My recipe for air fryer squash is easy to make and cooks in just minutes. I make it all summer for my family, and even my kids love it!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my disclaimer.
My Easy Recipe for Squash in the Air Fryer
Every summer, I have unlimited squash at my house. It doesn’t matter if I plant a garden or not, friends and family still give me tons to use! That’s why I created this air fryer squash recipe.
I wanted something simple to put together on a normal, busy weeknight in the summer. My kids are constantly at sports and out doing things, so summer dinners are typically light and fast to put together.
I really wanted to play into how the air fryer creates roasted veggies with that browned color that just tastes delicious and this recipe does just that. And, because the squash is so thinly sliced, it’s done air frying in just minutes. I can make multiple batches when I want easily or just make one squash to enjoy with dinner.
My recipe is done cooking before my oven would even be preheated. Plus, air frying it instead of baking helps keeps my kitchen cool in the summer!
And, if you love a good air fryer vegetable recipe, try my recipes for air fryer zucchini chips, air fryer corn on the cob, air fryer asparagus, air fryer french fries, and air fryer carrots.
Squash Air Fryer Recipe Ingredients
- Summer squash — I love to use yellow summer squash and zucchini together, but I also use whatever I have on hand at the time
- Vegetable seasoning — I recommend McCormick’s salt-free version so I can control the amount of saltiness in the recipe.
- Olive oil — I love to use a garlic infused oil when I can, but regular or avocado oil works great too.
- Salt and pepper
How to Cook 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 400 degrees. Cut each squash lengthwise into ¼ to ½ inch thick slices.
STEP TWO: Drizzle them with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and vegetable seasoning in a bowl or dish. Gently toss to evenly coat the seasoning on the outside of the squash and place it inside your air fryer basket or tray. It’s okay if slices are slightly overlapping but try not to overcrowd them.
STEP THREE: Air fryer the squash at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes until they are golden brown and crispy. Sprinkle with a little more salt and pepper if desired. Repeat with another batch, if needed.
Tips to make the Best Air Fryer Squash
- Choose a small to medium-sized summer squash. I have found larger squashes tend to have less flavor. They will fit inside the air fryer better too.
- Choose a fresh and in-season squash at the local market or store when possible. In-season produce is just so much tastier!
- Cut each slice between 1/4 and 1/2 inch thick. I say this is the sweet spot for my recipe to get the squash to cook through with the perfect tenderness.
- Air fry the squash in a single layer. The air fryer works best when it has room for the hot air to circulate. If I have too much squash, I air fry in batches.
Substitutions and Variations For Air Fryer Fried Squash
- Swap out the seasoning for Cajun or Creole to add big, bold flavor. I love to add these seasonings for a nice change up when we have a ton of squash to get through.
- I’ve also switched it out for my favorite taco seasoning!
- Add some sweetness by sprinkling a touch of brown sugar on top.
- Go cheesy by adding grated Parmesan cheese or asiago in the last few minutes of cooking.
- Spice it up with cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for some nice heat. I love to do this on the last batch for my husband and myself.
- If I don’t have garlic infused oil, I just toss the squash slices in a little minced garlic or garlic powder and onion powder to get that extra flavor.
What to Serve with This Squash Air Fryer Recipe
I love to add this recipe to a true summer dinner by pairing it with air fryer hot dogs, air fryer burgers, baked beans, and a caprese salad.
My kids also love to eat this with air fryer chicken tenders, Velveeta mac and cheese, and air fryer tater tots.
Air Fryer Squash FAQs
How Long to Cook Squash in the Air Fryer
I find that 8 to 10 minutes in a preheated air fryer at 400 degrees is all that is needed to air fry squash.
When is Squash in Season?
There are a ton of different squashes, but yellow squash and zucchini are both in season in the summer. I can confirm this as from late June to early September I have summer squash growing out my ears here in New York.
Winter squashes include butternut, acorn, and spaghetti squashes, and they have a later peak season in the fall, which is why they are served more frequently around Thanksgiving.
What to Do with Leftover Air Fryer Summer Squash
I store any leftovers in a airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
If I have any leftovers not used for this recipe, I will make my other recipes such as roasted air fryer squash and zucchini, squash casserole, air zucchini fries, zucchini bread, and mixed in to make air fryer vegetables.
How to Reheat Squash in the Air Fryer
I reheat any leftovers in a preheated air fryer at 400 degrees for about 3 to 5 minutes until they get their crisp back and are warmed through.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air fryer pork chops
- Air fryer brats
- Air fryer hash browns
- Air fryer chicken legs
- Air fryer hard boiled eggs
- Air fryer shrimp
- Air fryer fried chicken
- Air fryer tilapia
Love air frying? Join my newsletter! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or join my free Facebook Air Frying Community.
Easy Air Fryer Squash
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 summer squashes such as yellow squash and zucchini
- 1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick’s salt-free vegetable seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic-infused olive oil or regular olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Wash your vegetables. Cut them lengthwise as close to ¼ to ½ inch as you can. You definitely don’t want thinner than ¼ of an inch or larger than ½.Â
- Drizzle your olive oil and sprinkle your seasoning on your vegetables. Slightly toss them to evenly coat them.Â
- Lay them in your air fryer basket. It is okay if they slightly overlap. Cook them at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Check it at 8 minutes for your thinner sliced ones, and then continue cooking till they are golden brown and crispy. Season with salt and pepper if desired and serve.Â
- Continue with your next batch, if needed.
Video
Notes
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.
Like much better then microwaved or baked in oven.