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Did you know how easy it is to make acorn squash in the air fryer? It’s flavorful and perfectly crispy, and after making this air fried acorn squash, you won’t want it any other way!

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I love a roasted acorn squash – it’s a consistently healthy side dish and one of my favorite flavors of fall.

Thanks to the air fryer, it’s possible to speed up the roasting process and enjoy everything that acorn squash has to offer – quicker!

I’ve made this air fryer acorn squash recipe more times than I can count in the past month.

No more waiting for the oven to preheat and cooking for an hour! This is key when you have to feed a hungry baby or toddler – there are so many ways to serve acorn squash to babies!

By cooking acorn squash in the air fryer, it’s ready in 20 minutes with perfect and delicious caramelization.

Just allow yourself a few minutes to properly cut the squash so you don’t hurt yourself.

I don’t know about all kids, but my kids love air fryer acorn squash slices so much as a delicious side dish.

You’d think it was candy – I guess it kind of is because it is naturally sweet.

But, my 11 month old, he was SO INTO them. We actually introduced acorn squash at 9 months, since it’s great for baby led weaning.

When serving to baby, I serve with baby meatballs so the Vitamin C from the squash can help him absorb iron.

Why We Love Acorn Squash in the Air Fryer

Air fried acorn squash has the leg up on so many levels. Here are several reasons why we love it!

• Quick – Cooking acorn squash in the air fryer is so much faster than in the oven, it’s ready in just 20-25 minutes! And the texture is perfect.
• So many ways to serve it – Whether you like acorn squash cut into small pieces with or without skin, or like it served in a half to stuff in it on your dinner table, you can do both with this air fryer acorn squash recipe. In fact, we’ve included both methods in the instructions below.
• Even cooking: Air fryers help distribute heat evenly, ensuring that your acorn squash cooks consistently. This results in a uniform texture and flavor throughout the squash, without the risk of some parts being undercooked or overcooked.
• Easy side dish – Acorn squash is one of my favorite side dishes for chicken tenders or any protein. It’s naturally sweet (which let’s be honest, makes it more appealing to kids) but full of nutrients!
• Nutritious – It’s fall, and it’s flu season, and…there’s just always something going around, ya know? Acorn squash is high in Vitamin A and Vitamin C, which both play a huge role in our immunity responses. Acorn squash is also a complex carbohydrate with fiber, B-Vitamins, iron, magnesium and potassium. A stellar nutrition profile.
• Sweet or savory – Kind of like sweetpotatoes, you can serve acorn squash however your taste buds please. Whether you prefer it sweet with cinnamon, sugar or maple syrup, or savory with salt, garlic and some spices, it all tastes fantastic. It truly is so versatile and one of my favorite thanksgiving snacks for kids!

Ingredients

As mentioned above, you can cater your taste preferences with this air fryer acorn squash.

Here’s what you’ll need to make cinnamon acorn squash:

• cinnamon
• nutmeg
• butter or olive oil
• salt

Cinnamon roasted acorn squash in the air fryer is my personal favorite and is great to introduce spices for babies.

But there are endless options for seasonings. Here are some other options you may try.

• Savory acorn squash – garlic powder, ground cumin, freshly ground pepper and sea salt, to taste or garlic, melted butter and paprika.
• Sweet and dessert – Top your acorn squash with roasted nuts or seeds and some whipped cream
• Cheesy – Make parmesan roasted acorn squash by adding parmesan cheese, olive oil and some thyme.
• Fruity – You could add in chopped apples, pears or even pomegranate seeds for a nice fruity acorn squash flavor.

We have recommendations for serving both air fryer squash slices and acorn squash halves below.

AIR FRYER ESSENTIALS – I love to keep some go-to’s on hand for my air fryer recipes. Here’s what I recommend using:

Fast Instant Read Thermometer – You’ll use this more than you know! It works for meat on the grill or stove or oven, too. It’s super fast and the large screen is easy to read.

Reusable Air Fryer Liners – I love these for easy cleaning!

Plate Gripper – This is great for HOT things when they come out of the air fryer. Take care and don’t burn yourself.

Tongs – Tongs can be helpful for transferring seasoned items and then hot items after cooked in the air fryer.

How to Cook Acorn Squash in the Air Fryer

Wait until to see how easy it is to make air friend acorn squash, and you have your pick on which way you prefer.

Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F and cut your acorn squash.

Make your seasoning blend, depending on if you’re making cinnamon roasted acorn squash or a savory blend.

Add it to your air fryer basket with a tiny bit of cooking spray and air fry for 16-18 minutes, rotating halfway through, and test for doneness.

You can poke holes in the skin if you’d like.

You may have to do this in a few batches depending on the size of your air fryer – you don’t want them overcrowding too much.

Enjoy! You also have so many options for serving your air fried acorn squash. I love serving it with a yogurt dipping sauce.

How to Serve Acorn Squash

You can serve acorn squash as a side to any dish, like pork chops, burgers, chicken, salads, etc.

I also love sprinkling feta cheese and/or pomegranate seeds on top of the finished product for more flavor and pretty looks.

Serve it in slices, or stuffed with cheese and veggies for stuffed acorn squash. You can also add proteins to your acorn squash halves, such as chickpeas, shredded chicken or tofu.

Acorn squash slices also pair nicely with turkey burgers or bison meatballs!

You can store your acorn squash in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. You can also freeze acorn squash for up to 3 months.

• Air Fryer Pizza Bites
• Air Fryer Frozen Green Beans
• Air Fryer Tempeh
• Air Fryer Sausage and Veggies
• Air Fryer Parsnips
• Air Fryer Butternut Squash Fries

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Yield: 3-4 servings

Air Fryer Acorn Squash (Two ways)

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It's so easy to make air fryer acorn squash and flavor it to your liking. This air fried acorn squash is ready in just 20 minutes, much quicker than the oven!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 17 minutes

Total Time 22 minutes

Ingredients

Cinnamon Acorn Squash

• 1-2 Tbsp butter, melted
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• pinch of salt, optional

Savory Blend

• 1/8 tsp cumin or paprika
• 1/8 tsp garlic powder
• salt and pepper, to taste

• 1 medium acorn squash

Instructions

1. Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees F.
2. While preheating, cut acorn squash into crescent-shaped pieces.
3. Make your seasoning blend. For the sweet option, blend cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of salt. For the savory option, blend garlic powder, cumin, salt and pepper.
4. Place acorn squash pieces on air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd them or overlap them (it's okay if they are slightly touching).
5. Spread melted butter over the pieces and add the seasoning blend of choice.
6. Air fry for 16-18 minutes, rotating halfway through. You’ll know the acorn squash is done when you can mash it with a spoon or fork, and the edges have a slight brown to them.

Notes

It may be necessary to make a few batches at a time, depending on the size of your acorn squash.

You can bake in the oven as well. If you bake your acorn squash in the oven, preheat to 375, and roast halves for 45-55 minutes, or until softened and skin peels apart.

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  Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil, First Cold Pressed, (2 Liters) 68 fl. oz.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

3

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 70Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 204mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

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