Air Fryer Brown Sugar Butternut Squash

Air Fryer Brown Sugar Butternut Squash is the perfect fall side dish. The brown sugar gives the butternut squash an extra bit of sweetness and the squash caramelizes beautifully in the air fryer.

Brown sugar butternut squash is so delicious. I made this recipe once, and it was so good, I made it two more times in the same week.

It's just something about the combination of the brown sugar, the butternut squash, and the cayenne pepper. It's that spicy-sweet combo that I just cannot get enough of.

I love making brown sugar butternut squash when I want something flavorful and different. When I want a more traditional recipe, I opt for my basic air fryer butternut squash recipe.

Why make this recipe:

• Easy - This recipe is so easy! The hardest part is cutting up the butternut squash. But you can skip that step by buying pre-cut butternut squash.
• Flavorful - The brown sugar, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper add a delicious spicy sweet flavor to the air fried butternut squash.
• Quick - The butternut squash cooks up so quickly in the air fryer! With less than 15 minutes of cook time, this recipe is perfect when you want a quick, easy side dish.

Ingredients:

• Butternut squash - You'll need 3 ½ cups of butternut squash cut into cubes about ¾ inch. This is the equivalent of 15 oz. You can either peel and cut the cubes yourself, or buy pre-cut cubes.
• Olive oil - The olive oil will help your butternut squash roast in the air fryer.
• Brown sugar - The brown sugar gives the perfect amount of sweetness to this recipe.
• Smoked paprika - The smoked paprika helps to balance out the sweet and spicy flavors by adding a touch of smoky flavor to the butternut squash.
• Ground cayenne pepper - This adds that nice spiciness to the squash.
• Salt - Salt helps to flavor the dish!

How do you cut a butternut squash?

Great question! First, you have two options. You can either peel the butternut squash prior to slicing in half, or slice in half before peeling. I've done both, and both work.

But you will need to peel your butternut squash. So peel, cut in half lengthwise, remove the top and bottom stem parts, and then scoop out the seeds in the center part. I like to use an ice cream scoop for this! (Or peel after these steps).

Once you've removed the seeds, you can cut into chunks of whatever size you need (we use ¾ inch cubes in this recipe).

How to customize:

• Don't want it spicy? Either use only a pinch of the cayenne pepper, no cayenne pepper, or substitute out chili powder instead.
• For an added boost of savory flavors, add some garlic powder or onion powder.
• Add some ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice for extra fall vibes.

What to serve with the squash?

I love serving the air fryer butternut squash in grain bowls and salads! It is also tasty on top of some pasta.

And of course, the brown sugar butternut squash makes a perfect side dish. It's delicious with this air fryer honey mustard salmon, ras el hanout chicken thighs, or alongside air fryer shredded brussels sprouts.

How to store leftovers:

Cool the butternut squash completely, then store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to three days.

To reheat, simply pop back into the air fryer for a few minutes. You can also place on a baking sheet, toss in a bit more olive oil, and roast in the oven at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes until hot.

Recipe tips:

• If you are sensitive to spice, either leave out the ground cayenne or just add a small pinch.
• If using precut butternut squash, the sizes may vary. You may need to add or subtract cooking time based on the size of your butternut squash cubes.

How to make:

If needed, prepare your butternut squash cubes by peeling and cutting up a butternut squash.

Next, in a small bowl, combine your brown sugar, cayenne, smoked paprika, and salt.

Stir to completely combine.

Add cubed butternut squash to a large bowl and add the olive oil. Stir to combine.

Add the spice mixture and stir until the brown sugar and spices are evenly distributed over the butternut squash.

Add butternut squash to the air fryer basket.

Cook squash at 400 degrees F for 13-15 minutes, tossing halfway through cooking. Butternut squash should be perfectly roasted and fork tender.

Serve as desired!

Looking for more fall air fryer recipes? Try these!