Honeynut Squash With Brown Sugar and Pistachios by Xena’s Kitchen

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Xena’s Kitchen

Hey, I'm Xena! I cook the kind of food that makes people wander into the kitchen asking, "What smells so good?" Around here, you'll find easy dinners, comfort-food favorites, and recipes that don't require a culinary degree or a 47-step process. Xena's Kitchen is where I share the meals I actually crave: bold flavors, cozy vibes, and dishes that make you want to lick the plate (no judgment here.)
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Honeynut squash is cut lengthwise, baked, topped, and finished in the air fryer in this straightforward recipe. Brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter, cayenne, pistachios, olive oil, salt, and honey are all added to taste, so the toppings can be adjusted as you go.

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The squash is served in halves, with the seeds removed before cooking. Pistachios are listed here, but another kind of nut can take their place.

Two halves of a butternut squash, roasted and topped with brown sugar and pats of butter, sitting on aluminum foil in an air fryer basket.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This recipe keeps the squash as the center of the plate, with toppings added after the initial bake. The final honey drizzle comes after the squash has finished cooking.

It also leaves room to use the amounts of brown sugar, spices, butter, cayenne, nuts, olive oil, salt, and honey that suit your taste. That same flexibility applies to the choice of nuts.

Ingredients You'll Need

Start with one honeynut squash. It is cut lengthwise and scooped before the olive oil and salt are added to the flesh.

Brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter, cayenne, and pistachios are added as toppings after the first baking period. The recipe also calls for honey to drizzle over the finished squash.

A hand shakes brown sugar from a spice jar onto two halves of roasted butternut squash.

All of the listed ingredients are used to taste. If pistachios are not the nut you plan to use, choose another kind of nut instead.

How To Make It

The method begins by preparing the squash halves, then moves through a bake, a topping stage, and an air fryer finish. Keep the squash halves together as directed so they can be topped and served after cooking.

Cut the honeynut squash lengthwise, then scoop out the seeds from each half. Spray the exposed flesh with olive oil and sprinkle it with salt.

Add the halved squash skin side up. This placement is used for the first cooking stage before the toppings are added.

Bake the squash at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. After that first baking period, add the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter, cayenne, and pistachios, using the amounts you want.

Put the topped squash back in the air fryer for the remaining 10 minutes, or cook until tender and caramelized. Once it is finished, drizzle honey over the squash.

Serving & Variations

Serve the squash halves after the honey has been drizzled over the top. The toppings remain adjustable to taste, including the amount of brown sugar, spices, butter, cayenne, and honey.

Pistachios are one option for the topping, though the recipe allows for another kind of nut. Use the nut you like in place of the pistachios.

Honey being drizzled onto two halves of roasted butternut squash next to two sausages on a white plate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I prepare the honeynut squash before cooking?

Cut the squash lengthwise, scoop out the seeds, then spray the flesh with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

What temperature and cooking time does this recipe use?

Bake the squash at 375F for 20 minutes, then add the toppings and return it to the air fryer for the remaining 10 minutes or until tender and caramelized.

When should I add the toppings?

Add the toppings after the squash has baked for 20 minutes, before putting it back in the air fryer.

What toppings are used for Sinful Honeynut Squash?

The recipe uses brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter, cayenne, and pistachios or another nut you like, all to taste.

When do I add the honey?

Drizzle the honey over the squash after it is tender and caramelized.

Wrapping Up

This is a simple way to prepare honeynut squash in halves with toppings added between the baking and air fryer stages.

Recipe created by Xena’s Kitchen for Trust Me Try It.

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