Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of ethyl acetate as a solvent in the extraction of macauba kernel oil (MKO) using ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE). It was shown that more MKO oil could be extracted with the use of larger amounts of solvent, higher temperatures and longer extraction times. Thus the maximum oil yield (40.61%) was obtained by UAE at 60 °C for 45 min, using a solvent to kernel ratio of 12 (mL g-1), obtaining a higher yield than that obtained with n-hexane under the same experimental conditions. UAE was favorable for this oil extraction (p < 0.05), presenting a yield close to that reported for classical extraction but with a shorter extraction time and smaller solvent volume. Lauric acid corresponded to ~44% of the MKO composition. The oils presented low free fatty acid contents (<0.80% wt), and the phytosterols, campesterol and β-sitosterol, were identified in the MKO with higher levels in the oil obtained by UAE.