This Air Fryer Maple Delicata Squash is the fall side dish I look forward to making every single year. Delicata squash is my absolute favorite winter squash and I grow it in my garden every season specifically because it is the easiest squash to work with. No peeling, no wrestling with a rock hard butternut skin, and no special equipment required.
You just slice it, toss it in a bowl with maple syrup, cinnamon, olive oil, and sea salt, and let the air fryer do its thing in about 12 minutes.
What makes this version special is the maple cinnamon coating. Most air fryer delicata squash recipes keep it simple and savory with garlic and salt which is delicious but this sweet and caramelized version is something else entirely.
The maple syrup caramelizes in the air fryer and creates these gorgeous golden edges that taste almost like candy.
It is sweet enough to feel indulgent but still works beautifully as a side dish alongside roasted chicken, pork tenderloin, or a holiday meal. Once you try it this way you will not want to make it any other way.
If you are looking for more air fryer vegetable recipes try my Air Fryer Roasted Zucchini Squash, my Air Fryer Roasted Parmesan Broccoli or my Air Fryer Pesto Baby Potatoes.
You can find all of my air fryer recipes here: Gluten Free Air Fryer Recipes
What Is Delicata Squash and Why You Need to Try It
If you have never cooked with delicata squash before this recipe is the perfect introduction. Here is everything you need to know.
- Delicata squash is a small oblong winter squash with creamy yellow skin and distinctive green stripes. It is sometimes called sweet potato squash because its flavor is mild, naturally sweet, and creamy similar to a sweet potato but with a subtle squash earthiness. The texture when cooked is silky and tender with a slight sweetness that caramelizes beautifully at high heat.
- The biggest reason to love delicata squash is that you do not have to peel it. The skin is thin and edible and softens completely during cooking. This makes it significantly easier and faster to prepare than butternut squash, acorn squash, or any other winter squash you might have worked with before. No vegetable peeler required.
- Delicata squash is also a good source of fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and beta carotene making it one of the more nutritious fall vegetables you can add to your plate.
Why the Air Fryer Is the Best Way to Cook Delicata Squash
You can roast delicata squash in the oven but the air fryer does something the oven cannot achieve as quickly or as effectively. The concentrated circulating heat of the air fryer caramelizes the maple syrup coating and the natural sugars in the squash faster and more intensely than oven roasting, giving you those gorgeous golden caramelized edges in just 12 minutes instead of the 25 to 30 minutes an oven would take.
The air fryer also frees up your oven for everything else you are making for dinner which is especially valuable when you are cooking a holiday meal and every inch of oven space is spoken for.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Maple Delicata Squash
A few simple tips will help you get perfectly caramelized and tender squash every time.
- Do not overcrowd the basket. This is the most important tip for any air fryer recipe. If the squash slices are piled on top of each other the air cannot circulate around them and they will steam rather than caramelize. Cook in a single layer and work in batches if you have more squash than fits comfortably.
- Shake the basket halfway through. At the six minute mark shake the basket or use tongs to flip the squash pieces so both sides get equal exposure to the heat and caramelize evenly.
- Cut the slices consistently. Try to cut all your squash slices to the same quarter inch thickness so they all cook at the same rate. Thicker slices may need an extra two to three minutes.
- Watch closely at the end. The maple syrup can go from perfectly caramelized to burnt quickly in the last few minutes. Check at 12 minutes and add time in two minute increments if needed.
Serving Suggestions
This maple delicata squash is versatile enough to work with many different meals. Here are my favorite ways to serve it.
- As a holiday side dish. The sweet caramelized maple flavor makes this elegant enough for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. It looks beautiful on a holiday table and takes only 22 minutes to make.
- Alongside roasted chicken or pork. The sweet maple coating pairs especially well with savory proteins like roasted chicken thighs, pork tenderloin, or grilled chicken breast.
- On a fall salad. Add the warm squash slices to a bed of mixed greens or arugula with walnuts, dried cranberries, and a simple maple vinaigrette for a stunning seasonal salad.
Oven Instructions
No air fryer? No problem. This recipe works beautifully in the oven as well.
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Prepare the squash exactly as directed in the recipe. Spread the seasoned squash slices in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet with space between each piece. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes flipping halfway through until the squash is tender and caramelized. The oven version will take about twice as long as the air fryer but the results are equally delicious.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover air fryer maple delicata squash in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. The squash will soften slightly as it sits in the refrigerator which is normal. To reheat, place the leftover squash back in the air fryer at 375 degrees for three to five minutes until warmed through and the edges recrisp. You can also reheat in the microwave but the texture will be softer without the recrisping the air fryer provides.
Top Tip
Do not skip shaking the basket halfway through cooking. At the six minute mark open your air fryer and give the basket a shake or use tongs to flip the squash pieces individually. This ensures both sides of each slice get direct contact with the hot air and caramelize evenly. Without this step the bottom sides of the squash will be beautifully golden and the top sides will be pale and underdone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! The skin of a Delicata squash softens completely during cooking and is fully edible. You do not need to peel it at all which makes this one of the easiest winter squashes to prepare. Simply cut it in half, remove the seeds, cut off the ends, and slice into half rounds.
You should not be able to pierce the skin of a ripe Delicata squash with your fingernail. The stem should be tan rather than bright green since a green stem means the squash likely is not ready yet. You can also tell by the color. A pale cream colored squash needs more time to mature. A ripe Delicata squash should be more yellow and may have some orange spots.
Delicata squash has a mild, naturally sweet, and creamy flavor similar to a sweet potato but with a subtle squash earthiness. It is less intensely flavored than butternut squash which makes it very approachable for people who are not big squash fans. The maple syrup and cinnamon coating in this recipe amplifies that natural sweetness and creates gorgeous caramelized edges that taste almost like candy.
Yes. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees and prepare the squash exactly as directed in the recipe. Spread the seasoned squash slices in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet with space between each piece. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes flipping halfway through until the squash is tender and the maple syrup has caramelized. The oven version takes about twice as long as the air fryer but the results are equally delicious.
Supplies
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Air Fryer Roasted Maple Delicata Squash
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Delicata squash slices tossed in olive oil, pure maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, and pepper then air fried at 400 degrees until tender and caramelized. This gluten free air fryer maple delicata squash is the sweetest and most elegant fall side dish on the table and ready in just 22 minutes with no peeling required.
Ingredients
- 2 medium Delicata Squash, seeded and sliced ¼" thick
- 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- 3 Tbsp. Maple Syrup
- 1 tsp. Sea Salt
- ½ tsp. Ground Black Pepper
- ¼ tsp. Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
Using a sharp knife, slice the Delicata squash in half. Remove the seeds from the center. Cut the ends off and discard. Slice the squash into ¼ inch thick half rounds.
Place squash, olive oil, maple syrup, salt, pepper and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir to coat the squash thoroughly.
Pour the squash mixture into the basket of your air fryer. Drizzle the sauce from the bowl over the squash.
Air fry at 400 degrees for 12 minutes.
After 12 minutes check the squash. It should be cooked through and starting to brown. If there isn't any browning yet cook at 400 degrees for another 2-5 minutes.
Serve warm as a side dish.
If you made this recipe please leave a star rating and comment below. It helps other readers find this recipe and means so much to me.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
If you make this Air Fryer Maple Delicata Squash I would love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out or tag me on Instagram so I can see your batch.
This is one of those fall side dishes that earns a permanent spot on your holiday table so save it to your favorite Pinterest board so you always have it ready when squash season arrives!
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Maple Delicata Squash Ingredients
- Delicata Squash
- Olive Oil
- Pure Maple Syrup
- Sea Salt
- Coarse Ground Black Pepper
- Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
Using a sharp knife, slice the Delicata squash in half. Remove the seeds from the center. Cut the ends off and discard. Slice the squash into ¼ inch thick half rounds.
Place squash, olive oil, maple syrup, salt, pepper and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir to coat the squash thoroughly.
Pour the squash mixture into the basket of your air fryer. Drizzle the sauce from the bowl over the squash.
Air fry at 400 degrees for 12 minutes.
After 12 minutes check the squash. It should be cooked through and starting to brown. If there isn't any browning yet cook at 400 degrees for another 2-5 minutes.
Serve warm as a side dish.
