potatoes.
- Butternut squash fries air fryer.
- Broccoli and cauliflower air fryer.
- Air fryer brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes.
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I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU! If you try this air fryer acorn squash recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I would love to hear how it turned out for you, or any changes you make.
Air Fryer Acorn Squash
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1 whole acorn squash - **unpeeled, halved, seeds and stringy parts removed and discarded.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil - **extra light or light olive oil.
- ½ teaspoon paprika - **sweet paprika.
- salt to taste - **use Himalayan pink salt according to taste.
Instructions
Cut corn squash
- Wash the acorn squash and cut it in half lengthwise with the help of a sharp knife.
- Scoop out the seeds and the stringy bits with the help of a spoon and discard them.
Season acorn squash
- Lightly brush the insides and the skin of the acorn squash with olive oil. Sprinkle ground black pepper, and salt (according to your own personal taste preference).
Air fry acorn squash
- Place the seasoned acorn squash halves in a 325 F pre-heated air fryer basket (cut side up and skin side down) and air fry for 20 mins.
- After 20 mins, sprinkle the paprika on the insides of the acorn squash. Increase the air fryer's temperature to 400 F and air fry for another 5-10 minutes or until the edges turn nice, crisp, and golden brown. Check with a fork for tenderness and doneness. Serve hot and enjoy! Scroll up for more tips, variations, and step-by-step photos.
Notes
- Cutting tips: Use a sharp kitchen knife to cut the acorn squash in half.
- Spicy version: Sprinkle red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper in the insides of the squash just before air frying it at 400 F (last 5-10 mins).
- Mashed acorn squash: You can use this air fryer roasted acorn squash to make mashed squash.
Laura Ramirez says
I made this recipe last night. It's the first time in my life that I have ever made a meal with acorn squash. In fact, it was the first time I'd had this kind of squash. It was simple and good. The biggest problem I had was cutting the acorn squash in half. I had a very sharp knife but it was challenging to cut through. Would love any tips re: that for next time.
mtr_admin says
So glad you enjoyed this recipe so much Laura 🙂 Yeah, cutting a squash can definitely be challenging. Here's what you can do: Holding the squash safely in place with a kitchen towel, and starting at the stem end, cut the squash lengthwise along the pre-scored line with a sturdy, sharp chef's knife. Let gravity and the knife's heft help cut through the dense flesh. Hope this helps, let us know if you have any other questions regarding the recipe. Thanks so much!