Roasted acorn squash, with its sweet and nutty flavor, is a fantastic addition to any meal. And when you introduce the magic of the air fryer, it'll be perfectly tender on the inside with much less time baking. Try out this savory Air Fryer Acorn Squash!
Not sure how to cook acorn squash? No worries! This recipe is easy to make and is the perfect side dish for fall.
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What is Acorn Squash?
An acorn squash is a type of winter squash that's shaped like an acorn! It's a popular vegetable in the fall and winter months. These squash have a dark green, ridged skin, and when you cut them open, you'll find bright orange flesh inside.
They have a mildly sweet and nutty flavor, which makes them great for roasting, baking, or even making soups and purees.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Air fryer: When you cook with an air fryer it takes much less time than roasting in an oven.
- Looks great: The squash slices look beautiful on a plate.
- Savory: There are a lot of sweet roasted squash recipes. But acorn squash really lends itself to savory spices.
Ingredients
This simple recipe only uses a handful of ingredients:
- Acorn squash
- Olive oil
- Seasonings: onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and black pepper
Variations
- Make it spicy. If you want to kick it up a notch, add a pinch of cayenne pepper (or more) to the seasoning mixture.
- Make it sweet. Instead of the savory seasonings listed above, use cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg. Also, make sure to add a tablespoon of maple syrup or brown sugar.
Instructions
1. First, wash the acorn squash. Then, cut it in half length-wise and scoop out the seeds. Be careful when cutting it in half!
2. Using a sharp knife, cut in ½" slices. You can also keep the acorn squash in 2 halves if you prefer but it's quicker and prettier in slices.
3. Next, in a small bowl, mix together the olive oil and seasonings.
4. Place the olive oil mixture and the squash slices in a large bowl. Use a rubber scraper to mix the squash until it's coated in the dressing. This can take a minute or two until it's fully coated.
5. If you are keeping your squash in 2 halves, use a fork to pierce and poke holes in the flesh of the squash.
6. Then spoon the olive oil mixture on the cut side. Use the back of the spoon to spread it around.
7. Place the squash in the air fryer basket. I highly recommend putting parchment paper (made for an air fryer with holes) in the basket first to make cleanup easier.
If not using parchment paper, you may want to spray the basket with cooking spray to ensure nothing sticks.
Try to keep the squash in a single layer for even cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to make these in 2 batches.
8. Bake in the air fryer at 350° for 20 minutes until golden brown. You should easily be able to pierce it with a fork. If you are cooking it in halves, bake for 25-30 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips
This is a simple recipe but here are some tips to help make it even easier to make this delicious side dish.
- Do NOT try to peel the acorn squash. The peel is edible but if you don't want to eat it, it starts to separate from the rest of the squash once it's baked. You can just peel it away.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the squash and make sure you stabilize it. Be careful!
- Poke holes in the squash halves. Personally, I prefer this in slices. But if you want to do it in halves, make sure you poke a lot of holes in it. This way seasonings can get into the squash.
- If you want this simple side dish to look pretty, stick with the slices. The ridges in the squash make it look a bit fancy.
Storage Tips
Refrigerator
Keep leftover acorn squash in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Make sure you cool it to room temperature before putting it in the fridge.
Reheat
Reheat the squash slices in the oven or air fryer for about 5 minutes at 350 degrees. You can also microwave it for a minute.
Serving Suggestions
This acorn squash makes a delicious side dish. I like pairing it with a creamy vegan pasta dish.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, the green skin is edible and becomes tender when cooked. It's also where a lot of the nutrients and fiber are, so it's a good idea to keep it on for extra benefits.
Yes, but it will take more cooking time. Place the squash slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 40-45 minutes. It's done once it's fork tender. If you are making it in halves, it will probably take at least an hour.
I haven't tried that but it should work out. Let me know in the comments if you try it!
You can use whatever you have on hand: kosher salt, regular, or sea salt are all great options.
More Vegetable Side Dishes
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Recipe
Air Fryer Acorn Squash (Savory & Vegan)
Ingredients
- 1 acorn squash
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- First, wash and prep the acorn squash. Cut it in half length-wise and scoop out the seeds. Cut in ½" slices or keep it in halves if that's your preference.
- In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil and seasonings.
- For slices, place the olive oil mixture and the squash slices in a large bowl. Use a rubber scraper to mix the squash until it's coated in the dressing. This can take a minute or two until it's all coated.
- For halves, use a fork to pierce the cut side of the squash many times. Then spoon the olive oil mixture on the cut side. Use the back of the spoon to spread it around.
- Place the squash in the basket of the air fryer. I highly recommend putting parchment paper (made for an air fryer with holes) in the basket first to make cleanup easier.
- Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. You should easily be able to pierce it with a fork. If you are cooking it in halves, bake for 25-30 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Do NOT try to peel the acorn squash. The peel is edible but if you don't want to eat it, it starts to separate from the rest of the squash once it's baked. You can just peel it away.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the squash and make sure you stabilize it. Be careful!
- Poke holes in the squash halves. Personally, I prefer this in slices. But if you want to do it in halves, make sure you poke a lot of holes in it. This way seasonings can get into the squash.
- If you want this simple side dish to look pretty, stick with the slices. The ridges in the squash make it look a bit fancy.
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Jane says
This was great. I got an acorn squash from the farmers market but I had no idea what to do with it. This was super easy and everyone liked it.
Jen Cardenas says
Glad you like it Jane!