Coated with a touch of maple syrup and the perfect blend of seasonings, this easy recipe for air fryer butternut squash cubes is the perfect healthy side dish. The air fryer leaves the squash cubes perfectly tender on the inside and a little caramelized on the outside.
Make the seasoning by combining the seasoning ingredients in a small bowl or ramekin and mixing.
To prepare the squash, cut off the stem from the top and cut a slice from the bottom so it will stand up straight and stable. Then, using a peeler or sharp paring knife, peel the skin off the squash. Cut the squash in half lengthwise (from top to bottom) and scoop out the seeds. Cut the squash into 1-inch cubes and place cubes in a bowl.
Preheat the air fryer to 400° Fahrenheit. Even if it doesn't have a preheat function, preheat it for 5 minutes.
Drizzle the olive oil and maple syrup over the squash cubes and toss to coat. Sprinkle the seasoning mix over the cubes and toss to mix in the seasoning and evenly coat the cubes.
Dump the butternut squash cubes into the air fryer basket and spread them out in a single, even layer. You don't want any cubes stacked and ideally they have a little space around each cube. Cook in batches if needed.
Air fry for 25-30 minutes, removing the basket to gently stir the squash cubes after 15 minutes. Cook until the squash is fork tender and getting caramelized around the edges. Watch it carefully after about 20 minutes to prevent burning. Serve immediately.