Published: Sep 21, 2020 · Modified: Sep 20, 2020 by Cathy · This post may contain affiliate links

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup with Apple

Name: Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup with Apple
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 4 cups (500 g) butternut squash cubes ((about 1/2 an average squash)); 1 medium yellow cooking onion (diced); 1 tablespoon (15 ml) coconut oil; 1 cup (250 ml) apple juice; 1 cup (250 ml) bone broth ((Use vegetable broth for vegan.)); 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) sea salt (vary according to seasoning in your broth); 1/4 teaspoon (0.58 g) ground black pepper; 1/8 teaspoon (0.3 g) ground nutmeg; 1/8 teaspoon (0.25 g) ground ginger; 1/8 teaspoon (0.3 g) ground cinnamon

Jump to Recipe

Butternut Squash Soup is smooth, velvety deliciousness in a bowl! Combining the autumn flavours of butternut squash, apple, and onion, it will warm your tummy and soothe your spirit. Make it easily by adding four main ingredients and some spices to your Instant Pot. You'll have hot, yummy soup in under 30 minutes!

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup Made in the Instant Pot

I like to make this soup often because it's so tasty and simple to make. Like Tomato Soup and Roasted Sweet Potato Soup, it's not only gluten free but also dairy free. The creaminess comes from the butternut squash. In fact, this is easily a vegan recipe if you make it with vegetable broth.

What You'll Need

ingredients for butternut squash soup with apple laid out with labels

Butternut Squash - This is a winter squash that tastes similar to pumpkin. If you're not keen on peeling and cutting it up, you can buy frozen butternut squash perfect for popping into this soup. However, with a little practice, you can cut up a half raw squash and prepare this recipe in 10 minutes.

Broth - I like to use my homemade bone broth for great flavour. Use vegetable broth if you want your soup to be vegan. You might need to adjust the amount of salt in your soup according to the level of seasoning in the broth you use.

Apple Juice - Sweet apple cider is a good option, too.

How do you make butternut squash soup from scratch?

How to Cut and Peel a Butternut Squash

This method might seem fiddly until you try it. I really think that it's the quickest, easiest way to cut away the tough outer skin. I think I got the idea from Elaine, who writes Flavour & Savour. She has lots of great kitchen tips as well as good gluten free recipes over there.

butternut squash cut open and spread out in various stages of peeling and chopping with a knife

Cut the squash in half lengthwise.
Cut each half into long thin wedges.
Scoop out the seedy part in the centre.
Chopping toward a cutting board with a sharp chef's knife, cut off the skin.
Cut up the flesh into chunks as desired.

How to Make the Soup

Saute diced onions in hot oil in the Instant Pot or in a saucepan on the stovetop.

sauteed, chopped onions in the bottom of an Instant Pot

Add all of the remaining ingredients to the pot.

spices sprinkle over chunks of butternut squash in Instant Pot

Pressure cook for 10 minutes, or cook on stovetop until squash is soft.

cooked chunks of butternut squash in liquid with spices in Instant Pot

Puree the soup with a hand-held immersion blender or carefully, in batches, in an upright blender.

immersion blender submerged in creamy golden soup in pot

Serve your Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup warm.

Recipe FAQ's

Can I roast butternut squash seeds?

If you cut up a fresh butternut squash, you'll have some seeds you can roast for great flavour.

Scoop the seeds out of the centre of the squash. Rinse off the gunk and debris. Spread them out on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake in preheated 275 F oven for 15 minutes.

Can you freeze butternut squash soup?

Butternut squash soup freezes well. Pour it into an airtight container, leaving some room for expansion, and freeze it for 3 or 4 months.

Is butternut squash soup gluten free?

This butternut soup is gluten free. The thing you need to watch out for is processed broth or soup stock. If you buy broth or stock, examine the label carefully for any sign of gluten. My gluten list tells you what to look for. The safest thing to do is to buy only soup that is labeled gluten free.

What to Eat with Butternut Squash Soup