Forget switching on your oven – make perfectly roasted pumpkin in just minutes in your air fryer. It is so quick and easy that you can make it the star of any bowl, salad, soup, or sandwich for an easy fall flavor boost.
I think the main reason I love this air fryer pumpkin recipe (besides how delicious it is), is how unbelievably quick it is to make. There’s no need to turn the oven and wait for it to heat up. It is literally finished cooking in the air fryer in less time.
Also, you can season it any way you like, so it is easy to match the flavors to whatever meal you are serving it with. Toss it into salads, add it to grain bowls, or simply scoff it as a snack!
Scroll down for the printable recipe card, or read on for all the details!
Air frying is a great way to roast vegetables. It is super quick, and air fried veggies are so tasty, just like roasted, but without all the extra oil. You might also like to try air fryer butternut squash, air fried cauliflower, air fryer roast potatoes.
What do you need?
Pumpkin
Most varieties of pumpkin and squash can be air fried. The different varieties may all look different from the outside, but they all have similar flesh and will all roast up well in an air fryer.
Pumpkins can be difficult to cut up, so buy pre-cut pumpkin wedges or chunks if you can to save yourself the hassle.
Tip: Cutting up pumpkin
To make cutting pumpkin up a bit easier, you can soften it in the microwave (or oven) before cutting it up:
- If you have a small pumpkin (that will fit in your microwave) prick the skin a few times with a sharp knife, and place whole into the microwave. Microwave on high for one-to-two minutes before cutting.
- If you have a larger pumpkin, cut off a large piece, then microwave that for a minute or two before cutting into chunks.
Seasoning
You can add seasoning to the pumpkin for more flavor. Mixed spice, cinnamon and/or nutmeg are great options, but you could also try:
- Paprika and/or chili
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Cajun spice
- Mexican spice
- Garlic powder
Add a sprinkle of brown sugar for a sweet caramelized roasted pumpkin.
Oil
The recipe below uses light olive oil, but you can substitute any type of cooking oil that you would normally use for frying. Choose something with a high smoke point – vegetable oil, avocado oil, or canola oil are good options.
If you want to make a healthier version of this recipe, you can use an olive oil spray instead of liquid oil.
Tip
When choosing an olive oil spray for your air fryer, look for the type that spritzes rather than an aerosol. The propellant in aerosol oil sprays can damage the non-stick coating of your air fryer.
How to roast pumpkin in the air fryer
1
Prepare the pumpkin.
To prep, just cut the pumpkin into chunks, wedges, fries, chips, or cubes, half an inch thick (see tip above to make it easier). Use a very sharp knife and cut very slowly and carefully. You can leave the skin on if you like (I often do if I am cooking wedges), but make sure you clean up the stringy bits from the inside.
2
Preheat.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F/ 200°C. Preheating is important for this recipe because the air frying time is relatively short, and so you want it to be up to temperature when you put the pumpkin in.
If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat mode, just set it to air fry for 3-4 minutes.
3
Season.
Place the pumpkin in the air fryer basket. Then drizzle (or spritz) with oil, sprinkle with the seasonings, and toss to coat.
4
Air fry.
Air fry pumpkin for 15-20 minutes until it is fork tender and golden-brown at the edges. Shake the basket halfway through cooking to ensure the pumpkin cooks evenly.
A note on cooking times
The exact time you’ll need to air fry the pumpkin for will depend on a few factors, like how much you are cooking, how large the chunks are, and how powerful your air fryer is.
If the pumpkin pieces are small, and can fit in the air fryer without touching, then the cook time will be around 10 minutes.
If the pumpkin pieces are larger or piled up in the air fryer, then the cooking time will be closer to 15 minutes or possibly more (and will also require a shake halfway through the cooking time to ensure they cook evenly).
Serving ideas
- Add crumbled feta, fresh parsley and chopped walnuts for a quick roast pumpkin salad.
- Top with crunchy pepitas and a drizzle of maple syrup for a bit of sweetness.
- Add to a salad with greens like kale or spinach.
- Serving roasted pumpkin mashed or pureed with butter and herbs for a seasonal twist.
- Blend leftovers into a puree and use it to make air fryer pumpkin pie!
Air Fryer Roasted Pumpkin
Ingredients
- 2 lb pumpkin [Note 1]
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon seasoning optional [Note 2]
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F/ 200°C.
- Cut pumpkin into wedges, chunks, or fries approximately 1-inch thick.
- Place the pumpkin pieces into the air fryer basket. If possible arrange the pieces so they are not touching, otherwise, be sure to shake the basket halfway through cooking.
- Drizzle, or spritz, the pumpkin with olive oil, and sprinkle with seasoning (if using)Toss the pumpkin to coat with the oil and seasoning.
- Roast pumpkin in air fryer for 15-20 minutes. It will be fork-tender and golden when it is done.
Notes
- Buy pre-cut pumpkin if you can. Alternatively, make the pumpkin easier to cut by microwaving it on high for 1-2 minutes.
- Try nutmeg, pumpkin spice, or another spice mix.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
