Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup Recipe is so easy to make! Let the pressure cooker do all the work for this creamy butternut squash soup!
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We just love all the squash that’s in season during the fall and winter months because they make the coziest recipes like our Stuffed Acorn Squash, Crockpot Squash Soup, Buffalo Spaghetti Squash Casserole, and now this Pressure Cooker Butternut Squash Soup!
This creamy and comforting butternut squash soup is made in the Instant Pot and is ready in just 30 minutes with little prep.
Loaded with nourishing ingredients, this soup is satisfying, healthy, and vegan-friendly.
For other vegan-friendly soups, try our Sweet Potato Soup, Minestrone Soup, or Pasta Fagioli.
Why We Love this Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup Recipe
There is a lot to love about this healthy & easy butternut squash soup recipe. It’s one of our favorite soups because it’s:
- Oh so creamy – Most butternut squash soup recipes have a lot of heavy cream in them, but this soup gets all the creaminess from the broth, veggies, and a touch of coconut milk.
- Easily customizable – Whether you need to make this lower salt or lower carb, there’s a substitution for everything below!
- Perfect For An Easy Dinner – There are only 15 minutes of prep for this delicious soup. Let the instant pot do most of the work!
- Simple Clean Ingredients – So many veggies are packed into each bowl of this butternut squash soup!
Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup Ingredients:
To make butternut squash soup you’ll need:
- butternut squash
- celery, carrots
- shallots, garlic
- fresh ginger, sage leaves, fresh thyme
- anjou pear
- vegetable broth, coconut milk
- cardamom, salt, and pepper
- coconut sugar
You can find substitutions for all of these ingredients below in the green shaded box.
How to Make Butternut Squash Soup (Instant Pot Version)
- Add all ingredients (except coconut milk) to the instant pot. Select the manual setting, high pressure, and set time for 12 minutes, then close the lid and valve.
- Once finished cooking, manually release the pressure. Remove the thyme sprigs and add the leaves only back in.
- Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until the contents are fully pureed. Once pureed, add in the coconut milk and stir until it is no longer visible.
- Serve hot, topped with pepitas, chopped chives, and a swirl of coconut cream.
Instant Pot Squash Soup Substitutions:
Coconut Milk: You can substitute heavy cream or half and half for the coconut milk. I don’t recommend using almond milk or other alternatives because coconut milk‘s fat is important for the finished flavor.
Coconut Sugar: Maple syrup or maple sugar make great substitutes for coconut sugar in this recipe. Brown sugar would also work.
Broth: You can use beef or chicken broth instead of vegetable broth
Sodium: If you’re looking to reduce sodium, omit the salt and use a salt-free broth. The nutrition facts reflect using a salt-free broth.
Herbs: Feel free to add more thyme, rosemary, or sage to this recipe. 1/2 teaspoon of dried herbs will be the perfect amount!
Roasted Veggies: If you want to try a soup made with roasted veggies, try our Roasted Butternut Squash Soup Recipe.
How to Thicken Butternut Squash Soup
The best way to thicken up Butternut Squash Soup is by adding less broth to the recipe. You can also add a bit of flour or cornstarch to thicken it as well.
Can this soup be made in the slow cooker?
This recipe can be made in a slow cooker, it will just cook slower. To cook this butternut squash soup in a slow cooker, prepare the ingredients as described above then add them to a 6-quart slow cooker and cook for 2-3 hours on high heat or 4-6 on low heat. Resume the instructions as listed in the recipe card once the soup is finished cooking in order to blend and serve.
What to serve with Butternut Squash Soup?
Try toppings like:
- croutons
- pine nuts, pepitas
- toasted almonds
- chives, cilantro, or microgreens
- fresh cracked pepper or cinnamon
- bacon
- freshly grated parmesan cheese
To make this side dish a filling meal:
- toss in some cooked white kidney beans or chickpeas
- pair with a grilled cheese or chicken tenders
- toss in some chicken meatballs or cooked sausage
What salad goes with butternut squash soup?
Any salad would go well with butternut squash soup, but we love to pair it with our Fall Apple Walnut Salad or Easy Kale Salad.
Tips for Pressure Cooker Butternut Squash Soup
- Have an extra 5 minutes? By sautéing the shallot, garlic, and ginger in the bottom of the Instant Pot with a little bit of olive oil, you can develop more depth of flavor.
- Try it spicy. Adding a couple of dashes of cayenne pepper or a spoonful of chili paste can kick the soup up a notch.
- If your pear is not quite ripe you can add another tablespoon of coconut sugar to the recipe. Taste when finished and add it if needed.
- If you are sensitive to salt or are using fairly salty broth, skip the added salt. We love to use homemade broth to cut down on the salt content.
What if I don’t have an immersion blender?
A regular blender will also work for this recipe. The blender should be rated for hot liquids and be 1000 watts or greater to be able to properly puree the soup.
Be sure to transfer the soup carefully into the blender pitcher because it will be very hot when coming out of the Instant Pot.
Butternut Squash Soup Recipe Instant Pot FAQ
Start by slicing the bulb off the squash, then slice the butternut squash in half. Scoop out the seeds, then cut the squash into cubes.
Yes, we recommend peeling your squash before cutting it.
There is no harm in leaving the skin on in soup, it tastes fine once cooked and blended.
Storing Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
How long does butternut squash soup last? : This soup stores well in an airtight container. It can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Can you freeze butternut squash soup? : You can freeze this recipe for up to 2 months. We like these containers for freezing !
How to freeze Butternut Squash Soup: If you plan to freeze the soup, let it cool then transfer it to an airtight glass container and freeze. To thaw, remove from the freezer and thaw in the fridge for 24 hours.
Reheating: You can reheat this recipe in the microwave or on the stove.
more healthy soup recipes:
Looking for other soup recipes? Check out these 40+ Healthy Soup Recipes. Click here to grab our free healthy soup cookbook.
Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients
- 4 cups butternut squash cubes 1 2.5 lb butternut squash
- ¾ cup celery chopped
- 1 cup carrots peeled and cut into about ¼ inch rounds
- ½ cup shallots diced (2 shallots)
- 4 cloves garlic mixnced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger peeled & grated
- 5 large sage leaves minced
- 6 sprigs of fresh thyme
- ½ cup Anjou pear cored and diced (1 pear)
- 3 cups vegetable broth low or no salt
- 1 1/2 cups full-fat coconut milk or milk of choice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar optional
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients. Peel and remove the seeds from the butternut squash and dice into about ½-inch cubes. Peel and dice the shallot. Peel and mince the garlic.
- Remove the tops and ends from the celery and chop. Peel and cut the carrots into about ¼-inch rounds. Peel the ginger and grate. Remember the soup will be blended so the size and shape of the cuts are not too important.
- Add the butternut squash, carrots, celery, shallot, garlic, ginger, pear, minced sage, coconut sugar, salt, and spices to the basin of the Instant Pot. Top with broth (the coconut milk will be added after cooked and blended) and stir. Before replacing the lid top with thyme sprigs. Select the manual setting and set it to high pressure. Set the time to 12 minutes, then close the lid and valve. If your Instant Pot has a "Soup/Broth" setting, this will also work.
- Top with broth and stir. Do NOT add the milk. Before replacing the lid top with thyme sprigs. Select the Manual setting and set it to High pressure. Set the time to 12 minutes, then close the lid and valve. If your Instant Pot has a "Soup/Broth" setting, this will also work.
- Once finished cooking, release the pressure based on the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Remove the thyme sprigs. Gently run fingers down each sprig to release the leaves into the basin and discard the woody pieces.
- Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until the contents are fully pureed. Be careful as the soup will be very hot. You can also do this by using a high powdered hot/cold blender. You may want to allow the soup to cool slightly before transferring it to the blender pitcher.
- Once pureed, add in the coconut milk and stir until it is no longer visible.
- Serve hot, topped with pepitas, chopped chives, and a swirl of coconut cream.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Kristen says
Delicious and comforting