Forget switching on your oven – make perfectly roasted pumpkin in just minutes with this easy air fryer pumpkin recipe. It is so quick and easy to air fry pumpkin that you can make it the star of any bowl, salad, soup, or sandwich for an easy fall flavor boost.
Why you’ll love air fryer pumpkin
- It’s fast – no need to turn on the oven! The air fryer makes roasted pumpkin in a fraction of the time of oven roasting.
- It’s versatile – toss into salads, add to grain bowls, simply snack on these irresistible roasted pumpkin bites!
- It is ideal for easily making homemade pumpkin puree for all your fall recipes.
Scroll down for the printable card for this air fryer pumpkin recipe, 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.
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
This recipe is very simple to make, there are just a few key steps to getting it just right:
- 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.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F/ 200°C, then place the pumpkin in the air fryer basket, drizzle (or spritz) with oil, and sprinkle with the seasonings.
- 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.
How long to air fry pumpkin
The exact time you’ll need to air fry the pumpkin for will depend on how much pumpkin you have to roast, how it is arranged in the air fryer basket, and how efficient your air fryer is.
If the pumpkin pieces are small or thin 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
Roasting pumpkin in the air fryer brings out its natural sweetness and makes for a tasty side dish. For some ways to serve it try:
- Add crumbled feta, fresh parsley and chopped walnuts for a quick roast pumpkin salad.
- Top roasted pumpkin with crunchy pepitas and a drizzle of maple syrup for a bit of sweetness.
- Add roasted pumpkin to a salad with greens like kale or spinach for a side dish with texture and fall flavors.
- Add roasted pumpkin to pasta dishes, risottos, or soups.
- Serving roasted pumpkin mashed or pureed with butter and herbs for a seasonal twist.
- Serve roast pumpkin fries or chips as a snack with a dipping sauce like ranch dressing or Chick-fil-A sauce.
- Blend air-fried pumpkin into a puree and use it to make air fryer pumpkin pie!
Storing and reheating
Store any leftover pumpkin in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, and use within 3 days.
You can reheat the pumpkin in the air fryer, and air fry for 3-4 minutes until warmed through. Alternatively, you can reheat it in the microwave, 1-2 minutes on high.
Air Fryer Pumpkin
Ingredients
- 2 lb / 900 g pumpkin ([Note 1])
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon seasoning (optional [Note 2])
Directions
- 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.
