Air Fryer Butternut Squash Fries with Hot Honey

Air Fryer Butternut Squash Fries with Hot Honey - 1 Air Fryer Butternut Squash Fries with Hot Honey - 2

By Emily Richter

10/24/2024

Swap the regular ol’ French fries for these yummy Air Fryer Butternut Squash Fries with Hot Honey ! The nutty, caramelized flavor of butternut squash combined with the sweet and spicy hot honey sauce is a total match made in heaven.

A basket of crispy, breaded zucchini fries served with two small bowls of red dipping sauce and a wooden honey dipper on a striped cloth. - 3 Loading - 4 Loading - 5

I swear, every vegetable we put into the air fryer comes out tasting 10 times better. From our Air Fryer Zucchini and Air Fryer Broccoli to our Crispy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts and Air Fryer Asparagus , a literal art form. And so, to continue with this awesome air fryer vegetable series, we bring you this delicious air fryer butternut squash fries with hot honey! SO GOOD.

Just make your egg wash and breadcrumb mixture, dunk, and then air fry for only 10 minutes! Seriously, guys, this could not be easier.

Air Fryer Butternut Squash Fries – Main Ingredients

  • Butternut squash: The ultimate fall squash that is naturally sweet and nutty. It pairs perfectly with the hot honey sauce!
  • Egg: The key to getting the breadcrumbs to stick to the squash.
  • Panko breadcrumbs: A lighter and crispier alternative to regular breadcrumbs.
  • All-purpose flour: For coating the squash before dipping it in the egg wash.
  • Avocado oil: Used to coat the squash before air frying for that perfect golden crisp.
  • Garlic chili sauce: Adds a spicy kick to the hot honey sauce.
  • Honey: The sweet component of the hot honey sauce. It’s delish!
  • Rice vinegar: Adds a tangy and slightly sweet element to the sauce.
Three breaded cheese sticks are positioned in a bowl filled with breadcrumbs on a textured white surface. - 6

What other breadcrumbs can I use?

Regular breadcrumbs or cornflake crumbs will work in place of panko breadcrumbs in this recipe. You can also try using cornmeal, ground almonds or crushed nuts for gluten-free options.

What kind of garlic chili sauce do you recommend?

Sriracha or sambal oelek are great options for adding a spicy kick to the hot honey sauce.

top tips for the best butternut squash fries

We use a Ninja air fryer, but the time and temperature may vary depending on the brand.

Make sure to cut the butternut squash into equal sizes for even cooking.

If you want a sweeter flavor, add more honey. If you prefer it spicier, add more garlic chili sauce.

A white bowl filled with a red chili sauce containing visible chili flakes, with a metal spoon resting inside the bowl. The bowl is placed on a textured light gray surface. - 7 ninja air fryer on white background. - 8

Favorite

Air Fryer

On the hunt for the best air fryer? Our favorite is the Ninja Kitchen Air Fryer It’s reliable and moderately priced.

How to Store & Reheat

Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days .

To reheat, place the squash in the air fryer for a few minutes until warmed through.

A basket filled with crispy, golden-brown breaded zucchini fries, accompanied by two small bowls of red dipping sauce. - 9

Serving Suggestions

So, what even goes well with air fryer butternut squash fries? Pork is a great place to start. The sweetness in squash pairs well with savory pork dishes. Try it alongside this Honey Sticky Pork . You can also find 20 more of our pork recipes if you need more inspo.

Pair that with a light and refreshing salad, such as this Strawberry Broccoli Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing or Apple Burrata Salad . There’s no better combination than the sweetness of fruit and the savory flavor of roasted butternut squash.

Ingredients1x2x3x

  • ▢ 1 butternut squash , peeled, seeded, and cut into 4-6 inch sticks
  • ▢ 1 large egg
  • ▢ 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • ▢ ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ▢ 2-3 tablespoons avocado oil

Sauce

  • ▢ ¼ cup garlic chili sauce
  • ▢ ¼ cup honey
  • ▢ 3 tablespoons rice vinegar

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
  • Whisk the egg into a bowl. Add the panko breadcrumbs, flour, salt, and pepper to a separate bowl and mix to combine.
  • Dip a butternut squash fry into the egg and allow any excess egg to drip from the squash. Dip the fry into the flour mixture, and spoon the breadcrumb mixture over the top of the fry, being sure not to jostle the fry too much. Repeat until all the butternut squash is coated.
  • Spay all the butternut squash with an aerosol oil until coated.
  • Add 2-3 tablespoons of avocado oil to the air fryer. Please the butternut squash to the air fryer. Be sure that the fries do not overlap.
  • Air fry the squash for 10 minutes. The butternut squash should be golden brown. Repeat until all the squash is golden brown and cooked.
  • Add all of the ingredients for the sauce to a bowl and mix to combine.
  • Serve the butternut squash fries with the sauce.

Tips & Notes

  • Regular bread crumbs or cornflake crumbs will work in place of panko bread crumbs.
  • We use a Ninja air fryer, but the time and temperature may vary depending on the brand of air fryer used.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Don’t forget to tag your posts on social media with the hashtag #fitfoodiefinds , we’d love to see what you’re up to!

Photography by: The Wooden Skillet

A basket filled with golden brown, crispy breaded vegetable sticks, accompanied by a small bowl of red dipping sauce on the side. - 10

Air Fryer Butternut Squash Fries with Hot Honey

Ingredients

  • 1 butternut squash peeled, seeded, and cut into 4-6 inch sticks
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2-3 tablespoons avocado oil

Sauce

  • ¼ cup garlic chili sauce
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
  • Whisk the egg into a bowl. Add the panko breadcrumbs, flour, salt, and pepper to a separate bowl and mix to combine.
  • Dip a butternut squash fry into the egg and allow any excess egg to drip from the squash. Dip the fry into the flour mixture, and spoon the breadcrumb mixture over the top of the fry, being sure not to jostle the fry too much. Repeat until all the butternut squash is coated.
  • Spay all the butternut squash with an aerosol oil until coated.
  • Add 2-3 tablespoons of avocado oil to the air fryer. Please the butternut squash to the air fryer. Be sure that the fries do not overlap.
  • Air fry the squash for 10 minutes. The butternut squash should be golden brown. Repeat until all the squash is golden brown and cooked.
  • Add all of the ingredients for the sauce to a bowl and mix to combine.
  • Serve the butternut squash fries with the sauce.

Notes

  • Regular bread crumbs or cornflake crumbs will work in place of panko bread crumbs.
  • We use a Ninja air fryer, but the time and temperature may vary depending on the brand of air fryer used.

Nutrition