Crispy Squash in the Air Fryer is a quick and easy side dish that is ready in less than 15 minutes! This squash comes out perfectly crispy and golden brown, yet soft and tender on the inside. This simple recipe is perfect as a tasty side dish, appetizer, or snack. If you are looking for a new favorite squash recipe, you have to give this one a try!
Fall is my favorite time of year for so many reasons. The leaves change color, the weather cools off, and of course, all of the delicious squash that comes into season.
I love making my favorite squash recipes, such as Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash, Oven-Roasted Buttercup Squash, and Buttercup Squash Soup.
This year, I decided to experiment with making squash in the air fryer. And I have to tell you, this was a real game-changer for me.
I have made Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash, Parmesan Zucchini in Air Fryer, and this crispy buttercup squash recipe.
I was amazed at how easy it was to make and how delicious it turned out. The whole family loved it!
The squash comes out evenly cooked, with a crispy exterior and a tender interior. And because it's cooked in the air fryer, it's fast and easy.
Serve this crispy winter squash with the main dish of Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon, Air Fryer Halibut, or Air Fryer Chicken Thighs for a healthy meal everyone will love.
🥦 More Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
Jump to:
❓ What is buttercup squash?
Buttercup squash is a winter squash with a dark green exterior and deep orange flesh. The peak season for it is in late summer and the fall months of September, October, and November.
Buttercups are easy to recognize as they have a protruding lighter gray-green button surrounded by a circular scar at the bottom end.
It's one of the sweetest winter squashes, with more of a sweet flavor than acorn and spaghetti squash.
This winter squash is quite firm and is perfect for making Healthy Buttercup Squash Soup, Simple Roasted Buttercup Squash, and air frying as the squash won't mash when stirred or tossed with seasonings.
💗 Why you will love this recipe
- Healthy and low carb. Squash is packed with vitamins and minerals, and because the squash is cooked in the air fryer, less oil is used. Check out the nutritional information in the printable recipe card below for more information.
- Quick and Easy. This air fryer recipe comes together in just a few minutes, and it cooks in the air fryer in less than 15 minutes. Plus, if you don't want to shake the basket it will still turn out fine! Just set it and forget it!
- Delicious. The buttercup squash is perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. And the seasoning adds so much flavor!
- Kid-friendly. Kids love this recipe – even the picky ones! They love how crispy the squash gets in the air fryer, and they always ask for seconds. It is very reminiscent of french fries.
- Crispy. The air fryer gives the squash a nice crispy exterior while still keeping the inside soft and tender.
- Perfect side dish. It's a great side dish for pretty much any meal – Smoked Whole Chicken, Air Fryer Tilapia, Smoked Burgers, you name it!
🗒️ Ingredients
This easy recipe is made with simple ingredients that you can easily find at your local grocery store.
- Buttercup squash.
- Avocado oil.
- Italian seasoning.
- Oregano.
- Paprika.
- Garlic powder.
- Onion powder.
- Seasoning salt.
- Black pepper.
See the printable recipe card for quantities.
📖 Instructions
You will love making this simple recipe. Now that you have all of the ingredients, let's get started!
First, wash and dry your squash.
Place the squash on a cutting board and slice it in half with a sharp knife. Remove the seeds with a large spoon.
Slice the squash into equal-sized half-moon slices, about 1-inch thick.
Add the seasonings to a small bowl, and mix until well combined.
Place the squash pieces into a large mixing bowl. Add the avocado oil and toss until each piece of squash is coated in oil.
Sprinkle half of the seasoning mixture over the squash, and mix with a large spoon or tongs. Add the rest of the seasoning mixture and toss until the squash slices are coated evenly in the spice mixture.
Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F. Once preheated, spread the squash in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Cook for 14 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time.
Remove the squash from the air fryer and serve immediately.
Sprinkle with a little salt or black pepper to taste.
Enjoy!
Hint: If you are cooking the next batch of air fryer squash right away you do not need to preheat the air fryer again.
🧅 Substitutions
- Buttercup squash. I used buttercup squash that I grew in my backyard garden, but any type of squash will work. You can use a summer squash such as patty pan squash or round zucchini. You can also use other winter squash such as acorn squash or kabocha squash.
- Avocado oil. I used avocado oil, but you can use any type of oil.
- Paprika. You can also use smoked paprika.
- Garlic powder. You can also use minced garlic or garlic flakes.
- Onion powder. You can also use minced onion or onion flakes.
- Seasoning salt. You can also use table salt or sea salt.
- Black pepper. You can use freshly cracked black pepper to taste or white pepper.
🌿 Variations
- Extra-crispy: Spray the squash with a bit of avocado oil cooking spray halfway through the cooking time.
- Sweet: Toss the cooked squash with a bit of maple syrup before serving.
- Savory: Toss the cooked squash with Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley before serving.
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or chili powder to the squash before cooking to add a bit of heat.
- Fresh herbs: Instead of dried herbs, sprinkle on fresh herbs for fantastic fresh flavor.
🥣 Equipment
I used my Instant Pot Vortex Air Fryer, which I love. It has a large basket so I can easily make enough food quickly for my family, and it lets me know when it is preheated and when it is time to flip the food.
I also have a dual-drawer Ninja Foodi Air Fryer. I like to use it when cooking for fewer people or when I want to cook different foods simultaneously.
Remember that there are many different models of air fryers, and they all cook differently. For example, some are hotter and cook faster than others.
The cooking time may need to be adjusted depending on your air fryer model and the size of your air fryer.
🌡️ Storage
This squash is best eaten immediately after cooking.
However, if you have leftover air fryer squash, place it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat it in the air fryer until warm and crisp.
These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing; they will get mushy in the freezer. However, you could place leftover squash in a freezer bag and store it in the freezer to add to Buttercup Squash Soup or Instant Pot Venison Stew in the future.
💭 Top tips
- Preheat your air fryer before adding the squash.
- Cut the squash into similar size pieces so that they cook evenly.
- Thinner slices will be crispier than thick slices.
- Coat the squash in a light layer of oil before cooking. This will help it to crisp up.
- Cook the squash in batches if necessary. Make sure that the pieces are not touching each other - otherwise, they'll steam instead of crisp up.
- Serve immediately. These are best when they're fresh out of the air fryer.
❓ FAQ
No, you don't need to peel a squash before roasting it. The skin will soften during the cooking process and it's perfectly edible. In fact, the skin is packed with nutrients so you can eat it if you like. However, make sure to give the squash a good wash before cooking.
Yes, you can eat the skin on the squash. The skin is edible and contains nutrients such as fiber and vitamins A and C. However, some people prefer to peel the skin off before eating the squash.
No, squash is not a high-carb food. A 1-cup serving of cooked winter squash has about 7 grams of carbohydrates, while a 1-cup serving of cooked summer squash has about 5 grams of carbohydrates.
If you've tried making this Crispy Squash in the Air Fryer, please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it.
You can also Follow Me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
📋 Recipe
Crispy Squash in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 buttercup squash or acorn squash or kabocha squash
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or avocado spray
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon seasoning salt
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Slice the squash: Wash and dry your squash. Place the squash on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, carefully slice the squash in half and remove the seeds. Slice the squash into half-moon slices, about 1-inch thick.
- Season: Add the Italian seasoning, oregano, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoning salt, and black pepper to a small bowl, and mix until well combined. Add the buttercup squash slices to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the squash with the avocado oil and toss to coat. Add ½ of the seasoning mixture to the squash pieces and toss to coat the slices evenly. Add the rest of the seasoning mixture and toss again. You want all of the squash slices to be evenly coated in seasoning.
- Air Fry: Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F. Place the squash pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Set the timer for 14 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time. The squash is done when it is crispy and brown on the outside, and tender when pierced with a fork.
- Serve: Serve the crispy squash immediately as a snack or side dish.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Preheat your air fryer before adding the squash.
- Cut the squash into similar size pieces so that they cook evenly.
- Thinner slices will be crispier than thick slices.
- Coat the squash in a light layer of oil before cooking. This will help it to crisp up.
- Cook the squash in batches if necessary. Ensure that the pieces are not touching each other - otherwise, they'll steam instead of crisp up.
- Serve immediately. These are best when they're fresh out of the air fryer.
Paula
Recipe came out delicious. I did you regular recipe and then added the spices you suggested ginger, cinnamon, and a touch of maple syrup. The best I have ever made. Yum yum 😋
Jeri Walker
Hi Paula! I'm thrilled to hear that you liked the squash and that you enjoyed the addition of ginger, cinnamon, and maple syrup! It's always great to hear when someone enjoys a recipe! Thanks for taking the time to leave a rating and comment! Happy cooking 🙂