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Air Fryer Acorn Squash

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If you LOVE your air fryer and you want to try cooking a side dish in it, then try this Air Fryer Acorn Squash. You’ll make winter squash so tasty that even the people who don’t care for squash are will love it!

Air fryer acorn squash is so tender everyone loves it!

Lightly roasted tender acorn squash halves are cooked to perfection in the Air Fryer. Once you air fry it you’ll never want to make it any other way!

Acorn squash on a plate with a knife and fork.

Why Cook Acorn Squash Air Fryer?

Why would ANYONE want to use the air fryer to cook a winter squash? There are a couple of good reasons:

  • it cooks much more quickly in the air fryer than in the regular oven!
  • you don’t have room in the oven because you’re cooking an entire feast in there
  • or if you don’t want to heat up the entire oven JUST to cook one squash
  • maybe you don’t want to heat up your house by turning on the oven then use the air fryer
  • or maybe your oven is broken and your new oven isn’t going to be delivered for months

No matter the reason cooking it in the air fryer will definitely be a game-changer for you and it may even become your go-to method for roasting an acorn squash.

2 halves of an acorn squash in an air fryer basket.

Frequently Asked Questions About Acorn Squash

Do I need to wash winter squash before cooking it?

Yes, always wash winter squash before cooking it, wash it before you cut to avoid getting dirt inside the squash

Do I have to peel acorn squash before cooking it?

No, acorn squash doesn’t need to be peeled before cooking. It holds up nicely with the skin on and the ridges make it harder to peel than say a butternut squash

Can I roast the seeds of acorn squash?

Yes, the seeds of any winter squash can be cleaned and roasted just like you would clean and roast pumpkin seeds

Do I need to cut the acorn squash in slices before cooking?

No, you can just cut it in half, clean it out and cook the two halves

Can I eat the skin of acorn squash?

If it’s a fresh acorn squash just newly picked the skin IS edible if you wash it. Not everyone likes to eat it though! The older a winter squash gets the tougher and stringier the skin gets.

How do I cut an acorn squash?

You can cut it lengthwise OR across the squash. Either way is fine. When you cut it lengthwise it sits better when it’s put on a plate otherwise there’s no difference.

Tender air fryer acorn squash.
Yield: 2 servings

Air Fryer Acorn Squash

Air fryer acorn squash is so tender everyone loves it!

You'll fall in love with your Air Fryer ALL over again when you make this tasty Acorn Squash. It cooks so quickly in the air fryer you'll never want to make it any other way!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 acorn squash 1-2 pounds
  • 1 TBSP light olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • pinch of pepper

Instructions

  1. preheat the air fryer 400˚ for 5 minutes
  2. wash the squash, knock the stem off, and cut in half lengthwise
  3. scrape out the seeds and the membranes that hold them in, basically the stringy bits
  4. divide the oil between each acorn squash, just put it in the cavity, then use your hands to rub it all over the squash inside and out
  5. divide the salt between each squash cavity
  6. sprinkle each with a pinch of ground black pepper
  7. put cavity side UP in the air fryer
  8. roast in air fryer at 400˚ for 15-20 minutes or until soft when poked with a knife
  9. if it's not done after 20 minutes, cook for another 5 minutes

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Nutrition Information

Yield

2 servings

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 117Total Fat 7gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 0mgSodium 533mgCarbohydrates 15gFiber 5gSugar 0gProtein 1g

This nutrition information was calculated using a computer program, results may vary.

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laura sampson

About Laura

Laura is on a mission to teach modern family oriented women how to make old-fashioned foods new again. A wife and mom of 3 boys, Laura understands the struggles of trying to serve a home-cooked meal each night. She provides recipes and cooking hacks for busy moms to create dishes they may think take more time or skill than they have to make. Read more...

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