Air Fryer Delicata Squash

Are you ready for the easiest side dish recipe, ever? This Air Fryer Delicata Squash recipe is just what you need! One ingredient and one step are all that it takes to make a delicious recipe for the entire family to enjoy. 

I love when people ask me how to cook squash. Not only do I love it but I love sharing this recipe with them. Because let's face it...most people either don't buy squash at all because they don't know how to cook it or they just throw it in the oven and see what comes out.

But this simple squash recipe really is a game-changer. It's flavorful, it's fast, and it's super fun to eat. I make this a lot with fall and winter meals because it's hearty and healthy and a great side dish option.

I love all types of winter squash like acorn squash, butternut squash, and honey nut squash (a cousin of butternut), but delicata may be my favorite. It is also known as peanut squash, sweet potato squash, or Bohemian squash. Just look for the beautiful yellow color with green stripes.

Make sure to try my Spaghetti Squash Bites as well as my Keto Yellow Squash Casserole recipe as well!

Ingredients Needed

An air fryer can cook food evenly without accumulating fat. It’s perfect for cooking delicate vegetables like squash. Here’s how to make it in the air fryer. Once you see that minimal effort is needed to produce a huge flavor, you're going to be hooked on this amazing recipe. It really is one of my favorite fall side dish recipes to make!

• Delicata Squash - The reason that this squash is used is that it's naturally sweet with a thin layer of "skin" that easy easily edible when cooked. I cut mine into slices or rings but it also great cut into fries!

How To Make Air Fryer Delicata Squash

If you loved your air fryer before, you're going to go crazy using it to cook up your squash. It's so simple.

Step One: Cut the squash into slices or rings and discard the seeds.

Step Two: Spray the air fryer basket with non stick cooking spray. Put the cut-up squash in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

Expert Tip: You do not need to air fry in a single layer. You can just alternate the rings as shown in this photo.

That's it. That's literally all you have to do. You can play around with the recipe and cut the slices of squash a different thickness to see what you like best but I find that 1-1.5 inches thick is my sweet spot.

Variations

Oils - I didn't even drizzle my squash with avocado oil or olive oil. I just put them in plain and they still got this beautiful golden color. But feel free to drizzle with oil and sprinkle with seasonings if you'd like.

Seasonings -Sprinkle with seasonings if you'd like. Garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, thyme, rosemary, and sage are nice savory choices. Or turn to sweeter spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

Sauces - Squash is naturally sweet but a little balsamic glaze or sugar free maple syrup is amazing brushed over it for the last minute or so of cooking. Or even after it comes out of the air fryer.

Common Questions

How do you reheat air fryer delicata squash?

You have a couple of options. You can easily reheat cooked winter squash in the microwave or put it back in the air fryer low and slow. It's up to you on what you prefer.

What toppings do you add to cooked squash?

I'm a fan of a bit of butter and a sugar free brown sweetener but you can easily do a tad bit of cinnamon as well. Since this squash already has a natural sweetness to it, you can easily add whatever topping you think you'll like best.

Can you eat the skin of Delicata squash?

You bet! Just clean and wash the outer skin off well and then you can chow down and enjoy it! It's really good and not chewy or hard at all.

If you want to peel the squash you totally can as well but it really does add a great benefit of holding the squash in place as it cooks. Plus, it just looks really cool, too!

How long will air fryer Delicata squash keep in the fridge?

Once it's cooked in the air fryer, eating it within 2-3 days is best. Just keep it stored in an airtight container until you're ready for leftovers.

Can you freeze cooked Delicata squash?

You can. Once you cook it, just store it in an airtight freezer bag until you're ready to eat it later. It might change the texture a bit during the freezing process if it gets broken up but it shouldn't change the taste at all.

If it does turn mushy during freezing, just add to a veggie soup instead!

Check out how great this looked served with my Smoked Pork Loin and Air Fryer Delicata Squash. And try my Air Fryer Pork Belly next!

 

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