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This Butternut Squash Soup Recipe is simple, nourishing, and the kind of cozy soup recipe you want to eat on a chilly fall day. It’s creamy without being too rich, with the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavor.

a bowl of roasted butternut squash soup recipe

Why You’ll Love This Easy Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

  • A Celebration of Fall Flavors. There’s so much more to fall than pumpkin! With tart apples, butternut squash, yellow onions, and freshly grated nutmeg, this creamy butternut squash soup has a delicate balance of sweet and savory autumn flavors.
  • Freezer-Friendly. Because butternut squash is plentiful, inexpensive, and delicious, I buy it in big quantities and turn it into a fresh pot of soup at least two or three times a month. (My budget-friendly 15 Bean Soup and Cabbage Soup are also excellent for freezing!)
  • Endless Variations. While I do have different versions of this recipe—Spicy Butternut Squash Soup, Crockpot Butternut Squash Soup—you can also create a unique version of this butternut squash soup by simply switching up the toppings. Go creamy with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt, lean into the sweetness with a sprinkle of cinnamon or cardamom, or stick with the sourdough croutons I share below.
  • Creamy Without Being Heavy. Creamy, without heavy cream! The butternut squash purees into a velvety smooth, creamy consistency without the addition of dairy.
a bowl of creamy butternut squash soup

5 Star Review

“I just made this recipe exactly as written and it is delicious! It was also very easy. I have tried many different recipes for butternut squash soup and this one is by far the best.”

— Donna —

How to Make This Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

The Ingredients

For the Soup:

  • Yellow Onions. Yellow onions are a nice middle-of-the-road onion—less sweet than red, with less bite than white.
  • Butternut Squash. You’ll need to peel and dice the squash, or take a shortcut and look for pre-cut squash in the produce section at the grocery store.
  • Apples. For balanced flavor, I like to use some sweet apples, such as McIntosh or Golden Delicious, and some tart apples, such as Granny Smith or Cortland.
  • Low-Sodium Chicken Broth. Stock is absolutely fine too, but keep in mind that it usually comes seasoned, so you’ll want to use a lighter hand with the added salt.
  • Seasonings. Kosher salt, grated nutmeg, black pepper, and cayenne. 

For the Sage Parmesan Croutons:

  • Sourdough Cubes. Whole grain bread works too; basically, you want a crusty, rustic loaf here. 
  • Fresh Sage. Dried sage pales in comparison. You’ll likely have some extra, so add Chicken Saltimbocca or Pumpkin Pasta Sauce to your menu this week.
  • Grated Parmesan. The nutty, umami flavor of Parmesan is fabulous with butternut squash.

The Directions

sauteeing onions for easy butternut squash soup recipe
  1. Cook the Onions. Let them get nice and soft.
pot of butternut squash for easy soup recipe
  1. Simmer. Add the squash, apples, and broth. Cover and simmer until the squash is tender.
oven baked croutons for butternut squash soup
  1. Make the Croutons. Sprinkle ’em with Parmesan and sage (YUM).
pureed butternut squash soup recipe
  1. Puree. Use an immersion blender or work in batches in a food processor. 
  2. Finish. Add more liquid to reach. your perfect butternut squash soup consistency. Season, serve with the croutons, and ENJOY!

Recipe Variations

  • Make It Vegan. Simply swap the chicken stock for vegetable broth and omit the Parmesan (or use a plant-based Parmesan) for a vegan butternut squash soup. (You’ll love this Vegan Potato Soup too).
  • Add Bacon. For the opposite of vegan, cook bacon in the pot, then remove it and crumble it. Leave about 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in the pot and use this to cook the onions. (Alternatively, you can use Baked Bacon for topping and follow the original soup recipe.)
  • Try Pears. Give your soup a slightly different flavor profile by using pears instead of apples.

Storage Tips

  • To Store. Store butternut squash soup an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • To Reheat. Reheat the soup in a pot on the stovetop over medium-low heat or warm it up in the microwave. Add a splash of broth if needed to thin the soup.
  • To Freeze. Transfer the soup to an airtight freezer-safe storage container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating according to the instructions above.

Meal Prep Tip

You can cut the onion and butternut squash up to two days ahead of time. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. 

the best butternut squash soup recipe

What to Serve with Butternut Squash Soup

Recipe Tips and Tricks

  • Grate the Parmesan Yourself. The shelf-staple Parmesan they sell next to the pasta—you know, the kind in the green bottle—will not melt into the croutons the same way freshly grated does. It’s absolutely worth it to grate it yourself. I buy big blocks and grate them with a rasp grater or food processor whenever I need it for a recipe. Since Parm is a hard cheese, it’s much faster to grate than other varieties like cheddar!
  • Cut the Squash Into Uniformly-Sized Pieces. If they’re all roughly the same size, they’ll all be tender at roughly the same time. Same goes for the onions and apples, but it’s even more important for the squash since hard pieces can get caught in your blender blades or create a gritty texture in your soup.
  • Cool the Soup if You’re Using a Food Processor. This is absolutely essential! Piping hot soup in a closed blender or food processor has the potential to cause an explosion as the steam builds pressure. 
  • Use Freshly Grated Nutmeg. Yes, more grating! It truly makes a difference to grate your own nutmeg rather than buying a jar of it pre-ground; I use this zester to do it. Freshly grated nutmeg is also fantastic in Crustless Quiche, Cheese Fondue, and Apple Pie Filling.
recipe for easy butternut squash soup with croutons

Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

4.83 from 70 votes
The best butternut squash soup recipe for fall! It's easy to make, so creamy and cozy, with the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavor.

Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 1 hour

Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients
  

For the Soup:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 medium yellow onions chopped (about 3 cups total)
  • 2 large butternut squash about 5 pounds total, peeled and diced into chunks
  • 4 medium apples  (or 3 large) I like using a mix of sweet apples such as McIntosh or Golden Delicious and tart such as Granny Smith or Cortland, peeled, cored and roughly diced
  • 3-4 cups low sodium chicken stock divided
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg*
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

For the Sage Parmesan Croutons:

  • 6 cups sourdough cubes or whole grain bread cubes(1-inch cut) use a hearty, crusty loaf—you’ll need about 6 thick slices total
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F. In a large, deep stockpot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over low. Add the onions and cook until very tender, about 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • While the onions cook, cut and peel the squash and apples. Add them to the pot, then add 2 cups of the stock. Bring the pot to a boil, reduce the heat to low, then cover, and cook until the squash and apples are very soft, about 20 to 30 minutes depending upon how larger you cut your squash and apple pieces (smaller pieces will cook more quickly).
  • Meanwhile, prepare the croutons. Place the bread cubes on a large baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with sage and salt, then toss to coat. Spread the cubes in a single layer, then bake until lightly crisp and brown, 10 to 12 minutes, tossing once halfway through. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, toss to coat, then set aside until ready to serve.
  • Once the apples and squash in the soup pot are tender, puree the soup with an immersion blender or carefully transfer it to a food processor fitted with a steel blade to puree in batches. Return soup to the pot once complete. Add 1 cup of the remaining chicken stock, then stir, adding a bit more stock as needed to reach your desired consistency (the soup will thicken somewhat when stored). Leave the texture fairly thick and rich. Stir in the salt, nutmeg, black pepper, and cayenne. Taste and add a bit more salt and pepper as desired. Serve hot, topped with sage croutons.

Video

Notes

*It’s an incredible flavor upgrade to grate your own nutmeg from whole nutmeg, vs. buying preground. I use this zester to do it. Other uses: grate fresh nutmeg into your oatmeal, vanilla ice cream, and coffee too!
  • TO STORE: Store butternut squash soup an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • TO REHEAT: Reheat soup in a pot on the stovetop over medium-low heat or warm it up in the microwave. Add a splash of broth as needed to thin the soup.
  • TO FREEZE: Transfer the soup to an airtight freezer-safe storage container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating  according to the instructions above.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 8)Calories: 302kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 7gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 1mgPotassium: 909mgFiber: 7gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 20022IUVitamin C: 46mgCalcium: 149mgIron: 3mg

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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95 Comments

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    1. Kelly, I am so, so happy to hear that! Thank you so much for letting me know, and enjoy the leftovers too :-)

  1. This soup is SO DELICIOUS!

    I just listed it as one of my top 4 butternut squash recipes in my post “Season’s Best: Butternut Squash”
    http://sugarplussalt.com/seasons-best-butternut-squash/

    Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!

    1. Glenda, I’ve never tried making the soup this way, so it would be an experiment. I do think this is a style of soup that is well-suited to the slow cooker though, so please use your best judgement, and if you do make it in the slow cooker, I’d love to hear how it turns out!

    1. That’s how I made it and it turned out great! I also substituted red curry powder for cayenne. I’m making this for the second time : ) very easy to make vegan/vegetarian!

    1. Hi Marie! It depends on how large your dice is. Generally a 2 1/2 pound butternut squash will yield about 3 1/2 cups of cubes, so for this recipe, you’ll need about 7 cups total.

  2. I just made your recipe for this and you state in your instructions to add black pepper but it isn’t listed in your ingredients. Just a heads up. I love the croutons and they are definitely a must. I didn’t have fresh sage so I used a teaspoon of rubbed sage and added italian seasonings. Next time I’ll add about a half cup less of onions. It was pretty strong. Thank you for your recipe and love that this soup wasn’t overly sweet and more of a savory soup :)

  3. Made this the other night for my family. Awesome recipe! I replaced the chicken broth with veggie and it tasted great. Thanks!

  4. Hello Erin !! Very tasty recipe you have shared with us , I tried this last week and it comes out well . I’m impressed with it . Your recipe is easy to make . Have a question can I add cardamom and ginger to make it more flavorful ??? Thanks in advance

  5. I stumbled upon your recipe and i just want to let you know it turned out really well! I used a mix of honeycrisps and gala apples. Also, your recipe is healthier than other recipes I found.

  6. I’ve got an oversupply of apples and this looks like just the recipe I was looking for! How well suited do you think it is to freezing the leftovers?

  7. So, I found this and was so excited to try something new! Only problem was that I only had 1 squash.
    So I added some yellow potatoes and it turned out pretty dang delicious! thank you!!!

  8. i love fall vegetables. i only had one squash and two apples so i just cut the recipe in half, especially since i’m the only one in the house that will eat it. i actually added applesauce to it after i pureed the apples and squash. added a bit of sweetness to it. thanks for this recipe, super simple.5 stars

  9. Hey Erin!

    This has become our “GO TO” Butternut Squash Soup! I love all the ingredients, the creamy texture, and the use of chopped apples in it. It rivals Panera’s Autumn Squash Soup and is WAY healthier! For an additional flavor and protein, I sometimes brown some Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage (from Aldi), until crumbly and add it in there. The flavors complement each other. Thanks so much for continuing to inspire us!! You have become my “go to” food blogger!! Keep eating!5 stars

  10. Thank you so much for this recipe! I found it this morning & it was just perfect for Thanksgiving. I used veg broth & cut everything in half bc I only had one squash. Didn’t notice it during dinner, either it was muted by our other foods or perhaps the cayenne hadnt really been absorbed into the soup initially, but later in the evening I had some more of the soup & it was spicy! Yum! Spicier than I had remembered from dinner. Thanks for sharing this with us! Oh also we sprinkled a little cinnamon on top :)5 stars

    1. You’re welcome, Sarah! I’m so glad you loved it and that it could be part of your Thanksgiving. Thanks for leaving such a nice review! :)

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed the soup, Erica! Double batch next time? ;) Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this wonderful review!

    1. Thank you, Tess! I’m so happy to hear you enjoy the recipe! Regarding nutritional info, I’ve actually started adding to all of my new recipes effective January 2016. Unfortunately, it’s pretty time consuming, so I’m unable to go back and add it to past recipes. If you’d like the nutritional info for this recipe (or really any other recipe or food), you can actually calculate it for free at myfitnesspal.com (this is how I calculate the new recipes on my blog). I’m sorry I can’t give you the information for this specific one, but I hope that My Fitness Pal will be a helpful resource for you.

  11. I made this last night for my vegan cousin and they adorned it! I added my own little twist but the consistency and everything came out perfect! My little 6 month old baby cousins even loved it and might add it to my baby food recipe if that’s fine :) 5 stars

    1. Ria, I’m so glad to hear the recipe was a hit! Thank you so much for giving it a try and reporting back! :)

  12. I made this but reduced the measurements a bunch because I only needed it for 2 people! I did about 2.5 lbs of squash, 2 apples – one granny Smith and one mcintosh – and one onion. I also used less stock based on the consistency I wanted. I baked sunflower seeds with paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic powder and put them in the soup as well! It was so good with the croutons and seeds my husband and I both had to have a second bowl!5 stars

    1. Hi Rachel, I’m afraid I don’t have a specific measurement. On average, one butternut squash yields between 1 and 2 cups of puree, so you could use that conversion as a start! I hope that helps!

  13. I made this soup but instead of chicken stock, I used part vegetable stock and part coconut milk for creaminess. Yum!!!4 stars

  14. I made the soup on a cold winters Sunday after church. 
    I opted not to make the croutons, as my husband and I are grain free. I did sprinkle a bit of shaved Parmesan cheese just for presentation. It was outstanding! I will be making this again. 
    Cheers!5 stars

    1. Kristina, I’m so happy to hear the soup was a hit! Thanks so much for giving it a try and sharing this wonderful review!

  15. This is my favorite butternut squash soup!! I have made it twice. Using the pre-cut squash from Trader Joe’s makes it so simple and the same great taste. I have also made the croutons with fresh and dried sage, both equally yummy!5 stars

  16. This butternut squash soup and the croutons are amazing together! I add carrots, and a bit of coconut milk to the soup. Thank you so much for the wonderful recipe! I’ve made this several times now ?5 stars

    1. Hi Megan, I think you could try freezing them without the Parmesan cheese and then warming them up in the oven and tossing with the cheese after. I haven’t tried it myself, so it’d be an experiment.

    1. Hi Jayne! I (and other readers) have enjoyed the spicy/sweet combination that comes from using the cayenne. You can certainly omit it from the recipe if you don’t like the flavor. I’m happy you enjoyed the flavor of the recipe!

  17. I just made this recipe exactly as written and it is delicious! It was also very easy. I have tried many different recipes for Butternut Squash soup and this one is by far the best. I have printed it out and tucked it into my recipe binder. I used 2 tart apples and 2 sweet apples. The apples really add a depth of flavor. The fresh nutmeg is a must . I am a big fan of freshly grated nutmeg . This soup is going to be the perfect start to my Thanksgiving dinner. Thank you5 stars

  18. A hit in our house. My sometimes picky eater 9 year old who was initially hesitant to try it love d it and is taking some in her lunch tomorrow. Very flavourful!5 stars

    1. I’m so happy to hear that this recipe was a hit, Pamela! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review!

  19. I made this using a mix of apples from fall apple picking and 2 butternut squash. Delicious! I didn’t have sage on hand but still made the croutons using a sun dried tomato, garlic and basil flavored bread I had on hand, with Parmesan cheese! It made for a hearty lunch and reheated nicely as well!5 stars

  20. This feels very similar to your other butternut squash soup- could it also be done in a slow cooker or instant pot?

    1. Hi Carrie! I’ve never tried making the soup this way, so it would be an experiment. I do think this is a style of soup that is well-suited to the slow cooker though, so please use your best judgment, and if you do make it in the slow cooker, I’d love to hear how it turns out!

  21. Making this recipe and I a little confused. When I hit the 2x or 3x button, all quantities change except the squash. Is this an error?3 stars

    1. Hi Laurie! I think that might be an error. When I click 2x button it says 4 large squash, when I click the 3x button it says 6 large squash. Hope this helps!

  22. I’m 84 & wrestling with a butternut squash is out of the question……so……any recipe that starts ‘cut in pieces & then later puree’ I change to……ROAST till soft THEN proceed with the recipe. That process works perfectly with soup! Just sayin…..Nancy

  23. for 4 servings how much chicken stock do you use? the recipe says 1.5-2 cups, yet the directions say 2 cups to start with and 1 more cupd after puree is done.

    1. Hi Mary Beth, the amounts only change in the list of ingredients when you change the servings. Unfortunately it doesn’t change in the directions. (This is done through the recipe card and I am not able to change that on my end). So if you are halving the recipe, you will want to make those adjustments in thew directions. Hope you enjoy it!

  24. I have made this soup many times over the past couple of years and it is so delicious! I usually don’t make the croutons and instead just toast my sourdough, add butter, and sprinkle on the sage with garlic powder. I tried the croutons for the first time this go around. Still tasty, but I found some flavor is lost as the olive oil soaks in too fast before the spices get on my bread. I think the only thing I’ll change next time is to butter and sprinkle spices on the bread before I bake into croutons. Other than that, everything about the recipe is amazing.5 stars

  25. I haven’t tried this recipe, but I make one similar and it’s outstanding! I also use sweet potatoes in mine, but will now also try a combination of apple varieties. Thanks for publishing this, so excited to see it!

  26. This soup is delicious! I have made similar soups but this one is the perfect balance between savory and sweet – more on the savory side. I cut the butternut squash in half and roasted it before I made the soup. Much less cutting of a hard squash that way. I also put a drained can of cannellini beans with some vegetable stock into my Vitamix and pureed it. It made the soup extra creamy and I snuck in some protein that way without changing the flavor. I will absolutely make it again. And again. And again!5 stars

  27. This was delicious and simple to make (I did not make the croutons as I already had a roasted potato-rosemary soda bread on hand)! I’ve made other variations of butternut squash soup (with cider, with coconut milk, etc.), but this one was probably the simplest and easiest of the lot and did not sacrifice any flavor. I took two liberties with the recipe: did not quite have enough squash, so added about 1 pound of russet potatoes to make up the difference and added a splash of Calvados at the very end. I wish I had an immersion blender to make this recipe even easier, but not that hard to transfer to a blender – just extra dishes to wash.5 stars

  28. I had doubled the recipe for Thanksgiving. The soup is a little too spicy from the cayenne. What can I add to mellow it out?
    Thank you.4 stars

  29. Not sure where I went wrong, but this came out more like apple sauce than soup for me. I think I used too much butternut squash so the seasoning wasn’t enough and the grannysmith apples made our soup taste like lemon. It was still filling and edible, just not as expected. Prefer recipes that say how many cups of butternut squash to use since they vary in size so much. Still love your website and I enjoy trying new recipes so I think I picked up some new skills making this.3 stars

    1. Shala, I’m sorry to hear you didn’t absolutely love this! The recipe does list the weight of the squash. Do you know how much yours weighed? If you’d like to adjust your leftovers, you can definitely season them more, then add a little half and half or cream to smooth the tartness.

  30. I followed the recipe except I cut back alittle on the salt and cayenne pepper and added chopped scallions and everyone in my family LOVED it !! Luckily I had everything in the house to make it and it was a very easy to whip up fast after coming home from work. An added bonus is that it’s gluten free and dairy free!5 stars

    1. Hi Irene! Yes! I have lots to tips listed in this post: https://www.wellplated.com/cinnamon-roasted-butternut-squash/ Enjoy!