Name: Air Fryer Acorn Squash
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 Acorn squash; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; 1 teaspoon sea salt; 2 tablespoon olive oil; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted); 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; 2 teaspoon brown sugar

This Air Fryer Acorn Squash is so easy to make and has so much flavor. If you love cooking with your air fryer, you are going to love this simple acorn squash.

This Acorn Squash recipe is packed with so much flavor from simple spices like, cinnamon and nutmeg. The best thing about cooking acorn squash in the air fryer is it only takes 20 minutes and makes a perfect snack or side dish.

half moon slices of acorn squash cooked and drizzled with melted butter

Cooking with the air fryer has become a staple in our home, because it is so easy and definitely more healthy. Your family is going to love this air fried acorn squash because it is cooked with so much flavor. Slicing the acorn squash into these half moon shapes make it so fun to eat and helps it cook so much faster.

If you love cooking with an air fryer, check out my recipes for Air Fryer Chimichangas, Air Fryer Pork Chops or Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts.

spoon drizzling cinnamon butter over cooked acorn squash slices

Ingredients for Air Fryer Acorn Squash

Just a few simple ingredients is really all that is needed to make this simple side dish of acorn squash. These are things that you most likely have in your home. For this recipe you will need the following:

Acorn Squash– this recipe is perfect for one acorn squash, unless you have a larger air fryer that can cook more
Cinnamon– this adds such a warm flavor to acorn squash, I never make squash without it.
Nutmeg– this spice adds a nutty flavor and is a great complimentary flavor to cinnamon
Sea salt– I generally cook with sea salt, I just prefer the flavor and the larger flakes, regular salt can be used if you don’t have sea salt
Olive oil– this is used to help crisp up the skin of the squash as it cooks and helps prevent sticking. Another oil can be substituted if desired.
Butter– drizzle just a bit mixed with brown sugar and cinnamon to take these acorn squash pieces over the top!

How to cook Acorn Squash in the Air Fryer

The first thing I like to do is get that air fryer preheating to 400ºF. My air fryer has a preheat setting, if yours does not, you can just turn it on to 400 and let it heat up while you prepare the squash.

Prepare the squash by rinsing off any dirt that might be on the outside skin. Then, with a very sharp knife, slice off the stem side of the squash.

Turn the squash upside down so that it is standing on that end that you just sliced and slice the squash into two halves. Scrape out the inside of the squash to remove any seeds with a spoon.

slices of acorn squash seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg

Slice the squash into about one inch half rounds by placing the squash halves cut side down onto the cutting board and slicing across the back of the squash.

Place all of the sliced squash pieces into a large mixing bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat. Then season with the cinnamon, nutmeg and sea salt.

Give it a good toss again to make sure they all get seasoned.

acorn squash slices in the basket of an air fryer

Place into the air fryer basket and cook for 12-15 minutes, turning the squash pieces over half way through the cooking time.

You will know the squash is done when a fork poked into the flesh slides in easily.

Lastly, just before serving, combine the melted butter, cinnamon and brown sugar and drizzle over the cooked squash (if desired). This just adds a delicious, sweet flavor.

cooked slices of acorn squash on a wooden platter

How to store leftover cooked Acorn Squash

If you are making a huge batch of this acorn squash and have some leftover, it can be placed into an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheat in the microwave for 30 seconds, or place back into the air fryer for 2-3 minutes.