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 SteaksVegan Meatball Sandwiches, Homemade Mac and CheeseSun 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 1852 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.

 

1262 comments

4.98 from 1852 votes (1,296 ratings without comment)

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Christine Dempster
    01.08.2025

    5 stars
    Made this when vegetarian guests were visiting. Loved it and it’s now a favourite in our family

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.08.2025

      I’m so glad it was a hit!

  2. Cristal
    01.06.2025

    5 stars
    This is delicious! I love it! Next time I’m going to try adding some smoked paprika. Also, instead of buying peppitas I roast the seeds from the squash.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.08.2025

      I’m glad you enjoyed it!

  3. Cathy
    01.05.2025

    Can frozen squash be used if not in season? If so, any recommendations on how?

  4. Kelsey
    01.04.2025

    5 stars
    Loved it! Added some butter at the end and served with grilled cheese.

  5. Susan
    01.04.2025

    5 stars
    Wonderful recipe! Perfect soup for this cold starting-to-snow day!

  6. Jennifer
    01.02.2025

    This is my go-to squash soup recipe. Thank you.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      01.03.2025

      So glad you love the soup, Jennifer!

  7. Alyson McDevitt
    01.01.2025

    5 stars
    I absolutely love this recipe! I see the comments talk about needing to add things and it being bland but it is not at all! It is perfect and delicious. I’ve made it three times already and my family loves it! So delicious

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      01.03.2025

      Hi Alyson, I’m so glad you love the recipe!

  8. Gabriella
    01.01.2025

    5 stars
    Thank you so much this great recipe and what I like in it because it’s very simple to make it. I made this before and I’m making that again very delicious

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      01.03.2025

      Hi Gabriella, I’m so glad you love the recipe!

  9. Natali
    12.31.2024

    4 stars
    I still put a pinch of nutmeg.

  10. Caitlin C
    12.31.2024

    5 stars
    I have made this recipe many times now. It is so delicious and best of all, it’s simple, allowing the few ingredients that are used to speak for themselves.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      01.03.2025

      Hi Caitlin, I’m so glad you love the soup!

      • Jeanine Mosier
        01.07.2025

        Can dried sage and rosemary be used instead of fresh ?

        • Jeanine Donofrio
          01.08.2025

          yep – just use less – I would start with 1/2 teaspoon of each.

  11. Sarah Holicky
    12.31.2024

    5 stars
    I made this and it is delicious! I didn’t season with the fresh herbs this time. I seasoned with curry, cinnamon and nutmeg. The soup is creamy and delicious!

  12. J
    12.25.2024

    5 stars
    Added about 2 tablespoon of sugar and another cup of veg broth to balance it out. Worked out beautifully, mother-in-law approved! 👏

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      12.26.2024

      Ha, I’m so glad it was a hit 🙂

  13. Kaden
    12.24.2024

    5 stars
    Good basic soup. I found it was the consistency of baby food and needed water. The soup was also so plain tasting. It needs:

    ACIDITY
    SPICINESS
    SWEETNESS

    these things literally transform the soul. Add a splash of apple cider vinegar, cayenne pallet, and a tablespoon or two of maple syrup. The soup NEEDS these things!!

    • Mark
      01.05.2025

      3 stars
      I agree!! I add red curry paste, and maple syrup and ACV. I also use better than bouillon in all my soupd instead of broth. Easier to store, has no nasty seed oils and you can get it at costco!

  14. Rachel
    12.23.2024

    Can you use dried rosemary if you don’t have fresh?

    • Marie-Laure
      12.23.2024

      5 stars
      I’ve made with dried Rosemary and it taste amazing 🥰
      Thank you for sharing this recipe !

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      12.26.2024

      yes, but I would use less – start with 1/2 teaspoon.

  15. LeeAnn Mathews
    12.18.2024

    5 stars
    I made it with fresh ginger but dried sage and rosemary. Turned out so good!!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      12.19.2024

      I’m so glad you enjoyed 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.