Gimme Some Oven

Butternut Squash Soup

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

The best butternut squash soup recipe I know! It’s super-easy to make, naturally gluten-free and vegan, and so incredibly cozy and delicious. Stovetop, Crock-Pot and Instant Pot instructions included.

Best Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

Is there a more quintessentially autumn meal than a cozy bowl of butternut squash soup?

Well on a particularly chilly day this past weekend, we made our millionth batch of my mom’s butternut soup recipe to share with some good friends who came over for dinner. And as always, this vibrant, healthy, velvety soup came through with all of the fall comfort food vibes and completely hit the spot. It’s just perfect this time of year!

The great thing about this butternut squash soup recipe too is that it happens to be naturally gluten-free and vegan, which makes it a wonderful option for hosting large groups (especially around the holidays). It’s easy to make in either the Instant Pot, Crock-Pot or on the stovetop (all options included below). It’s loaded up with lots of savory veggies and seasonings, plus a hint of sweetness thanks to the addition of one apple. And most importantly, it’s just incredibly comforting, flavorful and delicious.

I first shared this butternut soup recipe on the blog nearly a decade ago, but thought it was worth bumping back to the top of the site today for anyone who’s craving some lighter fall comfort food. Our family hopes that you enjoy it as much as we do!

Best Butternut Squash Soup Recipe | 1-Minute Video

Crock Pot Butternut Squash Soup Ingredients

Butternut Squash Soup Ingredients:

To make this easy butternut squash soup recipe, you will need:

  • Butternut squash: You can either use 1 medium-sized fresh butternut squash (here is my tutorial for how to select, peel and cut fresh butternut squash) or you will need between 4 to 5 cups of pre-cut raw butternut squash.
  • Carrot and onion: These will serve as the additional veggies for the soup.
  • Apple: Any variety of apple will work in this recipe (peeled or unpeeled), but I’m partial to Granny Smith apples that add extra hint of tartness in addition to their sweet flavor.
  • Vegetable broth: I typically make this soup with veggie broth to keep it vegetarian and vegan, but chicken broth would also work well in this recipe too.
  • Coconut milk: I love the subtle sweetness that unsweetened coconut milk adds to this soup. But feel free to sub half and half (or heavy cream) instead of coconut milk if you prefer.
  • Seasonings: My mom’s recipe uses a simple blend of garlic, fresh sage, cayenne, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, sea salt, and black pepper. Feel free to adjust the amount of cayenne to taste. And I also highly recommend briefly frying up a few extra sage leaves to sprinkle on top of the soup as a crispy garnish.
  • Your choice of garnishes: I like to drizzle on some extra coconut milk (or cream), a sprinkle of toasted pepitas, and a sprinkle of extra black pepper and/or smoked paprika. Or see more ideas below!

You will also need a:

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup in Crock Pot

How To Make Butternut Squash Soup:

Detailed instructions are included in the recipe below for how to make butternut squash soup in the Instant Pot, Crock-Pot or on the stovetop. But here is a brief overview:

  1. Cook. For extra depth of flavor, I recommend sautéing the onion and garlic in a bit of olive oil first if you are making the Instant Pot or stovetop versions, but this step is optional if you’re making the Crock-Pot version (or if you’re in a hurry). Add in the squash and veggies and cook until they are completely tender, then add in the coconut milk.
  2. Blend. I typically use an immersion blender to purée the soup until smooth, but you can alternately purée the soup in two batches using a traditional blender. (Just be extremely careful as always when blending hot liquids in a traditional blender. Safety instructions are included in the notes below fhte recipe.)
  3. Season. Once the soup has been puréed, give it a taste and season generously with salt and pepper as needed. If you would like to amp up the heat, you’re welcome to add in extra cayenne as well.
  4. Serve. Then dish it up, garnished with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!

Best Butternut Squash Soup recipe in dutch oven

Possible Variations:

Want to customize your butternut squash soup recipe? Feel free to:

  • Roast your veggies: To make roasted butternut squash soup, simply roast the butternut squash, carrots and onions before adding them to the soup to make roasted butternut squash soup. It doesn’t add too much extra time (especially if you prep the rest of your soup while the veggies roast) and the roasted veggies add a delicious depth of flavor.
  • Give it a Thai twist: To make Thai-inspired curried butternut squash soup, add a tablespoon or two of red curry paste and 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, then serve the soup with lime wedges and chopped fresh cilantro.
  • Give it a Mexican twist: To make Mexican-inspired butternut squash soup, omit the sage and nutmeg and stir in 1.5 teaspoons ground cumin and a big pinch of chipotle chili powder instead, then serve the soup with lime wedges and chopped fresh cilantro.
  • Give it a Chai twist: See my recipe here for the yummiest chai-spiced butternut squash soup.
  • Add rice or grains: To make your soup extra hearty, feel free to add in some rice, quinoa, farro or other favorite grains. Just be sure to also add in extra broth accordingly to help cook the rice or grains.
  • Use cream instead of coconut milk: If you are not a big fan of coconut milk, feel free to use heavy cream or half and half in place of the coconut milk to make this soup nice and creamy.
  • Have fun with toppings: So many toppings can pair well with butternut squash soup! Some faves include:
    • cheese: Parmesan, grated sharp cheddar, feta
    • nuts: toasted almonds, walnuts, pine nuts, pepitas, or candied pecans
    • herbs: fresh cilantro, thyme, sage, chives, etc.
    • bacon: crispy bacon or prosciutto
    • greens: fresh baby arugula or microgreens
    • homemade croutons

Vegan Butternut Squash Soup in Bowl with Pepitas

More Favorite Soup Recipes:

Looking for more cozy, comforting soup recipes for the season? Here are a few more of my faves…

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
BEST Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

Butternut Squash Soup

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 496 reviews
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 6 -8 servings 1x

Description

My all-time favorite Butternut Squash Soup recipe!  It’s super-easy to make, naturally gluten-free and vegan, and so incredibly cozy and delicious.  Stovetop, Crock-Pot and Instant Pot instructions included below.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 white onion, peeled and diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 carrot, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 1 Granny Smith apple, cored and roughly chopped
  • 1 medium (about 34 lb) butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced
  • 1 sprig fresh sage
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
  • pinch of ground cinnamon and nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
  • fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper, to taste
  • optional garnishes: smoked paprika, extra drizzle of unsweetened coconut milk, or see more ideas above

Instructions

Stovetop Butternut Squash Soup:

  1. Sauté the onion and garlic. Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 more minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant.
  2. Simmer: Add the vegetable broth, carrot, apple, butternut squash, sage, cayenne, cinnamon and nutmeg and stir to combine. Continue cooking until the soup reaches a simmer. Then cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20-30 minutes until the vegetables are all tender and mash easily with a fork. Remove and discard the sage. Stir in the coconut milk.
  3. Purée: Use an immersion blender to purée the soup until smooth. (Or alternately, see instructions in the notes below for how to purée the soup safely using a traditional blender.)
  4. Season and serve: Taste and season the soup generously with salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm, topped with your desired garnishes, and enjoy!

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup:

  1. Slow cook: Add the oil (optional), onion, garlic, vegetable broth, carrot, apple, butternut squash, sage, cayenne, cinnamon and nutmeg to a small (4-quart) slow cooker or large (6-quart) slow cooker. Toss briefly to combine. Cook for 4-6 hours on low, or 2-3 hours on high, or until the squash is completely tender and mashes easily with a fork. Remove and discard the sage. Stir in the coconut milk.
  2. Purée: Use an immersion blender to purée the soup until smooth. (Or alternately, see instructions in the notes below for how to purée the soup safely using a traditional blender.)
  3. Season and serve: Taste and season the soup generously with salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm, topped with your desired garnishes, and enjoy!

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup:

  1. Sauté the onion and garlic: Press the “Sauté” button on an Instant Pot. Heat the olive oil. Add the onion and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 more minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant.
  2. Pressure cook: Add the vegetable broth, carrot, apple, butternut squash, sage, cayenne, cinnamon, nutmeg, and toss briefly to combine. Close lid securely and set vent to “Sealing”. Pressure cook on high for 8 minutes, followed by a quick release. Remove and discard the sage. Stir in the coconut milk.
  3. Purée: Use an immersion blender to purée the soup until smooth. (Or alternately, see instructions in the notes below for how to purée the soup safely using a traditional blender.)
  4. Season and serve: Taste and season the soup generously with salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm, topped with your desired garnishes, and enjoy!

Notes

Puréeing using a traditional blender: As always, please be extra-careful when blending hot liquids in a traditional blender. I recommend puréeing the soup in two or three batches, so that the blender is not too full. Then also be sure to slightly tent the cap of the blender lid open so that the extra steam can escape.

Butternut Squash Soup Recipe from Gimme Some Oven

Share this Post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

1,367 comments on “Butternut Squash Soup”

  1. Made this soup and it came out very spicy. The sage was very overpowering as well. Unfortunately people were not impressed

  2. I made this today. Super simple. Tastes great! I used about 13 oz of coconut milk mixed right in to the soup. Nice and creamy. Trying to think of something savory to serve it with. Is there any nutritional information available on this recipe? Great!

    • Holly, we’re glad to hear you liked it! Unfortunately though we aren’t sure of the nutrition facts/amount of calories in this recipe. We currently are not publishing nutrition facts on the site, as the nutrition calculators available are not 100% accurate, and we never want to publish anything that might be misleading. However, a lot of our readers love the My Fitness Pal nutrition calculator, so feel free to try that for an estimate. We hope that helps!

  3. Love this recipe. So simple!  I used 1/2 a chipotle pepper in adobo sauce instead of the cayenne which gave it a little smokey flavor.  Delicious!

    • Thanks, we’re happy to hear you enjoyed it! The chipotle pepper sounds like a lovely swap! :)

  4. How long can I keep the soup in the fridge before it should be tossed?

    • Hey Kayla, we’d say a week and a half probably, but we suggest doing the good old sniff test and look over. :)

  5. LOL I accidentally used acorn squash!!!  Still relish

    • That’s okay! We’re so glad to know it still turned out well, we just might have to try it with acorn squash next time! ;)

  6. Is the coconut milk canned or carton from refrigerator?

  7. Can you tell me about how many cups of diced butternut squash you usually have? If I were to just already by pre cut up squash how much should I use?

    Thank you!

    • Sure, I used a 2-lb squash, so it equaled about 4 cups of diced squash (after being peeled and seeded). Hope that helps!

  8. Would be more beneficial if ppl posted reviews after having made the recipe.  Posting reviews about how great it sounds or how much they would love to make this, don’t help those actually looking to make the recipe.  Did you cook as described?  Did you make any substitutions?  Any changes?  Any advice for the next time you’d make?  Those are helpful reviews – the others – NOT.  Thank you to those that posted a review after actually trying the recipe.  Truly appreciate your suggestions & comments.  Will incorporate your suggestions into the original recipe. Looking forward to making this.

  9. The recipie does not say amything about roasting the squash before it is put in the crock pot, but i see in the comments that the auther DID roast it first…. Is this necessary or not???

    • No, the squash was not roasted before it was added to the crock pot. It should have plenty of time to cook thoroughly while it’s in there. Enjoy! :)

  10. Do you use canned coconut milk or refrigerated in a carton?

  11. Hello.
    Do I use canned coconut milk or the milk from a refrigerated carton?
    Thank you.

  12. I made this today for my family. All the adults loved it! (Kids are picky eaters :)) Thanks for a yummy, simple recipe!

  13. This was fabulous! I added dried cranberries and candied pecans on top!

    • Thanks GG, we’re happy to year you enjoyed this, and those dried cranberries and candied pecans sound wonderful! :)

  14. This came out great! I did not have sage, but otherwise I followed the recipe exactly. 

  15. Our family just celebrated Thankmas in September as our youngest daughter left for Germany for 6 months. Just made your recipe this week and I must say- this is the BEST soup I’ve ever made. Oh my! Does it freeze well? I’m thinking it would be the perfect thing for me to make my eldest daughter’s family as I go visit in a few weeks when she has her next baby. 

    • Karen, that’s so very sweet of you! We haven’t tried to freeze this, but since it doesn’t have dairy in it, it might freeze well!

  16. Totally making this AND hosting a night of Ted Talks family style.  We are that family, too.  

    Thanks for suggesting.?

  17. I’ve never had Bnut squash before but I am on some sort of health kick to scrape off these last 10-15 lbs that just aren’t happy to leave just yet. While looking up crock pot receipes I found your blog and it inspired me to try something new so I bought my first Butternut today. I will be attempting this receipe soon and I am really looking forward to it! Thanks for the inspiration!

    • You’re so welcome Rachael, we hope you enjoy! We’re big fans of butternut squash, hopefully you’ll become a fan as well. Thanks for checking out the blog, and this recipe! :)

  18. Hey! In the midst of trying this recipe and was wondering if anyone has tried using a hand mixer instead of immersion blender? Would that be too tricky? I’ve had some nightmare experiences with soup in the blender and would like to try to avoid! Thanks!!

    • Hey Alexandra! We haven’t tried that ourselves, and are afraid it would be a big mess. We think an immersion blender, vitamix/nutrabullet or a food processor would be the way to go (if you’re worried about the blender). We hope this helps!

  19. How many pounds of the squash would be “medium”–2-3 lbs.?

  20. Hi, I am excited to try this, but alas, have no slow cooker. Can I just put this in a pot on the stove on low for a couple of hours? 

    • Hi Heather! No worries, you can definitely do it that way! We would just recommend dicing the butternut a little more finely so that it cooks faster on the stove. (Or you can also roast the butternut squash first if you’d prefer.) Enjoy!

  21. Sweetened or unsweetened coconut milk? 

  22. any idea what the calorie count per cup is?

    • Hi Patricia, we’re sorry but we are unsure of the nutrition facts/amount of calories in this recipe. We currently are not publishing nutrition facts on the site, as the nutrition calculators available are not 100% accurate, and we never want to publish anything that might be misleading. However, a lot of our readers love the My Fitness Pal nutrition calculator, so feel free to try that for an estimate. We hope that helps!

  23. I just got a butternut squash from my friends garden, so I’m excited to try your soup this week!  Do you leave the peel on the apple?  If so does it puréed easily once cooked?  

  24. Think I could use frozen butternut squash? Roasted first or toss in frozen? The looks amazing and I happen to have a frozen bag waiting in the freezer. Thanks!

  25. Recipe sounds amazing and the talks sound nerdiriffic! Might have to try to persuade the family to engage in a night like that – soup included! :D

  26. Absolutely delicious. Will make it all fall and winter!

  27. What can I use instead of the coconut milk?

    • Hi Pat, you can use any kind of milk you like, or heavy cream or half and half. We hope you enjoy!

  28. I think this was sort of asked already regarding size, but our supermarket sells pre-cut butternut squash which I intend to use because I am both a) lazy and b) a weakling. So if a medium squash is roughly 2-3 lbs, how many cups (roughly) would you say I need of pre-cut? Or should I just get ~ 2 lbs pre-cut?

    • Hey Emily! Pre-cut squash is AMAZING. I used about a 2-lb squash, which yielded somewhere around 4 cups of diced squash. So I’d go with 4 cups, or a little less than 2 lbs.

  29. So I don’t like anything coconut whatsoever…..what would be a good substitute?

    • No worries Sara! Any kind of milk you prefer would work great, or heavy cream or half and half. We hope you enjoy! :)

  30. How long would you say I’d be able to leave that refrigerated?

    • Hi Dana, we think this soup should last a week, to a week and a half in the refrigerator. We hope you enjoy!

  31. I added some ginger as well as a tiny bit of ghost pepper salt and garnished w pumpkin seeds and homemade croutons.  It was delicious!!! Thanks for the recipe!

    • That’s great Judy, we’re so happy you enjoyed this (that ginger and ghost pepper salt sound AMAZING by the way)! :)

  32. What would be a good alternative for coconut milk? Heavy cream? Half and half?

    • Hi Nicole! Yes, both of those would work just fine, or you could use whole or 2% milk (the 2 % just won’t be quite as creamy/thick). We hope this helps, and that you enjoy the soup!

  33. I have never cooked anything with Butternut squash. I am excited to try this recipe! I have two questions. First, do I peel the apple or leave the skin on? Second, do I need to roast the squash first if I am cooking it in the crock pot or was that only for people making the recipe on the stove top?

    • Hi Tianna! I’m excited for you to try the recipe!! It’s up to you whether or not you’d like to peel the apple (I didn’t). And nope, you don’t need to pre-roast the squash at all — it should cook completely in the crock pot. Enjoy!

  34. Should I use canned coconut milk that is sweetened or unsweetened?

  35. I have been making spiced apple and butternut squash soup weekly for about 2 years. The recipe came from the Kroger Stores in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Just make sure that you scrub it and bake it first before attempting to cut into cubes. If I remember right, my wrist hurt for 6 weeks because the squash is so tough to cut. Bake it at 350 for 30 – 40 minutes. It makes a difference. The recipe calls for 1 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp allspice and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. I have been making mine in a soup pot and then put it in a Ninja to puree it. It freezes very well. It also uses 1/4 c unsalted butter. I eat it every day either for breakfast or lunch with some protein. You can eat it hot or cold. Just experiment with the ingredients. Enjoy!

  36. We did not like. Too sweet. Would make without the pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg. Actually won’t make again. We’ve never tried butternut squash soup and I’ll continue to search for another recipe but maybe this is typical. 

    • Hi Renee, sorry to hear that you didn’t like this one. Butternut squash soup is typically pretty sweet, mostly just due to the butternut squash itself, but hope that you can find another recipe that you like more. Enjoy!

  37. I don’t have a blender. Can I use a potato masher

    • Hi Juanita – do you have an immersion blender or a food processor? Unfortunately you really need one of those things to get the right consistency, and for it to really be a soup.

  38. For How many people will THIS recipe serve?

  39. How many servings does this make?

  40. Making today!  I love butternut squash and usually just eat it roasted, but when I came across this recipe, I knew I just had to try it.  I couldn’t find canned coconut milk in my store so I bought the carton that was on the shelf (organic, unsweetened, not the refrigerated kind).  Can’t wait to taste it :-)

    • Awesome Sue, we hope you enjoy it! It might not be quite as thick with he carton type of coconut milk, but please let us know how it turned out! :)

  41. This soup is amazing!  I am not a big fan of butternut squash but I just love it as a soup! I used the SO Delicious Coconut milk because I don’t buy canned foods and since I don’t know the difference and loved the soup, who cares!  Thanks so much for sharing!

  42. What size crock pot did you use and how many bowls of soup does the recipe make? Thanks.

    • Hi Ali! I used a large Crock Pot (this one – https://www.crock-pot.com/slow-cookers/digital-slow-cookers/SCCPVI600-S.html?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=Crocktober_bloggers). And the recipe makes 6-8 servings. Enjoy!

  43. Sounds delish! I’m thinking I’ll double the recipe. Do you think I need to increase the cook time in the slow cooker?

    • Awesome! And yes, it may take an extra hour or two with a double batch. I’d just keep an eye on it, but plan for a little extra time. Enjoy!

  44. This sounds amazing. I’m going to make it soon 

  45. Hi there, could you tell me about how much sage I should use if I have dried powdered sage instead of a fresh sprig? Don’t want to use too much! Definitely planning on making this soon!

  46. Hi there! Quick question – does the coconut milk leave a strong coconut taste (I’m not a fan usually), or is it hard to detect? If it does have a strong taste, you think almond milk or another non-dairy alternative would work instead? Thank you!

    • Hi Elizabeth! I’ve never really been able to taste the coconut milk in the soup, so I don’t think it will probably bother you. But if you’re worried, you can always use almond milk or another preferred milk instead.

  47. Just got done making this and it is so good!! I’m not very much of a sweets person so I skipped out on the cinnamon and nutmeg and added 2t of garlic powder and some red pepper flakes..the crockpot was great to use without having to roast the squash first, and also used an immersion blender for the first time,r & loved it! Also served with toasted French bread with Swiss cheese, yum!! Thanks for the great recipe!

  48. This soup came out great and my husband remarked it was “the best thing I had ever made!”  I only had 20oz of butternut squash, so I ended up using 5 large carrots instead of the 1. I also only had dried sage, so I used a generous 1/2 tsp of that.  I served with roasted pumpkin seeds.  I will definitely be making this again! Thank you for the recipe.

    • Awesome Jules, thanks for sharing! We’re glad you and your husband enjoyed this so much, and those roasted pumpkin seeds sound lovely!

  49. Hi there, I’m wondering if you could tell me how much dried powdered sage I should use if I don’t have a fresh sprig? Thanks so much!

  50. Great soup!  This is my second time making it and I love it.  I’ve been using cream cheese instead of coconut milk.  I’m sure it’s not as good for you, but it makes an awesome winter treat!

    • Thanks Ellie, we’re happy you’re a fan! And we think that cream cheese sounds pretty amazing! :)