Air Fryer Delicata Squash
Air Fryer Delicata Squash is the perfect side dish for the fall. Tender, delicious, and simple. With just four easy ingredients, you’ll have the perfect delicata squash in no time at all.
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Using the air fryer for cooking delicata squash proves that you can easily cook tender and juicy squash without worrying about drying it out. Plus – if you are making this for the holidays, this simple roasted delicata squash recipe frees up the space in your oven!
The only hard part about this air fryer recipe is that you’re going to snack on it before serving, which means you might as well prep and plan to double (or triple!) the recipe!
Why Should I Make Air Fryer Delicata Squash
Because it is amazing! Maybe the best squash ever!
If you’ve never had baked delicata squash, it really is quite a treat. The flavor is light and sweet sort of like a squashy sweet potato. And since you can eat the skin the edges of the delicata squash roast up crisp. I promise this recipe will have everyone coming back for more.
Using minimal ingredients to get maximum flavor is one of my favorite parts of this dish. The less time that I have to spend in the kitchen stressing over recipes, the better!
I can promise you that this delicata squash in the air fryer is about as simple of a side dish as you can make!
Ingredients And Substitutions
- Delicata Squash – You can get this at the store sometimes but it is more likely found at a farmers market. Typically, you’ll pay per pound for the squash. Make sure to clean it well when you get it home since you’re not going to be peeling it.
- Olive oil – I use extra virgin olive oil, but any mild cooking oil will work, or even melted butter.
- Salt and pepper – To taste. Feel free to add other seasonings to the squash, like Everything Bagel Seasoning, or even a fun flavored seasoning that you have in your pantry.
How To Cook Air Fryer Delicata Squash
Preheat the air fryer to 375° F
Wash the delicata squash and slice it end to end. Remove the seeds and then slice across into 1 1/2″ slices.
In a large bowl, toss the sliced squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Air Fry for 15 minutes on a non-stick or lined baking sheet. Serve warm or cold.
What does delicata squash taste like?
The flavor of this squash recipe is what keeps me coming back for more. It’s slightly sweet but overpowering. You could easily add cinnamon to the top to make it more of a dessert flavor if you’d like! It is almost like a sweet potato but milder.
Some say it is tastes like a blend of sweet potato, corn and butternut squash.
Is delicata squash the same as butternut squash?
No, they look very different but have many similarities.
A butternut squash is much larger and is one solid soft orange color. Butternut squash has a flavor of a pumpkin marrying a sweet potato and having a baby. It can be slightly nutty or some would say they have a little bit of a butterscotch flavor.
Both delicata squashes and butternut squashes have thin edible skin and since the flavor is on the sweeter side can often be used interchangeably. They are both often cooked by either steaming or roasting as well.
Do you eat the skin of delicata squash?
You bet! As long as you clean it really well, it’s super yummy to eat. It is a softer skin, so there isn’t a lot of chew to have to worry about.
How can you tell if a delicata squash is ripe?
You have to figure out if the squash is ripe visually. For a delicata squash to be ripe, it needs to have a bright yellow color to it, with brightly visible green streaks or stripes going down the side.
How do you know when the roasted delicata squash is done cooking?
If you’re worried that the squash isn’t done cooking after time has passed, use a fork and press the tongs into the meat of the squash.
If it’s fork tender and soft, the squash is done cooking and ready to serve. Make sure that you let the squash cool down a little bit, as it’s going to be really hot coming straight from the air fryer.
What is another name for delicata squash?
While the most popular name for this squash is delicata squash, it can also be known as a peanut squash and a sweet potato squash as well.
How to Store Delicata Squash?
Squash will store well for a month or two if you keep in a cool, dry and dark place. Don’t peel or wash it just leave it. Make sure though cool is just cool and not cold.
Once the squash is cooked in the air fryer, you can easily store the leftovers for later. Be sure to let the squash cool down all the way, then store them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge.
Storing leftovers is as simple as keeping them cool for up to 3 days. You can reheat it in the microwave until it’s warmed all the way through the next time that you’re going to eat it.
Can squash be frozen?
Yes, squash can be frozen, but you do want to blanch it first before freezing it. Cut it into cubes while it’s raw, as you want to freeze the squash raw before cooking it.
To blanch it, boil it in hot water for 1 minute, let it cool and store it in an airtight freezer bag.
Once you thaw and are ready to use, it should have a good texture and not be mushy.
Ways to use delicata squash
Once you cook the squash, you can literally use and eat it in so many ways.
- Eat it air-fried or roasted
- Blend into a soup (peeled)
- Add to a salad
- Mashed (peeled)
- As a vegan taco filling
More squash recipe
Air Fryer Delicata Squash
Ingredients
- 2 delicata squash
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat an air-fryer to 375°F.
- Wash the outside of the squash well and then slice the ends off. Cut the squash in half top to bottom and then slice into 1 1/2" – 2" slices across.
- Toss with the olive oil, salt and pepper and place on the air fryer pan. Air Fry for 15 minutes or until fork tender. Serve warm.
Nutrition
Notes
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
