Pressure Cooker Butternut Squash Soup! Steam the whole squash in a pressure cooker like the Instant Pot, then puree it with onion, celery, carrot, apples, and broth. Quick and easy.

Photography Credit: Coco Morante

Winter squashes are my favorite vegetables to cook with during the cold weather months. They’re so hearty and sweet, and especially well-suited to making delicious, comforting soups!

Cooking these hard squashes is a snap in a pressure cooker like the Instant Pot. You can have a steaming, creamy bowl of butternut squash soup on the table in about 45 minutes!

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3 Easy Steps to Butternut Squash Soup

This soup is made in three easy steps:

The butternut squash is cut into quarters and steamed in the pressure cooker. (I love my Instant Pot!) Once steamed, it’s very easy to scoop the flesh away from the tough outer skin. This is a great way to prepare winter squash if you’re wary of peeling and dicing hard, raw squash. Next, you’ll sauté the other veggies for the soup right in the Instant Pot. This is a basic mix of celery, carrots, and onions along with the second star ingredient of this soup, a sweet-tart Granny Smith apple. The apple adds an extra dimension of flavor, and lightens up the texture of the soup, too. Finally, add the squash back to the pressure cooker and use an immersion blender to pureé it into soup. You can use a regular blender if you want, but I love this easier, less messy option.

New to the Instant Pot? Check out our post How To Use an Instant Pot: A First-Timer’s Guide.

How to Make Thicker Soup

Love really thick butternut squash soup?! Add just half of the recommended amount of broth, puree, and then stir in additional broth as needed until you reach the consistency you prefer.

If you’ve already added the stock and think your soup is too thin, try adding a few pieces of bread or a cup of canned white beans and pureeing the soup again. This will thicken the soup right up!

What to Serve with Butternut Squash Soup

Serve the soup with a dollop of plain yogurt and a sprinkle of chives on top.

It makes a nice light meal on its own, or you can pair it with garlic bread, grilled cheese, or panini for a heartier meal.

How to Freeze Butternut Squash Soup

This soup will keep in the fridge for about a week and can be reheated in the microwave or over low heat on the stovetop.

To freeze, transfer to freezer containers or bags, then freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge if you have time, or warm the frozen soup over low heat on the stovetop until steaming.

Craving more squash soup recipes?