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Slightly sweet and savory Air Fryer Butternut Squash cooked in bacon fat. Super simple ingredients and only 20 minutes of cooking time. The most delicious Thanksgiving side dish!
What Makes This Recipe Great
I’m always looking for fun new ways to jazz up my holiday side dish game, and this year, I have the perfect recipe! Enter Air Fryer Butternut Squash with Bacon! This amazing side dish combines sweet and savory flavors in less than 20 minutes. All you need are simple ingredients and an air fryer! Minimal prep time, minimal cleanup– the best!
No additional oil is needed, the squash and bacon are cooked together for 5 minutes so the bacon can render some fat. You then stir it all together with spices like garlic and thyme to finish cooking until the squash is golden and caramelized. Voila! The perfect side dish.
This easy air fryer recipe isn’t alone either– if you’re looking for more ways to utilize air frying this holiday season, try my Air Fryer Roasted Tomatoes, these Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes, and these Air Fryer Biscuits!
Watch a Short Video of This Recipe
Ingredient Notes
- Thick-cut Bacon: Use sugar- and nitrate-free bacon and omit maple syrup to make this Whole30-friendly. Because we’re using bacon grease, there’s no additional avocado oil or olive oil necessary!
- Butternut squash: You can purchase peeled and pre-cut butternut squash or buy a whole butternut squash, peel, and cut it yourself into ½ to 1-inch cubes.
- Fresh thyme leaves
- Sea salt
- Ground black pepper
- Maple syrup
- Garlic cloves
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F
- Line the air fryer basket or tray with parchment paper, then add the butternut squash cubes and bacon in a single layer. Stir together.
- Cook for 5 minutes so the bacon releases some fat, then add thyme, salt, and pepper. Shake and toss the mixture together to coat in the fat.
- Cook butternut squash for another 5 minutes, then remove from the air fryer.
- Stir in maple syrup and garlic, then cook for another 5-10 minutes until fork tender and crispy on the edges. Serve warm.
Expert Tips
- Use a vegetable peeler and sharp knife to cut the butternut squash, if not using a pre-cut version.
- Feel free to add additional salt and pepper to taste– even a sprinkle of cinnamon or fresh herbs if desired.
Serving Tips
Serve warm with your favorite main dish. This recipe goes so well with any savory protein! Try it with salmon, chicken breasts, turkey, and more!
Storage Tips
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. Reheat in the air fryer or microwave.
If you make this recipe, please leave me a star rating and comment below! I love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Follow me on social media Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for even more delicious recipes!
Air Fryer Butternut Squash Recipe (with Bacon)
Video
Ingredients
- 4 cups butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 4 oz thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F
- Line the air fryer tray or basket with parchment paper, then add the butternut squash and bacon. Stir together.
- Cook for 5 minutes so the bacon releases some fat, then and add thyme, salt, and pepper. Toss the mixture together to coat in the fat.
- Cook for another 5 minutes, then remove from the air fryer.
- Stir in maple syrup and garlic, then cook for another 5-10 minutes until tender and crispy on the edges. Serve warm.
Notes
Expert Tips
- Use a vegetable peeler and sharp knife to cut the butternut squash, if not using a pre-cut version.
- Feel free to add additional salt and pepper to taste– even a sprinkle of cinnamon or fresh herbs if desired.
Serving Tips
Serve warm with your favorite main dish. This recipe goes so well with any savory protein! Try it with salmon, chicken breasts, turkey, and more!Storage Tips
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. Reheat in the air fryer or microwave.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Thanks for creating this delicious recipe, Jean! I’ve had a butternut squash sitting on my countertop for about a month waiting for me to do something with it. This recipe is so good, even the people in my house who normally pass on squash dishes ate this up! If you’re not sure what to do with your butternut squash, make this recipe ASAP. Follow the steps as directed and you too will be happy you tried this recipe!
That’s amazing, thank you so much!! Bacon and squash are just a magical combo. I appreciate you leaving a review!