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.
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 to make air fryer butternut squash
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!
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.
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.
More air fryer squash recipes
- Air fryer spaghetti squash
- Air fryer delicata squash
- Air fryer spaghetti squash boats
- Air fryer acorn squash
- Air fryer honeynut squash
- Air fryer whole butternut squash
Air Fryer Brown Sugar Butternut Squash
Equipment
Ingredients
- 15 oz butternut squash cubes
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- If needed, peel and cut butternut squash into cubes ¾ inch in size.
- Add 15 oz butternut squash (about 3 and a half cups) to a large bowl.
- Add olive oil to the butternut squash and toss to combine.
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, smoked paprika, ground cayenne, and salt. Stir until combined.
- Add the brown sugar mixture to the butternut squash and stir until evenly coated.
- Add the butternut squash to the air fryer basket. Cook at 400 degrees F for 13-15 minutes, tossing halfway through cook time.
- Roast until fork tender, then enjoy.
Notes
- 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.
Nutrition
If nutrition info is shown, values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.
Leave a Reply