Our Best Butternut Squash Soup Recipes

Photo: Randy Mayor

A fall favorite, butternut squash shines brightest when used as a base for a rich, warming soup. Thanks to the squash's natural sweetness, you don't need to add many ingredients to elicit a truly unique dish. These recipes are easy to follow, healthy, and will have your family asking for more wonderful dishes with this delicious winter squash. Whether it’s a hearty stew or creamy bisque, everyone will find a family-favorite on this list.

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Creamy Butternut-Leek Bisque

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Creamy Butternut-Leek Bisque

Whole-grain quinoa simmers in the soup and then gets blended into the mix—resulting in a thick, creamy, luscious texture. Don’t be afraid to let the blender go for a couple of minutes; that’s the path to super-smooth results. We call for precut-prepped butternut squash because it’s a real time-saver, slashing up to 20 minutes of prep time; you’ll find bags of the peeled, cubed squash in the produce section with the bags of broccoli florets and other prepared-prepped veggies. For the prettiest appearance, go with beige-colored quinoa and skip red or tricolored varieties. Greek yogurt goes into the soup to brighten the taste, and another dollop goes on top as a finishing touch along with crunchy almonds.

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Beer Cheese Soup

Photo: Caitlin Bensel

View Recipe: Beer Cheese Soup

Butternut squash brilliantly mimics the color and creaminess of cheddar, plus boosts fiber and adds key nutrients such as beta carotene. Rich in energizing B-vitamins and plant protein, nutritional yeast boosts cheesy flavor, yet contain no added sodium. A sharp cheese packs bigger, more complex flavor, allowing us to use less without sacrificing the quintessential cheddar taste.

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Butternut and Ginger Congee

Photo: Iain Bagwell

View Recipe: Butternut and Ginger Congee

This is comfort food. It's warm and creamy, even though there's no cream in it. Vietnamese like variation in their food—not just one flavor or texture. The crispy ginger slices and fresh herbs add just the right amount of zap to the dish. Shredded butternut squash will melt beautifully into the congee; use a box grater or the shredding disc of a food processor.

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Chicken, Apple, and Butternut Stew

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Chicken, Apple, and Butternut Stew

Cider, chopped apple, butternut squash, and parsnips lend appealingly forward sweetness to this fall harvest stew. Unfiltered apple cider has pectins that help thicken the stew. If you use filtered, clear cider, add another tablespoon of flour.

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Winter Squash Stew With Cilantro-Avocado Salsa

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Winter Squash Stew With Cilantro-Avocado Salsa

Winter greens would also make a lovely addition to this hearty stew; simply toss a few handfuls in when the squash is almost tender, and stir until greens begin to wilt.

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Warm-Spiced Butternut Squash Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Warm-Spiced Butternut Squash Soup

Earthy, fragrant spices like allspice, cloves, and cinnamon make wonderful accents for the natural sweetness of butternut squash. Make sure to simmer the squash until very tender—the softer it gets, the silkier the puree.

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Thai Butternut Soup

Photo: Brian Woodcock

View Recipe: Thai Butternut Soup

If you can't find frozen pureed squash, you can cook this soup with 4 cups cubed butternut squash. Just add 5 extra minutes to the cooking time in step 2.

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Lamb and Butternut Squash Stew

Photo: Whitney Ott

View Recipe: Lamb and Butternut Squash Stew

This delicious winter stew only takes 35 minutes to come together. Refrigerate the sautéed lamb mixture up to 3 days ahead, and then bake at 450° for 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated. To maximize flavor, serve with Roasted Cauliflower with Pine Nuts.

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Curried Butternut Soup

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Curried Butternut Soup

This butternut soup is the perfect way to brighten up cold dark days, with its vibrant color and even better taste. For multiple-meal-use, just wait to add the toppings until it’s time to reheat.

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Butternut Squash Soup with Spiced Seeds

Photo: Anna Williams

View Recipe: Butternut Squash Soup with Spiced Seeds

This smooth and brightly hued soup is a gorgeous start to any meal. The spiced pumpkinseed kernels (also called pepitas) are a crunchy and flavorful topping.

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Butternut Squash Soup

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Butternut Squash Soup

Warm, creamy, and comforting, butternut squash soup is quintessential to fall. Pair with a simple side salad and a slice of French bread for the perfect cool-weather lunch.

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Moroccan Chicken and Butternut Squash Soup

Photo: Sang An

View Recipe: Moroccan Chicken and Butternut Squash Soup

Sugary butternut squash and meaty chicken thighs remind us how well sweet and savory flavors play together in Moroccan cuisine.

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Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallot Soup

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallot Soup

Spicy fresh ginger complements the sweet roasted winter squash and shallots in this easy recipe. Serve with a grilled cheese sandwich for a simple supper.

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Butternut Squash-Leek Soup

Photo: Lee Harrelson

View Recipe: Butternut Squash-Leek Soup

Butternut squash is one of the most beloved vegetables of the fall harvest, and this simple soup really lets the squash's flavor shine through. Pair with a plump but crisp Chardonnay for a full and flavorful meal.

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Coconut-Red Curry Squash Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Coconut-Red Curry Squash Soup

Butternut's creamy texture makes this soup silky smooth. You can also use kabocha squash (a winter squash also known as Japanese pumpkin); it has a deep, rich flavor and is a bit sweeter than butternut. Omit the sugar if using kabocha. For extra flavor contrast, sprinkle with additional black pepper.

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Roasted Butternut Soup with Goat Cheese Toasts

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Roasted Butternut Soup with Goat Cheese Toasts

Most any winter squash will work in this recipe. We like butternut for the nutty, slightly sweet flavor it lends to the soup. Serve this paired with a hearty salad studded with nuts and seeds for a more filling entrée.

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Curry Ginger Butternut Squash Soup

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Curry Ginger Butternut Squash Soup

Straining this spicy-sweet soup gives the final product a velvety appearance and texture. Garnish with chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley.

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Butternut Soup with Coconut Milk

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Butternut Soup with Coconut Milk

Serve this full-flavored soup as a first course, or as a smooth vegetable stew over rice with a side of cooked greens. We've used luxurious full-fat coconut milk, which yields a decadent, silky soup. You can use light coconut milk, if you prefer, for a soup with less body (and only 1g saturated fat per serving).

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Butternut Squash Soup with Toasted Walnuts

View Recipe: Butternut Squash Soup with Toasted Walnuts

This soup's delicious taste and creamy texture belie its simple preparation. Roasting the squash creates browned edges for a richer flavor.

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Golden Winter Soup

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Golden Winter Soup

Leeks and potatoes provide the base for this hearty vegetable soup, and butternut squash adds a hint of sweetness. Gruyère toasts add a salty note.

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Velvety Squash Soup

Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Velvety Squash Soup

Winter squash is a quintessential holiday flavor, and in this soup it is no exception. Subtle flavorings like cider, molasses, and a bit of curry powder accentuate the flavor of roasted squash, while a whirl in the blender ensures a smooth and creamy texture. This soup is great for a warming solo lunch on a snowy day, or as the first course of an elaborate dinner-party meal.

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Indian-Spiced Roasted Squash Soup

Photo: Ditte Isager

View Recipe: Indian-Spiced Roasted Squash Soup

This flavorful soup is a vibrant hue with flavor to match. Top with a dollop of the yogurt-honey mixture for a showstopping bowlful.

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Simple Butternut Soup

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Simple Butternut Soup

Simple butternut squash soup is a perfect base for both creamy and crunchy toppers.

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Our Best Butternut Squash Soup Recipes

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Creamy Butternut-Leek Bisque

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Beer Cheese Soup

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Butternut and Ginger Congee

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Chicken, Apple, and Butternut Stew

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Winter Squash Stew With Cilantro-Avocado Salsa

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Warm-Spiced Butternut Squash Soup

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Thai Butternut Soup

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Lamb and Butternut Squash Stew

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Curried Butternut Soup

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Butternut Squash Soup with Spiced Seeds

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Butternut Squash Soup

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Moroccan Chicken and Butternut Squash Soup

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Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallot Soup

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Butternut Squash-Leek Soup

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Coconut-Red Curry Squash Soup

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Roasted Butternut Soup with Goat Cheese Toasts

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Curry Ginger Butternut Squash Soup

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Butternut Soup with Coconut Milk

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Butternut Squash Soup with Toasted Walnuts

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Golden Winter Soup

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Velvety Squash Soup

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Indian-Spiced Roasted Squash Soup

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Simple Butternut Soup

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