Take advantage of cold weather seasonal produce with this super easy air fryer acorn squash recipe! It’s ready in just 30 minutes and full of cozy comfort.
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As soon as the summer heat starts to fade, I find myself craving cozy comfort food. And once I spot winter squash at my local store or farmer’s market, one of the first things I make is this delicious air fryer acorn squash!
If you’ve never cooked with acorn squash before, this recipe is the perfect place to start. It’s so easy! Prep takes minutes flat, and your air fryer handles all the hard work for you.
I purposefully left the seasonings very simple, so you can enjoy as-is or get creative with your own seasoning.
Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:
- My favorite simple method to cook acorn squash in the air fryer
- How to know when your acorn squash is done
- What to serve with this tasty squash recipe
- What to do with the skin of an acorn squash
- Variations to spice up this recipe or turn it into a sweet dish
When you want a quick side that takes advantage of seasonal produce, it’s hard to beat a good winter squash. Even picky eaters will have a hard time resisting this yummy dish!
You may find yourself making acorn squash in the air fryer all winter long.
How to Cook Winter Squash in the Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F.
STEP TWO: Wash and dry the acorn squash, then use a sharp knife to cut it in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon and discard.
STEP THREE: Brush the cut sides of the squash with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
STEP FOUR: Place the two halves of the squash, cut side down, in the basket of the air fryer. Air fry for 15 minutes.
STEP FIVE: Carefully flip the squash, so the cut sides face up. Place 1 tablespoon of butter in the cavity of each one, then air fry at 400 degrees F for about 5-10 more minutes until the squash flesh is browned and fork tender.
What is Acorn Squash?
Acorn squash is a type of winter squash that’s shaped like, you guessed it, an acorn! It’s not quite as sweet as butternut squash, so I find the flavor a little more versatile.
They’re considered in-season, starting in the early fall and continuing throughout the winter.
How Long Does it Take to Roast Squash in the Air Fryer?
This will depend on the size and thickness of your squash. After cooking for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F, you’re going to flip the squash halves, increase the temperature to 400 degrees F, then cook for another 5-10 minutes.
You’ll know the squash is done once the flesh can be easily pierced with a fork and has a nice golden color.
What to Serve with Air Fried Acorn Squash
- 4 Ingredient Potato Soup
- Beef Wellington without Mushrooms
- London Broil in the Instant Pot
- Mac and Cheese with Cream Cheese (or Instant Pot Mac and Cheese)
- Tri Tip Crock Pot
Can You Eat the Skin of Air Fryer Acorn Squash?
Yes, the skin is edible! There’s no need to peel it off before cooking or serving.
If you don’t prefer the taste or texture of the skin, the squash should separate from it very easily, so it’s totally up to you if you eat it or not.
Variations for this Air Fryer Acorn Squash Recipe
I love this simple, savory recipe. It’s delicious as is, but there’s also plenty of room to get creative!
When you flip the acorn squash halves and add the butter, you could also sprinkle with fresh herbs, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, or smoked paprika. You could even add some parmesan or feta cheese when you take the squash out of the air fryer!
Looking for something sweet instead? First, skip the black pepper while seasoning. Then, when you flip the squash halves, sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, or maybe some pumpkin pie spice!
You can also drizzle some maple syrup or honey over your squash before serving.
Looking for more sweet squash inspiration? Be sure to check out my recipes for roasted acorn squash recipe or maple roasted acorn squash slices!
Other Air Fryer Squash Recipes You’ll Love:
- Air Fryer Butternut Squash
- Squash and Zucchini in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
- Air Fryer Squash
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Air Fryer Acorn Squash
Ingredients
- 1 whole acorn squash
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter optional
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees F. Wash and dry the acorn squash, then use a sharp knife to cut it in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds, then discard them.
- Brush the cut sides with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Place the two halves of the squash, cut side down, in the basket of the air fryer.
- Air fry for 15 minutes. Carefully flip the squash, so the cut sides face up. Place 1 tablespoon of butter in the cavity of each one, then air fry at 400 degrees F for about 5-10 more minutes, until the squash flesh is browned and fork tender.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
Can you do the Acorn Squash Air Fryer recipe using the Brown Sugar, Cinnamon and Butter with Butternut Squash in the Air Fryer, substituting the Olive Oil?
Yes! I’ve done this acorn squash recipe in the air fryer as well! You can use butter if you prefer still too!
Here is the recipe: https://www.everydayfamilycooking.com/brown-sugar-acorn-squash/
Made this today in my COSORI 5qt , soooooo good.
Will definitely be making this on rotation. Thank you!
Isn’t it delicious?! It’s my favorite way to make acorn squash!