Butternut Squash Soup

Served piping hot with a hunk of crusty bread, this creamy, nourishing butternut squash soup recipe is fall comfort food at its best.

Butternut squash soup

My favorite fall tradition is making butternut squash soup on Sunday afternoons. On a brisk day, there’s nothing more soothing than chopping and simmering vegetables over a warm stove. As you cook, the kitchen fills with the cozy scent of sage, rosemary, and butternut squash, and when you’re finished, steaming bowls of butternut squash soup (that will last all week!) reward you for your work.

In the past, my go-to butternut squash soup recipe has included coconut milk and curry spices, but this fall, I found myself craving one that was a bit more traditional. When I say traditional, I don’t mean that I use chicken stock, heavy cream, or butter in this recipe. It’s a delicious, all-veggie healthy butternut squash soup with ginger, sage, and rosemary. This is basically fall in a bowl.

We’ve been loving this soup lately – it’s creamy and nourishing, perfect for satisfying cozy fall cravings. With only 10 ingredients, it’s easy to make, so cook a big batch today, and enjoy the soup all week long! Happy fall. 🙂

Butternut squash soup recipe ingredients

Butternut Squash Soup Recipe Ingredients

To make this easy butternut squash soup recipe, you need 10 simple ingredients:

  • Butternut squash – This soup packs in 3 pounds of squash, so look for a medium-large one at the store or farmers market. If you don’t have a scale at home, I recommend weighing the squash when you buy it!
  • Yellow onion and garlic – These veggies add delicious depth of flavor.
  • Fresh sage and rosemary – I don’t reach for rosemary as often as some other fresh herbs, but I absolutely love it here. Along with the sage, it makes this soup cozy and complex.
  • Ginger – Its warm flavor highlights the autumnal taste of the herbs and squash.
  • Extra-virgin olive oil – 2 tablespoons add the perfect amount of richness.
  • Vegetable broth – Because the blended squash becomes creamy on its own, there’s no need for dairy, coconut milk, or nuts here! With veggie broth as its base, this is a vegan butternut squash soup recipe.
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper – Add them with the onion at the start of the cooking process, but make sure to taste and adjust at the end as well. That way, you’ll make a soup you really love!

Let’s cook!

Butternut squash

First, chop the veggies! Sauté the onion until it becomes translucent, add the squash, and cook until it begins to soften. Then, stir in the herbs, garlic, and ginger. Pour in the broth and simmer until the squash becomes tender, about 20 minutes.

Butternut squash soup recipe Vegan butternut squash soup

When the squash is soft, transfer the soup to a blender. Blend until the soup is vibrant orange and creamy. Finally, pour it into bowls, garnish with chopped parsley and pepitas, and enjoy!

Butternut squash soup

What to Serve with Butternut Squash Soup

Enjoy this soup as a starter, side, or main dish. When I’m making it the center of a meal, I serve it with good crusty bread, homemade focaccia, avocado toast, or corn muffins and a simple veggie side or fall salad. Here are a few of my favorites:

Alternatively, serve it as an appetizer with a hearty vegetarian main dish like Roasted Cauliflower Steaks, Vegan Meatball Sandwiches, Homemade Mac and Cheese, Sun Dried Tomato Pasta, or a grilled cheese sandwich!

Butternut squash soup

If you love this butternut squash soup…

Try my ginger miso soup, curried lentil soup, or many-veggie soup next, or check out this post for more of my favorite soup recipes!

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Butternut Squash Soup

rate this recipe:
4.98 from 1726 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Serves 6
This vegan butternut squash soup is the ultimate fall comfort food! Store it in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze it for up to a few months.

Equipment

Ingredients

For serving

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, salt, and several grinds of fresh pepper and sauté until soft, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the squash and cook until it begins to soften, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Add the garlic, sage, rosemary, and ginger. Stir and cook 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant, then add 3 cups of the broth. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until the squash is tender, 20 to 30 minutes.
  • Let cool slightly and pour the soup into a blender, working in batches if necessary, and blend until smooth. If your soup is too thick, add up to 1 cup more broth and blend. Season to taste and serve with parsley, pepitas, and crusty bread.

 

1178 comments

4.98 from 1726 votes (1,210 ratings without comment)

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  1. Sandra
    11.19.2024

    5 stars
    I loved it before–and then I added cheese tortellini ( from the grocery refrigerator case). Heat for 3-4 minutes in the finished soup and … wow.

  2. Lindsey
    11.18.2024

    4 stars
    I roasted the squash first and then followed the recipe. Tasty and creamy but a stronger ginger taste to me. Had to bump it down a notch adding some coconut milk which mellowed it out nicely.

  3. Lauren
    11.18.2024

    Is there a protein option you’ve tried or would recommend adding?

    • Debi
      11.19.2024

      5 stars
      I make this soup often! I made it last week with chicken bone broth because I was out of vegetable broth. It was just as delicious. I will use bone broth again for the added protein.

      • Jeanine Donofrio
        11.20.2024

        Hi Debi, I’m glad you’ve loved it so much!

    • Alice
      11.20.2024

      5 stars
      I use a whole can of white kidney beans rinsed, to get some protein in there. Aftet pureeing, you cant even tell!!

  4. Kristin Wright
    11.18.2024

    I’m excited to make this. I’m making this for a large crowd and the thought of tackling several whole butternuts is daunting. Thinking of buying the cut up pieces. How many cups of cubed squash do you think are in a whole squash? Thanks!

    • NP
      11.18.2024

      I would appreciate this info too!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      11.20.2024

      Hi Kristin, it’s about 4 cups cubed squash. I hope you enjoy!

    • Roxane
      11.21.2024

      I used to cut up and peel the butternut. Now I cut the squash in quarters roast it in 375 oven cut side down on foil with a spray of EVOO for about 40-50 min, then scrape out the pulp. Much easier😉

  5. Jan
    11.17.2024

    5 stars
    The compelling ingredients prompted my making this recipe & I wasn’t disappointed! Great flavors for Fall – will make it again soon. Thank you!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      11.18.2024

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  6. Sandra
    11.17.2024

    5 stars
    Amazing taste — hard to believe there’s no cream in it! Tonight I added refrigerated cheese tortellini after the soup was cooked and ready, and heated an extra 3-4 minutes. Made a delicious, hearty meal. Thank you for this recipe!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      11.18.2024

      Oh I love your tortellini idea!

  7. Amanda
    11.17.2024

    5 stars
    Made this as written and it’s amazing! So rich, flavorful and filling—the perfect fall soup. I especially love the little kick of ginger in the finish.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      11.18.2024

      I’m so glad you loved it!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.