This filling and creamy butternut squash soup recipe is made entirely in an Instant Pot and is the ultimate heartwarming comfort food. It’s also naturally vegan, gluten free, dairy free, and easy to make in under an hour! Serve alongside my rosemary sea salt dinner rolls and a warm mug of glühwein.
Halloween’s over, so that means we get to talk about all things Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, right? Right. Mind you, I still take them one at a time.
In October I focus on Halloween, then November I focus on Thanksgiving, and then at the stroke of midnight headed into the Friday after Thanksgiving it’s full steam ahead to Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
It’s also full steam ahead on soup season. The time of year where I crave all my favorite comfort foods, and this easy butternut squash soup recipe is one of those favorites.
It’s creamy, smooth, and the definition of heartwarming. This butternut squash soup is made with coconut milk and apples – it’s perfectly spiced, and the addition of a tart apple adds the perfect balance of flavors.
I’ve routinely made a meal out of this soup and my Rosemary Sea Salt Dinner Rolls, but you could always serve it up as an appetizer or side dish to your dinner.
In the past I’ve served my golden child (and fan favorite) Carrot Ginger Soup as the first course for Thanksgiving dinner. But this year? Well, this has made itself the new front runner for our holiday table.
Making butternut squash soup
Prepare the butternut squash
- Peel your butternut squash and slice it in half lengthwise.
- Scoop out the seeds, just like you would with that Halloween pumpkin that is currently squirrel food.
- Cut your butternut squash into 1-2″ cubes; core, peel and dice your apple; peel and dice your onion; mince your garlic; and grab a couple sprigs of sage.
- Note: You can also use pre-cut butternut squash (like a package from the store).
Combine everything in the Instant Pot
- In your Instant Pot, combine your all your chopped veggies, vegetable stock, and sage.
- Next add your spices (turmeric, salt, black pepper, white pepper, cayenne, cinnamon, and nutmeg).
- Stir to combine, but don’t worry too much about getting everything evenly distributed.
Cook in the Instant Pot
- Cover the IP with lid and make sure it’s locked closed. Set vent to “Sealing”.
- Press “Pressure Cook”, set the “Pressure Level” to high.
- Press the + button until the time reads 9 minutes. Let it cook until it beeps to indicate that it’s done.
- Using an oven mitt or towel, carefully move the valve to the “Vent” setting and let it release all the pressure that’s built up. It will be a loud whistling sound – I recommend warning anyone else in the room so they don’t think a freight train is plowing through the room. It may take a few minutes before it stops.
Finish with coconut milk and blend
- Remove the lid and carefully remove and discard the sage sprigs.
- Pour in the coconut milk, and give it a quick stir.
- Stick an immersion blender (aff link) into the pot close to the bottom, then turn it on and slowly move it around the pot to blend everything together.
- Blend until smooth. Give it a taste, and if you find you want to add any more of any of the spices, add a pinch and blend again to combine.
Use a ladle to portion soup into cups or bowls. It’s going to be super hot straight out of the Instant Pot (aff link), so be careful!
If you have leftovers but think you’ll want to come back for more, just put the lid back on and press the “Keep Warm” button.
Coconut milk instead of heavy cream
I love making this butternut squash soup with coconut milk because it helps make it so creamy. Garnish with a swirl of coconut milk and freshly ground pepper, if desired. It makes for a pretty presentation, but isn’t necessary from a flavor standpoint.
This is another plug for serving this with warm Rosemary Sea Salt Dinner Rolls – they’re sturdy enough to support being dipped in the soup, and the combination makes for a lovely cold-weather dinner.
How to store butternut squash soup
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
To reheat, warm in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.
After you’ve made this recipe, please consider coming back to share your experience with others by leaving a comment below with a star rating!
Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 cups butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced (about 2 medium squash)
- 16 ounces vegetable stock
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 apple, cored and diced (I like using Granny Smiths)
- 2 sprigs fresh sage
- 1 white or yellow onion, diced
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
- A pinch of cayenne
- A pinch of ground cinnamon
- A pinch of ground nutmeg
- ¾ cup canned coconut milk
Instructions
- In your Instant Pot, combine butternut squash, vegetable stock, garlic, apple, sage, onion, turmeric, salt, black pepper, white pepper, cayenne, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir to combine, then cover with lid and make sure it’s locked closed.
- Set vent to “Sealing” and press “Pressure Cook”, set the “Pressure Level” to high and press the + button until the time reads 9 minutes. Let it cook until it beeps to indicate that it’s done.
- Using an oven mitt or towel, carefully move the valve to the “Vent” setting and let it release all the pressure that’s built up. It will be a loud whistling sound, and may take a few minutes before it stops. Remove the lid.
- Carefully remove and discard the sage sprigs, and then stir in the coconut milk.
- Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth.
- Transfer to cups or bowls and serve immediately. Enjoy!
- Optional: Garnish each bowl with a small swirl of coconut milk and freshly ground pepper.
Notes
- If you have leftovers, just put the lid back on and press the “Keep Warm” button.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
- To reheat, warm in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally until hot.
Gail Norden
Checklist for tonight:
Book to read CHECK
Fire in Fireplace CHECK
Football game on TV CHECK
Butternut Squash Soup I decided I needed at the last minute CHECK
This soup was absolutely delicious. Cooked so quickly, without sacrificing flavor. I was nervous about using coconut milk, but it worked great.
Love the pictures you provide, since I never know how big the pieces should be when it says to dice them.
I’ll be making this again this week when my picky sister-in-law comes up for lunch.
Erin Markway
This was so easy! But it sure didn’t taste like it! The flavor is so full and complex and comforting. I chopped everything during my baby’s naps during the day and then just pushed some buttons and made magic. I also made Stress Baking’s sea salt dinner rolls (make them, now, you’ll thank me later) and it was the absolute perfect fall dinner. We’ll be adding this soup to our regular rotation!
Leslie Kiszka
This comment made my day – thank you so much for coming back to share your experience (and omg I love those rolls, too!)
Aline
I’ve always loved butternut squash soup, but never had it with apples in it – such a cool touch that made a ton of difference in the finished product. Thank you!!!
Rebecca Blackwell
I purchased an Instant Pot nearly a year ago and have only used it a few times. But, this soup looked so good that I dug it out and made it this weekend. I’m so glad I did because it’s positively delicious! It’s exactly the kind of thing I want to eat on crisp Fall days. And so incredibly easy to make. Thanks for a great recipe!
Sophie
This looks divine. Loved the way you have showed each step and each ingredients in detail. Thank you for the recipe.
Leslie Kiszka
Thank you for leaving a comment and a rating!
Tammy
I love butternut squash soup! So creamy and yet healthy too…this looks heavenly! :D Wish I had a big bowl of this right now!
Leslie Kiszka
Me too, I can’t believe I ate it all! *cries*
Veronika
I love that you are making this soup in Instant Pot! It makes the whole process so much easier and faster) Your photos look so beautiful, I would have a bowl of this soup right now!
Leslie Kiszka
Thank you for the kind words! It’s so easy with the Instant Pot, I don’t know how I lived before I had it haha
Veena Azmanov
Easy, delicious, nutritious and easy to make too. Love the Instant Pot option to it. Thiis is full of flavors as well.
Leslie Kiszka
Such wonderful flavors!
Analida Braeger
A fantastic soup cooked in 9 minutes is amazing! I love the step by step photos to break down the process. Thanks for sharing!
Leslie Kiszka
Thank you for leaving a rating and comment, much appreciated!
Sharon
Butternut squash is a staple in my house for the fall and this butternut squash soup looks so comforting and delicious.
Leslie Kiszka
Same here! Sometimes I freak out when I realize we’re running low, hah
Amanda
Thanks for such a delicious recipe! I love the coconut milk addition — it adds such a wonderful complexity. Will make this again and again!
Leslie Kiszka
I sure hope so! Thank you so much for stopping by to leave a comment and a rating!
Paula Montenegro
This is the perfect soup to have around while baking all the holiday recipes. It looks stunning and the flavor is amazing! The fact that it’s made in the instant pot only add to a great recipe.
Chef Dennis
Yum! This Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup looks really appetizing! I really want to have this after a long and tiring day. Looks really comforting.