Air Fryer Buttercup Squash

Air fryer buttercup squash is a beautiful blend of sweet and savory. Air frying enhances the squash's natural sweetness, complementing a delicate seasoning mix.

You’ll love air fryer buttercup squash as a delicious gluten-free main. The naturally nutty, sweet flavors and firm flesh make this healthy, fiber-packed dish incredibly satisfying. It’s also divine served alongside roasted pork or chicken or with a fall salad.

Buttercup squash in the air fryer is juicier than squash cooked in the oven, and it gets a fantastic caramelized finish that you can’t get any other way. Plus, it’s quicker, uses less energy, and it’s easier to clean up.

The seasoning for this roasted buttercup squash recipe is a simple mix of garlic and Herbs de Provence. Earthy, fresh and delicious.

Ingredients you’ll need to make buttercup squash in the air fryer

**Find the full list of ingredients along with the recipe instructions at the end of this post**

Medium buttercup squash (rinsed, seeded, and cut into half-moon slices): Look for a squash that is firm when you press it and is a vibrant dark green. Soft squashes or squashes that have become a bit washed out are past their best.

Olive oil: Always use light olive oil for buttercup squash in air fryer, as it has a high smoke point. Sunflower oil or vegetable oil also works well. 

Garlic powder: Finely chopped fresh garlic also works well if you don’t have garlic powder. You could also use chives.

Herb of Provence: A lovely mix of herbs used in French cooking, Herbs de Provence are usually a mix of thyme, tarragon, bay leaves, rosemary, oregano, and marjoram. Try a blend of these herbs if you don’t have Herbs de Provence.

How to cook buttercup squash in air fryer?

Mix the olive oil, garlic, herbs de Provence, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until they are well combined.

Next, lay out your buttercup squash slices in the air fryer basket and use a silicone brush to coat them with the herb mixture.

Air fry the squash at 390°F for 8 minutes on one side and 8 minutes on the other, or until they are soft on the inside and crisp on the outside. 

Remove from the basket, serve, and enjoy!

Recipe tips

• Ensure your buttercup squash slices are even; about ½ inch is perfect. Even pieces mean they cook evenly and at the same rate.
• If you’re making oven-roasted buttercup squash, use the same preparation method as above and pop the squash in the oven at 350°F for 40 minutes to an hour.
• See below for a guide on how to cut buttercup winter squash.

How long to air fry buttercup squash

It takes around 16 minutes at 390°F to cook the buttercup squash air fryer. 

Lay out ½-inch squash slices in the air fryer basket and cook them for 8 minutes on one side, then flip over to the other for another 8 minutes.

What goes well with winter squash

• Beet and feta cheese salad with citric dressing
• Lemon pepper wings air fryer
• Air fryer breaded pork tenderloin
• Best instant pot boneless pork chops

How to store cooked buttercup winter squash

You can safely store roast buttercup squash in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Seal the slices in an airtight container or ziplock bag, and put them in the fridge within 2 hours of cooking.

It’s also safe to store cooked squash in the freezer indefinitely, although it can sometimes be mushy after defrosting.

Can you reheat roasted winter squash in an air fryer?

This buttercup squash recipe is great reheated in the air fryer. Using the air fryer means the squash stays moist in the middle and crisp outside.

To reheat, put the squash in the air fryer basket at 390°F for 1-2 minutes on each side or until they are hot all the way through. Be sure to flip them regularly.

How to cut buttercup squash?

Use a sharp, heavy knife to prepare your buttercup squash. A knife like this will go through the skin and flesh more easily, so you’ll be able to get more uniform slices, and it’s safer, too. 

First, put the squash on a cutting board and cut it in half lengthways. Use a spoon to scoop the seeds and pulp, but don’t throw them away! The seeds make a delicious snack, especially fried with salt and pepper. 

Lay each half cut side down on a cutting board, and cut into half-moon shapes if you’re roasting or cubes if you’re adding the squash to a soup or stew. There's no need to remove the skin; it’s delicious and will become tender when you air fry it.

When cooking buttercup squash, the slices must be even so they cook at the same rate - bear this in mind while preparing it.

Is buttercup squash the same as kabocha?

Winter buttercup squash looks similar to kabocha, but buttercup is usually a bit bigger, and the stem is more squat.

You could use either squash for this recipe, but the buttercup is more moist, which is perfect for air frying. There is also a subtle difference in flavor. 

Can you eat the skin of buttercup squash?

You can! Baked buttercup squash skin is tender enough to eat and contrasts nicely with the softer flesh in the middle. 

The skin is one of the best bits of this recipe because of the delicious garlic and Herbs de Provence seasoning.

More Squash Recipes you’ll love

• Kabocha Squash In The Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Delicata Squash
• Instant Pot Acorn Squash Soup
• Roasted Butternut Squash in Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Acorn Squash
• Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
• Creamy Butternut Squash and Leek Bisque

More Air Fryer Side Dishes to try

• Air Fryer Avocado Fries
• Radishes In Air Fryer
• Air Fried Artichoke Salad
• Baby Carrots In Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Eggplant 

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