This is the best butternut squash soup recipe with the perfect blend of herbs and spices, nice and creamy, easy to make, plus you can freeze the leftovers.
Easy Butternut Squash Soup Recipe - My Favorite Way
Today we're making a big pot of one of my favorite colder weather soups in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen - Butternut Squash Soup.
My butternut squash soup recipe is filled with a select blend of spices and fresh herbs that compliment the natural sweetness of the butternut squash.
Butternut squash has a nutty taste and soft consistency when cooked, making it perfect for soup season.
I cook it down with lots of onion, celery, garlic, and peppers, then simmer it in stock, herbs, and spices, until the entire pot is tender and brimming with flavor.
Once you blend it, you'll always crave the luxurious creaminess that results from this perfect blend of ingredients.
This is definitely my favorite way to make it, and I think you'll love this recipe as much as we do.
Let me show you how to make butternut squash soup!
Butternut Squash Soup Ingredients
- Olive Oil. For cooking.
- Butternut Squash. The star of the dish! The perfect winter squash.
- Vegetables. Onion, celery, garlic, and peppers. You can use bell peppers for a milder version, or use hotter peppers to your preference, like jalapenos, serranos, or your favorites.
- Fresh Herbs and Spices. Use paprika, cayenne, cumin, thyme, rosemary, salt and black pepper. See the recipe notes section for other options. This is very customizable.
- Stock. Use chicken or vegetable stock or vegetable broth, or chicken broth. The amounts are variable, based on how thin or thick you'd like your final soup.
- For Garnish. Toasted pepitas (optional), red chili flakes, fresh chopped parsley.
How to Make Butternut Squash Soup - the Recipe Method
Cook Down the Squash and Vegetables. Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven to medium heat. Add the chopped squash, onion, peppers, and celery.
Sprinkle with a bit of salt and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften and slightly caramelize at the bottom of the pot.
Garlic and Spices. Add the garlic, seasonings, and herbs. Stir and cook for 2 minutes to let the spices bloom.
Add the Stock and Simmer. Add the chicken stock or vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
Simmer for 20 minutes, or until everything is nice and tender.
Blend the Soup Until Smooth. Use an immersion blender to blend the ingredients until very smooth, or you can transfer the contents of the pot to a blender or food processor, then blend until smooth.
Transfer the soup back to the pot.
Adjust and Final Simmer. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper, seasonings, and amount of liquid. You can add a bit more stock or water to thin it out, if desired.
At this point, you can serve the soup if you'd like. I like to let it simmer for just a bit longer to continue developing flavor.
You can simmer longer if you’d like. If you're adding any cooked proteins, add them just before the final simmer to warm them through.
Garnish and Serve. I like to sprinkle on freshly toasted pepitas or pumpkin seeds, spicy red pepper flakes, and some fresh chopped parsley.
Boom! Done! Nothing like a bowl of butternut squash soup! Looks so good, doesn't it? So nice and creamy, with the perfect amount of spices for great flavor.
This is the best butternut squash soup I've had by far, just the way I like it. Perfection, my friends.
Recipe Tips & Notes
Change Up the Seasonings. You can easily change up the spices and seasonings to make this butternut squash soup recipe your own. Here are some great options to consider.
- Cajun or Creole. Use Cajun Seasoning or Creole Seasoning for a southern U.S. flavor spin.
- Curried Butternut Squash Soup. Try my Homemade Curry Powder for a burst of curry flavor. This is even better when you add coconut milk.
- Go International. Think outside the box with blends like Jamaican Jerk Seasoning, Ethiopian Berbere, or Chinese 5 Spice. Sweeten it with a bit of maple syrup.
Add Proteins. You can round out the soup to make it more of a meal by adding in cooked chicken or pork, shrimp or other seafood, silky tofu, lentils or beans.
Extra Creamy Butternut Squash Soup. Want extra richness and creaminess? Consider swirling in cream cheese until melted through, goat cheese, or heavy cream.
Winter Squash Options. You can easily make this recipe with other winter squash as you find them. Try it with roasted butternut squash. It's also perfect for gourds like pumpkin.
Storage
This recipe will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. You can easily make it ahead of time, then reheat it in a pot on the stove.
You can also freeze it for 2-3 months in freezer containers. I do this all the time when I made large batches.
That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy my butternut squash soup recipe. Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you, and what spices and seasonings you decided to use.
Tools Used For This Recipe
Amazon Affiliate links, my friends! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Immersion Blender - I love my immersion blender. It makes soup making so much easier than transferring it back and forth between the pot and blender.
Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes
I hope you'll try some of my other soup recipes, all made "Madness Style", with lots of spices and full of big flavor.
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.
Butternut Squash Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 pound butternut squash peeled and chopped (seeds removed)
- 1 large onion chopped (white or yellow)
- 1 large bell pepper chopped (use jalapeno peppers or hotter for a spicy version)
- 1 stalk celery chopped
- 5 cloves garlic chopped
- 2 tablespoons paprika I use hot paprika
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups chicken stock use vegetable stock for a vegetarian version – you can use up to 6 cups for thinner soup
- For Garnish. Toasted pepitas (optional), red chili flakes, fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven to medium heat. Add the chopped squash, onion, peppers, and celery. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften and slightly caramelize at the bottom of the pot.
- Add the garlic, seasonings, and herbs. Stir and cook for 2 minutes to let the spices bloom.
- Add the chicken (or vegetable) stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until everything is nice and tender.
- Use an immersion blender to blend the ingredients until very smooth, or you can transfer the contents of the pot to a blender or food processor, then blend until smooth. Transfer the soup back to the pot.
- Taste and adjust for salt, seasonings, and amount of liquid. You can add a bit more stock or water to thin it out, if desired.
- Simmer the soup for 5 minutes to develop more flavor. You can simmer longer if you’d like.
- Garnish and serve!
Nutrition Information
NOTE: This recipe was updated on 11/10/23 to include new information. It was originally published on 11/21/22.
Sarah says
This recipe has way too much paprika and cayenne. Totally overpowered the taste, and I did e even end up using it all.
Mike Hultquist says
Sarah, sorry it was too much for you. This is a spicy food recipe site, though. I do like to spice things up. I stand by the recipe, though. I suggest next time to skip the hotter spices, per my notes. I do appreciate your comments.
Angela Desilets says
So yummy. I baked mine first for about 45 min. I then put it in a pot on the stove added an apple and chicken broth, cooked for about 30 min then blended. Added in the cream. I did not use a Jalapeño, the cumin made it spicy enough. if you don't like spice maybe leave it out. Otherwise it was absolutely perfect
Mike Hultquist says
Yay!! Glad you enjoyed it, Angela!
Shannon says
Wow! This tasted like spicy stuffing in the form of soup - so good! I opted for 1 jalepeno with seeds instead of the mild pepper. Used homemade veg stock. I stirred in a little bit of lime juice to round out the heat. Topped it with shredded parmesan. My husband LOVED it! Next time I will double the recipe and freeze some for later.
Mike Hultquist says
Excellent! Glad you both enjoyed it, Shannon! I appreciate it.
Leif says
yes. yum..
two things I tried: caramelize in oven - one inch dice, toss with EVOO
400F, 50 min - reduces the water content by half, increases the flavor, you can make up the water with stock [yum] if needed. caramelize the veggies that need it in the pot with the spices that want toasting for better control on both fronts. A little bacon/goose fat? yum [if you're not averse]. a little smoked jalapeno at the end?
Mike Hultquist says
Sounds great, glad you enjoyed it.
Connie says
Delicious! First time making, is just a bit too spicy for me was actually a bit of a shock. Going to add some cream in to cut it a bit!
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Connie. Yes, I do spicy versions of most recipes here, so keep that in mind if you explore more of my recipes. You can definitely dial the spices back to make it milder. For example, this recipe uses 2 tablespoons paprika and 1 teaspoon cayenne. You can skip the cayenne next time and halve the paprika. Glad you enjoyed the flavor.
Paul️ says
Love this soup ! vegi stock for me, and I like to experiment with flavours and ingredients , I’ve added a little creamed coconut and that ramps up the creaminess!
Mike Hultquist says
Excellent! Glad you enjoyed it, Paul!
Steve P says
Excellent soup! I thank God that you made and posted it. I like a little heat so used 5 jalapenos without seeds. Just right for me. Second bowl I swirled in a dash of pumpkin pie spice. Delicious.
Mike Hultquist says
Boom! Sounds awesome, Steve! Nice and spicy, just how I like it. Glad you enjoyed it.
Darrin says
This was so good, and perfect for the weather.
I had to substitute ghee for the oil, and I didn't have hot paprika, so I added 1tsp Kasmiri chili Powder.
the substitution made it the top end of heat level for me, but just right for my wife. it was a perfect dinner for me to cook for her!
Mike Hultquist says
Boom! Glad you enjoyed it, Darrin!
Courtney says
My first time making butternut squash soup. I liked it but I felt it was too spicy for my pallet. I did add 8oz of cream cheese, but there was still a lot of spicy. Sorry I am a wimpy minnesotan when it come to spice. Could I half the spices?
Mike Hultquist says
Courney, yes, you can easily adjust the spice levels to your preference, or use milder ones. I do tend to cook with a lot of spicy things, hence the site name. Extra spicy for me!
Bridget says
Definitely the most flavorful homemade butternut squash soup I’ve ever had, so really appreciate that! It was a *bit* on the too spicy side for my family’s palate, but I added lemon juice to neutralize it a bit and wow- so good!
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Bridget. Glad you liked it. Cheers.
Elaina says
A friend gave me butternut squash and a bunch of peppers from her garden--and this looks like the perfect way to use them! I like the idea of using Ethiopian Berbere spice--would you suggest I replace all of the spices with the Berbere? Or maybe just the cayenne and cumin?
Mike Hultquist says
Elaina, yes, use it in place of the cayenne and cumin. Enjoy!
Elaina says
Thanks! This was really delicious! So easy and so flavorful! Will definitly make this recipe again!
Vicki says
This was fabulous! It so packed with flavor! The fresh herbs and spices turned butternut squash from bland and boring to exciting!
Mike Hultquist says
Glad you enjoyed it, Vicki! =) I need to make this again soon.
Kathy says
So good. Healthy & you can add more veggies if you like. I added a bit of whole milk after everything was done since it was a bit thick. I also used the ninja mixer instead of the emulsion mixer… faster to mix.
Enjoy !!!
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it, Kathy! Definitely a hit with us!
Sara says
Sooo delicious. Made with a few Serranos and jalapeños. Wow such good flavor.paired with a baguette
Mike H. says
Awesome, Sara. Enjoy!
Miriam says
This was the best butternut squash soup we've ever had. Served with grilled fish and some were putting the fish in the soup, it was that good. Thank you for the recipe.
Mike Hultquist says
Excellent! Glad you enjoyed it, Miriam! I love to hear it. We enjoy adding fish or shrimp to ours as well. Great way to make a meal!
Soroco says
Made this as curry flavored and topped w shredded rotisserie chicken that I pan toasted with cilantro and some fresh ginger. Also added julienned toppings of red cabbage, cilantro, radish, and roasted pepitas. The husband thought is was great.
Mike Hultquist says
Boom! Perfect with curry spices! Glad you and your husband enjoyed it, Soroco!
ELIZABETH FERREIRA says
absolutely delicious. will definitely make it again
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome! Thanks, Elizabeth!
Kitk says
I just made this recipe (with a couple of small tweaks to incorporate my backyard ground pepper blends) and I couldn’t be happier with the result! This it super tasty butternut soup with an attitude! thanks for the recipe. It’s officially in the rotation now.
Mike Hultquist says
Nice! Glad you enjoyed it!!
Becky says
Just made this with butternut squash we grew and it was delicious. we also made a few twist we used smoked paprika instead of regular, roasted the squash, garlic and pepper before cooking under the boriler before we started cooking on the stove. When we served it we put a dollop of sour cream and bacon crumbles. we will definitely make again
Mike Hultquist says
Sounds wonderful to me, Becky!
Yvonne says
It would be nice if the recipe list was all listed in one place. Giving the servings size So one could adjust the amount in a recipe, and make adjustments accordingly. And then the commentary on it, which is great, would be wonderful.
Mike Hultquist says
Yvonne, all of the ingredients (list) with measurements are at the bottom of the post in the recipe card, just above the comments. Let me know if you can't find it.
Kathy says
I made this as written using some curry and coconut milk. This was an absolute hit with everyone. Thanks, Mike.
Mike Hultquist says
Glad you enjoyed it, Kathy! Thanks for sharing! Happy!
Mary L Johnson says
?? I am making the soup in the crock pot. Did taste test and it is a little too spicy for guests. What can I do/add to reduce the heat. TU
Mike Hultquist says
Mary, you can try adding in some dairy to help balance out the heat. Cream cheese can work, and will add a nice flavor and thickness. Milk or cream are good, too, or a mixture of milk/cream cheese. Or, you can add in more squash for a larger pot, which will dilute the heat bit. I hope this helps.
Phyllis says
How many cups or ounces pf butternut squash? Cubed squash is more readily available. I really would love to make this soup.
Mike Hultquist says
Phyllis, you should get roughly 3 cups of squash from a typical 2 pound butternut squash.
Rick says
Hi…..so from a 3 lb butternut squash, I should get 4.5 cups of squash?? Should I use 4.5 cups of squash in this recipe?? Thank You
Mike Hultquist says
Rick, I got about 4.5 cups with 1-inch or so cubes, yes.
Michael says
I made very close to this recipe but cooked one pound Italian sausage that I cooked separately added. got rave reviews from everyone. I had never tried squash soup before, but this is a real winner.
Mike Hultquist says
Outstanding! I love the addition of the Italian sausage! Nice. I'll take a bowl! =)