Creamy and flavorful, butternut squash soup is such a wonderful winter treat. This VERY easy version is made with garlic, heavy cream, and parmesan.
This creamy soup is one of my favorites to make in the fall and winter. In my tasty version, Parmesan cheese adds texture and flavor, while a touch of heavy cream adds silkiness and enhances the soup’s delicate flavor.
Considering it’s such an elegant and flavorful soup that you can often order in fine restaurants, this butternut squash soup is very easy to make!
The ingredients you’ll need
You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty soup. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need:
Butternut squash: It’s easiest to use pre-cubed packaged squash. Frozen works too – as you can see, I use frozen squash in the video below.
Chicken broth: I use reduced-sodium chicken broth. I like the Pacific Natural brand. Sometimes when I have homemade chicken broth, I use that.
Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you should reduce the amount you use, or the soup could end up too salty.
Spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, and dried thyme. Make sure they are fresh! A stale spice can easily ruin a dish.
Heavy cream: 1/4 cup is all it takes to add a silky creaminess to the soup. You could add a little more if you wish, up to 1/2 cup.
Parmesan: Make sure you use finely grated parmesan and not coarsely shredded.
How to make butternut squash soup
It’s so easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:
1. Simply cook cubed butternut squash in some chicken broth and spices. I usually use either frozen diced squash or fresh pre-cut butternut squash cubes, available at Whole Foods and at many supermarkets. Which means this recipe is SUPER easy!
2. Then blend the soup with an immersion blender right in the stockpot. Or puree it in batches (carefully!) in a blender or food processor.
3. The last step is to add the dairy ingredients that add wonderful flavor and creaminess – just a little heavy cream and Parmesan cheese.
What spices to add?
In addition to salt and pepper, I like to add garlic and onion powders, and dried thyme. Sometimes I add a pinch of cayenne pepper. Some people like to add curry powder. I haven’t tried it, but it sure sounds good!
What makes this an easy recipe?
It’s easy because it’s a one-pot dish that you cook in a single stockpot, from start to finish. And also because I use pre-cut squash and dried spices rather than peel, cut and chop vegetables.
There’s nothing wrong, of course, with more elaborate recipes! But this one is truly a breeze to make and it’s wonderfully flavorful.
Troubleshooting and tips
The soup is too thin
A fairly common issue when making butternut squash soup is that sometimes it’s not as thick as you’d want it to be. Generally speaking, after some trial and error, I have found that a ratio of four cups (20 oz) squash to 2 cups of broth works well. The heavy cream and parmesan further help to thicken the soup. But if you make it and are dissatisfied with how thick it is, you have three options:
- Add more parmesan and/or more heavy cream. You can add an additional 1/4 cup of each.
- Make a slurry of 2 tablespoons of cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons of cold water, add the slurry to the soup, and heat over medium heat, stirring, until the soup thickens (1-2 minutes typically).
- Stir in 1/2 tablespoon of coconut flour to the warm soup. Coconut flour is a powerful thickener, and the small amount added here won’t affect the soup’s flavor.
The soup is too thick
Sometimes the opposite can happen and the soup is too thick. If this is the issue, it’s easy to fix – simply stir an extra 1/2 cup to 1 cup of broth into the mixture. You can do it after pureeing the soup. Then keep cooking briefly to heat through. You can also preheat the extra cup of broth in the microwave.
How to serve this soup
I usually serve butternut squash soup as an appetizer. But it’s so rich and filling that you can easily serve it as a main course. Simply serve it in a bowl instead of a cup, with these wonderful almond flour cheese biscuits on the side.
How many calories are in butternut squash soup?
A one-cup serving of this soup has 142 calories, 7g of fat, 17g carbs, and 4g fiber.
How to keep leftovers
I very rarely have any leftovers when making this soup. This recipe makes about four 1-cup servings, and we are a family of four, so each of us enjoys a cup. But in case you do have leftovers, they should keep well in the fridge, in an airtight container, for 3-4 days.
Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave. Make sure they don’t reach boiling temperature. You might need to thin out the leftovers with a bit of water, as the soup tends to thicken while it stands in the fridge.
More tasty soup recipes
If you love hearty soups as much as I do, you should definitely check out my soup recipes! A few of my favorites, in addition to this butternut squash soup, include:
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Butternut Squash Soup
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 4 cups butternut squash cubed (20 oz)*
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a medium stockpot, whisk together the chicken broth, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried thyme.
- Add the butternut squash cubes. Bring to a boil over high heat (this should take about 10 minutes), then lower the heat to medium, cover the pot, and cook until the butternut squash is very tender, about 10 minutes.
- Turn the heat off. Puree the soup in batches in your blender or food processor (be careful when handling the hot liquids), or use an immersion blender to puree the soup in the stockpot, as shown in the video below.
- Return the soup to the pot. Turn the heat back on to medium-low. Stir in the heavy cream and the Parmesan and cook, uncovered, just until heated through, about 2 more minutes. Taste to decide if you'd like to add a bit more salt, then serve.
WATCH THE VIDEO:
NOTES
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, Reader's Digest, and Better Homes and Gardens.