This air fryer pumpkin is so easy to make and is the perfect side dish or addition to your meal prep. This pumpkin is soft and tender with deliciously caramelised edges and is lightly spiced making it a versatile way to use up any leftover pumpkin or add more veggies to your diet.
Need another way to use up your pumpkin? Make some pumpkin puree and freeze it to use in a range of different recipes.
Gosh I love roasted pumpkin. It’s a vegetable that I often avoid because I think about how annoying it can be to cut up, but that isn’t really a good reason to stop this powerhouse of a food from being part of my diet.
This air fryer method of cooking pumpkin creates perfectly cooked little pieces that are evenly caramelised and crispy on the edges but soft in the middle. This pumpkin can then be used as a side for your favourite roast chicken, or tossed into a salad or bowl for an easy lunch or dinner.
Pumpkin is also insanely versatile, being the perfect addition to savoury recipes like this family favourite pumpkin and chickpea curry or my dairy free pumpkin soup. But it can also be used in sweet recipes as well, such as in these delicious pumpkin snickerdoodles or these vegan pumpkin cupcakes.
Key Ingredients
This is a super simple side dish recipe that will help you elevate your basic pumpkin to something moreish and super delicious!
Note all ingredients and their quantities are laid out in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Pumpkin – I recommend using a Kent pumpkin for the best flavour, but Jarrahdale, Queensland Blue, or even Butternut (Butternut squash in the US) will all work with this method. You can even buy pre-cut pumpkin pieces if you are looking for easy ways to speed up your meal prep.
- Spices – you can really use any spices you like to flavour your pumpkin or keep it simple with just salt and pepper. I like to add garlic powder and ground cumin which adds a warm, earthy flavour that pairs perfectly with pumpkin.
💡 Note: In the US, pumpkin typically refers to the round, orange variety used for Halloween carving which is not want what we want for this recipe. Instead use a firm-fleshed pumpkin or winter squash that holds its shape when roasted. Varieties such as Kent (also known as Jap or Kabocha), Butternut, or even acorn squash all work well.
Equipment and Tools
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Air fryer – It’s no surprise you’ll need an air fryer to make this recipe. This is the one I have which I love and use a lot! It is perfect for 2 people, but if you’re feeding a family look for an XL or XXL size.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Making roast pumpkin in the air fryer is really simple. I like to cut the pumpkin into chunks as they not only cook quicker, but I find they cook more evenly. Make sure to remove the seeds but you can choose to leave the skin on if you like however when I am cooking small chunks like this, I prefer to remove it.
Once the pumpkin is cut up, add it to a bowl with some olive oil and spices. I love to use cumin and garlic powder as this really enhances the savoury flavours and pairs perfectly with the natural sweetness of the pumpkin. Give it a good toss to combine.
Place the pumpkin in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer and how much pumpkin you’re trying to cook, you may need to do this in batches.
👉 Don’t overcrowd the basket! Overcrowding the air fryer basket prevents hot air from circulating properly, which can lead to uneven cooking and soggy pumpkin instead of crispy edges.
Cook the pumpkin at 200°C (400°F) for 15–20 minutes, shaking occasionally to make sure it cooks evenly. The pumpkin is done when it’s tender on the inside and golden brown on the edges.
Serving Suggestions
I love how versatile roasted pumpkin is! You can make a batch as part of your meal prep and then just throw it in a range of different meals to boost your intake of vegetables throughout the week. Here are a few suggestions to get you started;
- As a side dish – you can serve the air fryer pumpkin alongside your favourite protein such as this air fryer chicken, air fryer lamb chops, or air fryer roast pork for an easy dinner.
- In salads or bowls – Use it in a salad such as this roasted vegetable salad or add it to a bowl – try it instead of sweet potato in this hot honey beef bowl, or instead of the mash in these spiced chickpea bowls.
- In wraps or tacos – Use the pumpkin as a filling in flatbreads or tacos with avocado, slaw, and a dollop of dairy free yoghurt.
- Pizza – Make a gourmet pizza at home using my homemade pizza dough and adding tomato paste, baby spinach, pumpkin and dairy free feta.
Storage Instructions
This air fryer pumpkin is the perfect recipe to prep on the weekend as it can be easily added to a bunch of different meals throughout the week.
For meal prep, or to store any leftovers, add the pumpkin to an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 180°C (356°F) for 3-5 minutes to crisp it back up.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can flavour the pumpkin with any spices you like. I often like to use smoked paprika, or a combination of cumin, coriander, and turmeric. You can also add some chilli flakes for a bit of spice, and/or dried herbs like thyme or rosemary.
Yes! You can roast the pumpkin in the oven instead. Just preheat your oven to 220°C (430°F) and spread the pumpkin out evenly in a single layer on a lined baking tray. Bake for around 30 minutes, turning half way until golden and tender.
If you do make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below! And tag any of your creations on Instagram with @eightforestlane as I would love to see.
More vegetable side dishes:
Air Fryer Broccolini
Dairy Free Mashed Potatoes
Vegan Cauliflower Cheese Bake
Air Fryer Potatoes
Air Fryer Pumpkin
Equipment
Ingredients
- 600 grams pumpkin peeled and cut into 2 cm cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Black pepper to taste
- Chopped parsley optional to serve
Instructions
- Peel and cut the pumpkin into evenly sized cubes or wedges (2–3 cm thick) to ensure even cooking.
- Add the pumpkin to a mixing bowl and toss with olive oil, ground cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until well coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F) for 2–3 minutes.
- Place the pumpkin in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at 200°C (400°F) for 15–20 minutes, shaking halfway, until tender inside and golden brown on the edges.
- Sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired just before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a guide only and is calculated using automated online tools, therefore we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We encourage you to make your own calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe.
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