Easy and delicious, this Air fryer Pumpkin is a perfect fall side dish. Learn how to roast pumpkin in the air fryer that is tender with caramelized edges. This recipe is an excellent addition to the whole30, paleo, or keto diet.
I not only love to see the decorative pumpkins around during fall, but I also love to eat them. Multiple varieties of pumpkins are suitable for cooking, such as the sugar pumpkins used to make pies or the cinderella and fairytale pumpkins (I love their round flat shape).
Highly nutritious and rich in Vitamin A, pumpkins can be used as a dessert or veggie side dish. This winter squash is also rich in potassium, antioxidants, and beta-carotene and is low in calories, which makes it a terrific vegetable to have.
I will roast pumpkin chunks in the air fryer for an easy side dish. This same recipe can be used for butternut squash chunks as well.
You can add these roasted pumpkin cubes to my pumpkin salad with feta & walnuts, a wonderful hearty fall salad.
If you love pumpkin as much as I do, try some more recipes
- Creamy vegan curried pumpkin soup
- Instant pot pumpkin curry
- Thai red pumpkin curry
- Coconut pumpkin halwa
- Curried Mashed Pumpkin
- Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds
- Roasted Pumpkin Soup
If you love roasting veggies in the air fryer, check out this collection for 25+ Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes.
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How to prepare pumpkins for roasting?
You want to start by washing the pumpkin on the outside to remove any dirt and then drying it with a kitchen towel.
Place the pumpkin on a cutting board and cut it in half vertically. As the pumpkin’s skin is quite thick, you need to use a sharp knife to pierce the skin and chop it. Hold the pumpkin steady and cut very carefully.
Using a spoon, remove the seeds and fiber from both halves of the pumpkin. Don’t throw away the seeds; you can turn them into a delicious snack by following my Air fryer pumpkin seeds recipe.
Next cut out 1-1.5 inch wedges of the pumpkin.
I like to peel the pumpkin, but it is a personal preference. You can roast pumpkin with the peel too.
To peel, lay each wedge on the cutting board and cut out the peel. Or you can use a peeler to remove the skin from each wedge.
Then cut them into chunks.
You can also roast the wedges directly if you prefer. The air frying time will be a little higher for wedges.
Or, if you like fries, you can cut the wedges accordingly and air fry for a little lesser time. See my air fryer carrot fries recipe.
Remember – you can cut the pumpkin when meal prepping and store it away too. I cube the pumpkin and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Then it is ready to use when needed.
Tip: You can also buy already cut pumpkin chunks if you are short on time and don’t want to take the trouble of cutting the pumpkin.
How to Roast Pumpkin in the Air Fryer?
Once you have cut the pumpkin into chunks, it is time to prep for air frying it. All you need is a large bowl and your air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 380°F while you are preparing the pumpkin.
- Transfer the pumpkin chunks to a large bowl and add avocado oil and seasonings. I added ground cinnamon, kosher salt, and garlic powder.
- Toss them well until they are all coated with the seasoning.
- Transfer the seasoned pumpkin to the air-fryer basket in a single layer. You can cook in batches if needed.
- Air fry the pumpkins for 18-20 minutes to get that perfect texture
- Shake the basket for 10 minutes for it to roast evenly. (I love that the Cosori air fryer I use gives a reminder to shake the basket halfway through)
Transfer the roasted pumpkin to a plate and enjoy!
You can garnish it with some parsley and roasted pumpkin seeds.
How to cook Pumpkin in the oven?
Follow the same steps as above to prep the pumpkin wedges.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and place the pumpkin in a large sheet pan.
- If you haven’t used a bowl to mix the seasoning and oil, you can add them to the sheet pan directly.
- Spread them evenly so they don’t overlap, and cook for 25-30 minutes. Flip every 10-15 minutes for even cooking.
Pro-tips
- Ensure you are using a culinary pumpkin and not the ones meant for decorating.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket with the pumpkin, as it will result in uneven roasting. Cook in batches if needed.
- Cut the pieces in equal sizes for even cooking.
- You can also cut the pumpkin as wedges or as fries. Adjust the cooking time; it will increase or decrease according to the size of the pieces.
Seasoning Options
Here are some more seasoning ideas:
- Onion powder
- Cumin powder
- Red chili powder or paprika for a spicy version
- Curry powder for curry roasted pumpkin. Or go for the basic version by adding turmeric, cumin, and garam masala.
- Make them sweeter by adding brown sugar or maple syrup.
You can also garnish the roasted pumpkin with lemon tahini sauce or garlic herb yogurt dipping sauce. It is so good!
I hope you enjoy this easy air fryer roasted pumpkin side dish!
Other air fryer veggies you might enjoy:
- Air Fryer Beets
- Air Fryer Turnips
- Air Fryer Carrots
- Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Air Fryer Kale Chips
- Air Fryer Zucchini
Air Fryer Pumpkin
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pound Pumpkin, use a sugar pumpkin or another variety
- 1 tablespoon Avocado Oil, or olive oil
Seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt , adjust to taste
Instructions
- Peel and cube the pumpkin into 3/4 inch pieces.
- Transfer the pumpkin to a bowl. Add the avocado oil and seasonings. Toss them well, so they are all coated with the seasoning.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Add the seasoned pumpkin to the air fryer and spread them in a single layer (cook in batches if needed).
- Air fryer for 18-20 minutes for the perfect texture. Shake the basket at about 10 minutes.
In Oven
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Transfer the pumpkin to a large sheet pan. You can also add the avocado oil and seasonsings on the sheet pan.
- Spread evenly so they do not overlap. Cook for 25-30 minutes. Flip every 10-15 minutes for even cooking.
Video
Notes
- Make sure you are using a culinary pumpkin, and not the ones meant for decorating.
- Cut the pieces in equal size for even cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook in batches if needed.
- You can also cut the pumpkin as wedges or as fries. Adjust the cooking time, it will increase or decrease according to the size of the pieces.
- onion powder
- cumin powder
- red chili powder or paprika for a spicy version
- curry powder for curry roasted pumpkin. Or add the basics such as turmeric, cumin, and garam masala
