Air Fryer Roasted Acorn Squash Recipe

There are plenty of excuses to break out your air fryer, and this recipe for roasted acorn squash is no exception. Recipe developer Miriam Hahn, who is known for whipping up some of the tastiest and healthiest dishes around, is the creative mind behind this recipe. And trust us — you are not going to want to skip it. There are plenty of things to love about this healthy recipe, but Hahn explains her favorite part perfectly. "My favorite thing about this recipe is that it is a fabulous 15-minute side dish, and because I use the air fryer, it keeps my oven free for whatever else I am cooking," Hahn raves. "And I love that you can eat the skin!"

It's no secret that acorn squash is super healthy, making it an easy choice to eat. "Squash in general is very healthy in terms of nutrients and fiber, but acorn squash is actually the top of the list for highest amounts of potassium, magnesium, calcium and folate," Hahn shares.

Keep reading to find out how to make your new favorite recipe. It's perfect for kids, adults, and anyone else in between!

The first thing that you need to do is gather everything that you need to prepare this recipe. The star of the dish is acorn squash, and you will just need one that is medium in size. (If you'd like to double the recipe, that would be easy to do for a crowd!) 

You will also need some butter that's been melted, in addition to maple syrup. You may have one or both of those items at home if you like to cook, making your shopping experience even easier. 

The last two things that you will need to get are salt and cinnamon. And once you have everything gathered together, it's time to get cooking.

The first thing you need to do is grab a cutting board and a large knife. First, cut the squash in half lengthwise, and remove the seeds. "If you have a grapefruit spoon to use when removing the seeds, it is a snap," Hahn says. "I use this for all of my squash recipes!" You don't want the seeds for this particular recipe, but the great part is that they're easy to remove, thanks to Hahn's help. Next, cut the squash in ½-inch, half-ring slices, and be sure to cut crosswise.

Once you have finished slicing all of your squash rings, put them in a large bowl. Be sure to give yourself enough room so that you can mix all of the ingredients together.

Then, add the melted butter, syrup, salt, and cinnamon. Using either your hands or a spoon, toss everything to combine it. You can even just shake the bowl a few times. Make sure to do this step well, so that each piece of squash gets coated with a little bit of everything, because the taste is fantastic.

Now that your squash slices have been coated with just the right amount of syrup, butter, and spices, they're ready for the air fryer. Lay them in the basket in a single layer, and be sure not to let any of the pieces overlap. With this amount of squash, you will likely need to do two batches. "[Using] the air fryer is simpler [and] quicker, because you don't waste time preheating the oven, and it is super easy to clean," Hahn raves about this handy kitchen helper.

Set the temperature to 400 F and the time to 15 minutes. About halfway through, flip the squash so that it cooks on the other side as well.

Once the 15 minutes are up, it's time to serve your roasted acorn squash. The great part about this recipe, as you can see, is that it is super easy to make.

There are plenty of ways to serve this yummy side dish, and you can simply eat it by itself. "I love this as a side with any entrée, but serving it with pasta is my favorite," Hahn suggests. "You can put it on a salad, and it is also a great snack ... it surprisingly goes over great as an after-school snack!" Another great way to eat the squash is over rice. However it is served, it will absolutely be a favorite at your house.