Butternut Squash Soup
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This silky butternut squash soup is remarkably easy and flavorful—no roasting or sautéing required. Pure fall comfort in a bowl.
This silky butternut squash soup recipe is about as easy as it gets—no roasting, no sautéing, and no wrestling with a whole squash. Using pre-cut butternut squash, it comes together in one pot in under an hour and is remarkably flavorful for such a simple recipe. Just add the veggies to a pot with water and simmer until tender, then purée everything until silky smooth and stir in the cream. That’s it! The simple method lets the sweet, earthy flavor of the squash really shine.
Serve the soup with warm crusty bread or buttermilk biscuits for an easy fall meal. It’s also a lovely starter for Thanksgiving or a holiday dinner. And since it can be made ahead and reheated, it’s ideal for entertaining.
“This was a wonderful recipe…perfect for a cold and snowy Colorado evening. Thank you!”
What You’ll Need To Make Butternut Squash Soup
- Butternut squash: Pre-cut squash makes this soup exceptionally easy. Look for firm, bright orange cubes without any soft or slimy spots. Fresh is best here; frozen squash can make the soup watery and less flavorful.
- Red bell pepper: Adds subtle sweetness, depth, and a beautiful golden-orange color without making the soup taste noticeably of peppers.
- Onion and garlic: Give the soup a savory backbone and balance the natural sweetness of the squash.
- Water: There’s no need for chicken or vegetable broth. Water allows the sweet flavor of the squash and vegetables to shine.
- Salt and sugar: Don’t be alarmed by the amounts! Because the soup is made with water rather than seasoned broth, the salt is essential for bringing out the flavor of the vegetables. A little sugar enhances the squash’s natural sweetness, which can vary quite a bit from squash to squash.
- Heavy cream: Gives the soup its silky texture and rounds out the flavors. A little extra drizzled over each bowl makes a pretty finishing touch.
- Fresh thyme or curry powder: This is your choose-your-own-adventure moment. Thyme gives the soup a classic, savory fall flavor, while curry powder takes it in a warmer, more aromatic direction.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Combine the ingredients. Add all of the vegetables, salt, and sugar to a large soup pot, then pour in enough water to cover them.
Step 2: Cook until tender. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until the vegetables are very tender, about 35 minutes.
Step 3: Purée. Use a hand-held immersion blender (or a standard blender) to blend the soup until silky smooth and creamy.
Pro Tip: If using a countertop blender, remove the center cap from the lid and cover the opening with a folded kitchen towel—this lets steam escape and prevents a soup volcano.
Step 4: Finish the soup. Stir in the heavy cream and bring back to a gentle simmer. Add the thyme or curry powder, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Depending on the sweetness of the squash, you may want a touch more sugar.
Step 5: Serve. Ladle the soup into bowls and drizzle with a little extra cream, if desired. The soup keeps nicely for 3 days in the fridge or can be frozen for longer storage.
Pro Tip: Dress up the soup with pomegranate seeds for a sweet-tart pop, toasted pepitas for crunch, or homemade croutons for a buttery, crisp finish.
What To Serve with Butternut Squash Soup
Butternut squash soup makes a lovely starter or light meal, and it pairs especially well with sandwiches, hearty fall salads, and simple roasted meats. Here are a few of my favorite ways to serve it:
Grilled Cheese: A classic pairing that turns a bowl of butternut squash soup into an easy, satisfying lunch or dinner.
Kale, Apple & Pancetta Salad: Crisp apples, radicchio, pecans, and a tangy maple vinaigrette are a delicious counterpoint to the creamy soup.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad: A fresh, crunchy fall salad that balances the soup’s rich, velvety texture.
Roast Chicken: Serve the soup as a first course before roast chicken for a cozy fall dinner.
Glazed Pork Tenderloin: Another natural autumn pairing, especially for a dinner party or Sunday supper.
Thanksgiving Turkey: Serve smaller portions of the soup as a starter before dinner and all the trimmings.
More Fall Soups You’ll Love
Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients
- 2½ pounds pre-cut butternut squash, cubed (about 8 cups; see note)
- 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
- 7 cups water
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ¾ cup heavy cream, plus more for serving
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon curry powder for a different flavor profile)
Instructions
- Combine the squash, pepper, onion, garlic, water, salt, and sugar in a large soup pot. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 35 minutes
- Using a hand-held immersion blender, purée the soup until silky smooth. (Alternatively, cool the soup slightly, then purée in a blender in batches, making sure to leave the hole in the lid open to allow the steam to escape.) Stir in the heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Mix in the thyme (or curry powder), then taste and adjust seasoning (depending on the sweetness of the vegetables, you may need a touch more sugar). Ladle the soup into bowls, drizzle with more cream if desired, and serve.
Notes
- For the best flavor and texture, use fresh butternut squash in this recipe. Frozen squash can release extra water as it cooks, making the soup thinner and less flavorful. And if possible, measure the squash by weight rather than volume, since the amount that fits in a measuring cup can vary depending on the size of the cubes.
- This is one recipe where I recommend sticking to the ingredient amounts, particularly the salt, sugar, and cream. They’re carefully balanced to give the soup its rich flavor and silky texture.
- Make-Ahead/Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The soup can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It can also be frozen, without the cream, for up to 3 months. Defrost the soup in the refrigerator for 12 hours and then reheat it on the stovetop over medium heat until hot. Once heated through, add the cream and bring to a simmer before serving.
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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Followed recipe exactly as written but added 3/4t black pepper. Absolutely love this!!!
As I started to build this soup, I immediately saw an opportunity to do something a bit different with it. I read some of the reviews and was concerned it may come out too bland. Plus, I’ve recently become a fan of some of the traditional flavors found in Indian food (no ‘heat’ added though).
Here are the modifications I made if you’d like to add some additional flavor / depth to the dish:
* Add one carrot
* Add one celery stalk
* Add fresh cracked pepper
* Add 1 tsp of Tumeric
* Add 1 tbsp of Curry
* Add 1 tsp of Coriander
* Add 1 tsp of Ginger
* Instead of 7 cups of water, use 4 cups of vegetable broth and 3 cups of water
* Reduce salt significantly (1 tsp) – add later if needed
My wife asked me not to make butternut squash soup because she doesn’t like it. I made it anyway and she said it’s the best butternut squash soup she’s ever had and even went back for seconds.
Thank you Jenn, for sharing!
thank you so much for the modification. It was amazing! I’m putting this in my permanent recipe collection.
Absolutely delicious! My daughter who hates and detects peppers in anything and knew I had put a pepper in this soup commented that it was delicious and that she would like the recipe to make it herself. Great as a leftover also
I love this recipe! I have made it several times. Using the cut up squash from the store saves time. I made
It in my Instant Pot two days ago, 20 minutes cook time, and it turned out great. All of your resipies are family friendly. I have shared them with friends and family.
Mary
This is now my “go-to” recipe for Butternut Squash Soup. Although heavy cream would have made it delicious and, well, creamier, I had to go with 1/2 & 1/2 to reduce fat content. I felt like it needed a little zing so I added nutmeg and then the family was happy with it. Thanks for another good recipe!
I love the ease of making this soup.
I added 1 T of Thai curry sauce..either red or green to give a more complex flavor.
Then almonds toasted for a topping. Yum.
Can this soup be frozen with the heavy cream?
It’s best to freeze it before adding the heavy cream; when you reheat it, you can add the cream.
This is delicately flavored ( lovely with a few stripped sprigs of fresh thyme),but I am wondering if I could give it a little more body with a beurre manie, or would that change the flavor too much ( does it leave a raw flour taste?)- I have not thickened with anything but roux in the past. Thanks!
Hi Astrid, I think that would work; just go easy and simmer it for at least 10 min after you add it. Please lmk how it turns out.
It. Was. Fabulous!!!.
After it was finished, I poured it into the electric pressure cooker on keep warm mode, and we dipped into it all day long until dinner was ready.
Thank you for the recipe! Can’t wait to receive your cookbook in April.
Hello, I am dairy free for 28 days, have you ever tried coconut creme in lieu of heavy creme? Thank You, Happy Thanksgiving.
Hi Bo, I haven’t tried it but other readers have said it works. Please come back and lmk how it turns out if you try it that way.
Hello: I wanted to make this soup 3 days before Thanksgiving. After cooking, Will it stay in the refrigerator for 3 days, or do I have to freeze it without adding the Heavy Cream, then add it the day of.
Thanks
Hi Frances, It should be fine for three days in the fridge. Enjoy!
Thanks Jen. I’ve made quite a few different versions of this soup and I must say, this is the very best tasting by far. I am sure my guests will agree also. I added a carrot, and used unsalted chicken broth in place of the water. Because my husband cannot have salt in his diet, I learned to cook without the salt. This is so hearty and tasty, and definitely comforting. Thanks again, and Happy Thanksgiving!