Air Fryer Pumpkin Chunks
Roasted pumpkin is a delicious dish that is easy to make. Learn how to make Air Fryer Pumpkin chunks that are tender, naturally sweet, and nutritious. Everyone loves this simple side dish for fall.
Pumpkins are good for more than decorations! The small orange pumpkins or sugar pumpkins you see at the grocery store or farmers’ markets are perfect for roasting or baking. Also known as pie pumpkins, these smaller versions are much sweeter and less fibrous than the ones we use to carve for Halloween.
My favorite way to roast a sugar pumpkin is in my air fryer. The exterior gets brown and crispy while the inside stays tender. I love the versatility of my air fryer and use it frequently. It can cook almost anything (including air fryer cookies!) but it really shines with roasted vegetables.
Why You Need This Recipe
- Not only is it tasty but it’s also nutritious. This winter squash is low in calories but high in vitamins and minerals including beta-carotene! Beta-carotene is linked to good skin health, eye health, and supporting the immune system.
- You can prep the pumpkin ahead of time so all you have to do is season then dump into the air fryer. Cut the pumpkin into chunks and then place in a ziptop bag. It will last three to five days in the refrigerator.
- I love the combination of garlic, rosemary, and cinnamon but this is totally up to preference. If you’d rather season it differently that’s great too.
Key Ingredients
Sugar pumpkin – Be sure to purchase a sugar or pie pumpkin and not a large ornamental one. Although the large ones are edible, their flavor is less concentrated and the flesh is grainier. Also make sure to scoop out all the seeds and the wet strands so the pumpkin flesh isn’t overly soft or else it won’t crisp up nicely.
Olive oil – If you don’t have olive oil on hand you can use another neutral flavored oil or ghee in its place.
Spices – I’ve used rosemary, cinnamon, garlic, and sea salt. The combination is delicious but you can choose whichever seasonings you prefer. Pumpkin pie spice tastes delicious or a combination of garlic powder and chili powder work well too. If you want to enhance the natural sweetness of the pumpkin, you could also try adding some maple syrup!
Recipe Steps
Step One
Wash and dry the pumpkin to remove any dirt. Place the pumpkin on a cutting board and carefully use a sharp knife to cut the pumpkin in half vertically being sure to avoid the stem.
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Step Two
Use a spoon to dig out the seeds and strands. You can save the seeds if you want to roast them (see my recipe for Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds).
Step Three
After removing the seeds, cut the pumpkin into 1 1/2-inch chunks. You don’t need to peel the pumpkin since the pumpkin skin is edible.
Step Four
Place the pumpkin into a bowl then add the olive oil and seasonings. Stir to combine.
Step Five
Pour the pumpkin into the air fryer. It’s okay if some of the pieces overlap.
Step Six
Cook at 400 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes stopping once to toss the pumpkin so it cooks evenly. The pumpkin will be fork tender when it’s finished. Serve hot.
I hope you love this Air Fryer Pumpkin recipe as much as I do!
Recipe Tips & Substitutions
- Some pumpkins have a very thick skin and are not great for eating. Be sure to use a culinary pumpkin for this recipe (like a Pie Pumpkin), not one that is meant for decoration.
- One 3-pound pumpkin is about the size of a large grapefruit.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may be able to cook a larger pumpkin. Or, you can cook the pumpkin wedges in two batches if necessary.
- You can also cut the pumpkin into wedges instead of chunks, if you prefer. Some people even like to cut their pumpkin into fry shapes. You may need to adjust the cooking time if you cut your pumpkin into smaller or larger pieces. Be sure to cook the pumpkin long enough so that it is tender throughout.
- Some air fryers need to be preheated. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s guide for your specific air fryer model to determine if it needs to be preheated.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! If you can’t find a pie pumpkin or they’re not in season butternut squash tastes great in the air fryer as well! You may need to shave a few minutes off the cooking time depending on how big the chunks are.
Yes! You will need to cut the pumpkin into thinner fry like shapes and then air fry. Pumpkin fries will only take 14 to 15 minutes to cook though. Make sure to scoop out the wet flesh when you scoop out the seeds. The fries won’t crisp up as nice if the flesh is too soft.
Yes! See my related recipe for Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds.
My favorites are all listed in my article for The Best Air Fryers Under $100.
You can certainly cook the pumpkin in the air fryer, but then you’ll need to add the roasted pumpkin into a food processor or blender to make it into pumpkin puree.
Other Air Fryer Recipes You Might Like
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
- Frozen Waffle Fries in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Delicata Squash
- Air Fryer Butternut Squash with Cinnamon
- Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds
- Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
Or, check out my entire index of healthy air fryer recipes.
More Air Fryer Resources
Air Fryer Roasted Pumpkin Chunks
Roasted pumpkin is a delicious dish that is easy to make. Learn how to make Air Fryer Pumpkin chunks that are tender, naturally sweet, and nutritious. Everyone loves this simple side dish for fall.
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 1 small sugar pumpkin, about 3 pounds
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon dried garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Wash and pat dry the outside of your pumpkin. Place it on a flat surface and use a Chef’s knife to cut carefully the pumpkin in half from top to bottom, avoiding the stem.
- Open the pumpkin and use a spoon to dig out the seeds. If you want to roast the seeds separately, put them in a bowl and set aside (see my recipe for Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds).
- After you have removed the seeds and any strands from the center of the pumpkin, use your knife to slice the pumpkin into 1 ½-inch chunks, including the skin.
- Place the pumpkin chunks into a mixing bowl. Add the olive oil, cinnamon, garlic, rosemary, and salt, and stir to combine.
- Pour the pumpkin chunks into the basket of an air fryer. It’s okay if the chunks overlap in the basket.
- Set the temperature to 400°F for 18-20 minutes, stopping once to toss the pumpkin.
- The pumpkin chunks should be fork-tender when they are done cooking. Serve hot.
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
- Some pumpkins have a very thick skin and are not great for eating. Be sure to use a culinary pumpkin for this recipe (like a Pie Pumpkin or Sugar Pumpkin), not one that is meant for decoration.
- One 3-pound pumpkin is about the size of a large grapefruit.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may be able to cook a larger pumpkin. Or, you can cook the pumpkin wedges in two batches if necessary.
- You can also cut the pumpkin into wedges instead of chunks, if you prefer. Some people even like to cut their pumpkin into fry shapes. You may need to adjust the cooking time if you cut your pumpkin into smaller or larger pieces. Be sure to cook the pumpkin long enough so that it is tender throughout.
- Some air fryers need to be preheated. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s guide for your specific air fryer model to determine if it needs to be preheated.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Air fryer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 121
- Sugar: 9.4 g
- Sodium: 294.4 mg
- Fat: 3.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 22.8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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So, so yummy!