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!
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
- 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.
- 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.
Add all of the remaining ingredients to the pot.
Pressure cook for 10 minutes, or cook on stovetop until squash is soft.
Puree the soup with a hand-held immersion blender or carefully, in batches, in an upright blender.
Serve your Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup warm.
Recipe FAQ's
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.
Butternut squash soup freezes well. Pour it into an airtight container, leaving some room for expansion, and freeze it for 3 or 4 months.
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
Recipe
Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup with Apple
Equipment
- Chef Knife
- Instant Pot
- Immersion Blender
Ingredients
- 4 cups butternut squash cubes (about ½ an average squash)
- 1 medium yellow cooking onion diced
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1 cup bone broth (Use vegetable broth for vegan.)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt vary according to seasoning in your broth
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Melt coconut oil over medium heat in a large pan. Saute onion until soft. Add squash and remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Simmer until squash is tender.
- INSTANT POT INTRUCTIONS: Set Instant Pot to Saute. Melt coconut oil. Add onion, and saute 3 minutes. Add remaining ingredients. Pressure Cook for 10 minutes. Quick Release the steam.
- Puree the soup either with an immersion blender or by carefully transferring it in small batches to an upright blender. Be careful when handling the hot liquid!
Video
Notes
- Peeling butternut squash is easiest if you first cut it into long, thin wedges. Then, laying wedges on their sides on a cutting board, cut away the skin with a sharp chef's knife aimed down toward the cutting board.
- Leftover butternut squash will keep nicely sealed in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few days or in the freezer for a few months. Be sure to leave some room in the container for expansion if you're freezing it.
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says
I always make butternut squash soup, but never thought to add apple juice. Brilliant! I bet it tastes delicious! And I love that I can use my Instant Pot for this recipe! Happy weekend Cathy!
Cathy says
Butternut squash and apple are lovely together. I'm grateful to the chef of that restaurant for the inspiration!
maria says
lol... I, for one do not think you are being melodramatic... it really been a long winter... and it's spring! There is snow in the forecast for Montreal this afternoon! On the up side, it is still soup weather! This soup would be just perfect today. Have pinned to try, thanks for sharing ♥
Cathy says
It's snowing here today, too!
Kristen Kaethler says
I love butternut squash soup, such a great go to for these never ending chilly days. And apples sound like such a great addition.
Cathy says
I agree. I could use another bowl of it right now as the snow swirls outside our windows!
Gabrielle @ eyecandypopper says
Yess! I haven't made enough soups this winter, and this just reminded me of one that I make that is very similar to this one. I usually use whole apples in mine, but never though of using apple juice! That's a nice shortcut. I love the simplicity of your soup, because that's what soup should be about 🙂
Cathy says
Thank you, Gabrielle. It seems the weather is cooperating by extending the soup season!
Megan Stevens says
Mmm, love the spices in this! Butternut soup with apple and onions sounds so comforting and cozy!
Cathy says
Thanks, Megan! It took a few tries to tweak the spices they way I like them. Of course, everyone can adjust to their own tastes.
Renee says
Love this simple soup - my babies loved butternut squash soup as their first foods soups and still take them along in school lunch thermoses - I love your apple and spice additions!
Cathy says
Butternut squash soup would be great for babies! They could get their probiotic bone broth and vegetables!
Lindsey Dietz says
I, too, make blended soups in my Instant Pot! I'll never do it any other way again!
Cathy says
Isn't it great!
Tessa Simpson says
I have a love affair with butternut quash...and still have one ready to use in my garage from the garden...I'm paralyzed on how to use it because there are so many ways I love to eat them!!
Cathy says
How wonderful to have butternut squash from your garden!
Joni Gomes says
What a great recipe! Love the video, it shows how easy it is to make.
Cathy says
Thank you, Joni!
Jean says
Yummy! Looks so creamy and comforting. Love butternut squash soup in all forms.
Cathy says
Thanks, Jean. You and me, too!
linda spiker says
Butternut squash soup is such a favorite at out house. So nourishing and filling. Pretty too!
Cathy says
We love it, too!
Christina Shoemaker says
Ooo these flavors are calling my name! So simple and so tasty! And it’s so pretty!!
Cathy says
Thank you, Christina!
Raia Todd says
Love the apple and squash flavor combo! So delicious! 🙂
Yvonne says
What a comforting soup for a crisp fall day! Love that it is easy to make in the Instantpot.
Cathy says
Thanks for stopping by, Yvonne.
Carrie says
Oooh I've never tried adding apple to squash soup before what a great idea, I bet this is so delicious!
Cathy says
I have the restaurant chef to thank for the idea, and I love it!
Meredith says
I just made a batch of bone broth and now I know what I am going to do with it! Your butternut squash soup looks just delicious. I can't wait to try it, thank you!
Cathy says
That's wonderful! Enjoy your soup!
Monique says
This sounds like such a lovely sweet soup, and I love all of the spices in there! So warming and comforting 🙂
Cathy says
Thank you, Monique!
Tatiana says
I am definitely trying to make this soup, thanks for the instant pot cooking method(since I bought that baby I can’t stop cooking in it!)
Cathy says
Isn't the Instant Pot great!