Fall is finally here and it’s resembling winter! Geez, the temperatures dropped fast!
We’ve been craving soups these days so I had a perfect excuse to come up with a few new recipes for the blog! A sweet Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup sounded just like the ticket!
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosure.
I fell in love with butternut squash a few years ago when I tried it for the first time! I know, it’s a little nuts that I had never eaten butternut squash, but it wasn’t something that was available in Honduras plus I never knew there could be a vegetable that was so sweet and delicious!
Soup, Soup, and More Soup!
So with fall in the air, I went on a soup rampage and fed my family soup for a week! They’ve learned not to complain! As a matter of fact, they all seemed to enjoy all the new and different soup flavors available.
I made a delicious and creamy Tomato Soup that turned out amazing! I also made a great pumpkin soup and, of course, this Butternut Squash Soup, which instantly became a family favorite.
The Perfect Butternut Squash Soup
I wanted to give the soup the same flavor you get in those perfect soups where the butternut squash is roasted, but I also wanted to make it easy and quick since I was using my Instant Pot. With Ryan’s help, we managed to come up with a soup that has the best of both worlds.
The lightly roasted butternut squash gives the soup a lot more depth. We tested it several different ways and found that it wasn’t necessary to roast all the butternut squash. As long as you do part of it, the flavor will be enhanced. I explain in the step-by-step, as well as in the directions how to achieve the “roasting” in the Instant Pot.
This soup turned out to be one of my favorite soups ever. It has a little bit of a kick because of the cayenne pepper, but it’s not a lot. If you can’t handle any kick at all, you can always cut that down even more.
Essential Items
Here are some essential prep tools, utensils, and appliances I used to make this recipe.
Featured Items
Here is a list of the products featured in this post or products similar to those featured in this post:
- Chef’s Knife
- Soup Bowls
- Flexible Cutting Mats
- Handheld Immersion Blender
- Instant Pot
- Liquid Measuring Cups
- Mini Mitts
- Paring Knife
- Ladle
- Wooden Turner
- Y Vegetable Peeler
- Oval Measuring Spoons
12 Must-Have Instant Pot Cookbooks
If you’re looking for a cookbook with easy and reliable Instant Pot recipes, then check out my list of approved Instant Pot Cookbooks.
I’m certain that when you serve up a warm bowl of this butternut squash soup, you will love it. Oh, and don’t forget to check out my Pumpkin Soup and Tomato Soup also.
If you are an Instant Pot beginner I have included a step-by-step below. If you don’t need a step-by-step, you can just skip this part and go straight to the recipe card below the steps. You will also find some tips and tricks in the recipe card to help you create this wonderful soup.
How To Make Butternut Squash Soup in the Instant Pot
Butternut squash soup is a fall favorite, and this Instant Pot version is so easy to make. This step-by-step will guide you through making this delicious soup in your Instant Pot.
Let’s get started making this wonderful Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup.
Step 1: Gather the Butternut Squash Soup Ingredients
This delightful butternut squash soup is loaded with wonderful ingredients. Butternut squash and onion are browned in butter and cooked with sweet, tangy Granny Smith apples, and a medley of spices in a coconut base. Maple syrup and coconut milk add a sweet creaminess that perfectly complements all the other flavors in this soup.
- Butter: In this recipe, I first brown the butter. This adds a rich, nutty aroma and flavor to the soup that’s absolutely irresistible. You can substitute the butter for coconut oil if you’re wanting to make this dairy free, but if you can use the butter, I definitely recommend going that route.
- Butternut Squash: I use a large 3 lb. Butternut Squash and skin, seed and cube it. I then sauté a portion of the squash until it begins to caramelize on the edges to bring out loads of flavor. You can also buy the equivalent in pre-cut Butternut Squash from your local grocery store. When buying pre-cut, make sure to get enough to fill six or seven heaping cups which will be 2 to 2 1/2 lbs of squash.
- Yellow Onion and Garlic: One medium yellow onion and 4 cloves of garlic add some wonderful flavor and taste to this soup.
- Granny Smith Apples: The Granny Smith Apples add the right amount of sweet, tart, and tanginess to the soup. You’ll need to peel and dice two apples.
- Paprika, Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg and Cayenne Pepper: Nothing says fall like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. The paprika and cayenne pepper add a bit of sweet, smoky spiciness to this dish.
- Coconut Water: Instead of broth, I use coconut water which adds a really nice and light sweetness to the soup.
- Coconut Milk: I use coconut milk instead of heavy cream in this recipe. It really blends well with all the other flavors and gives the soup a creamier consistency.
- Maple Syrup: Just a touch of maple gives this soup the right amount of sweet. The faint, woody, caramelized flavor perfectly complements the other flavors in this soup.
Step 2: Set the Instant Pot
Select the ‘Sauté’ function on the Instant Pot and then adjust the heat level to ‘Normal’ using the ‘Adjust’ button. Allow the pot to warm up until the front panel reads ‘Hot’.
Step 3: Melt and brown the butter
Add the butter to the warm pot and allow it to melt. Use a spoon or spatula to move the butter around the pot to help it melt faster. Once all the butter has melted, continue scraping the bottom of the pot stirring the melted butter around. Do this until the butter begins to brown evenly.
You will first begin seeing the proteins in the butter (little small specs) start to brown and you will begin smelling a nice nutty aroma. When this starts to happen, you’re very close! Continue stirring and scraping the bottom of the liner until the butter turns a light golden brown color throughout. This takes about 2 to 3 minutes
Step 4: Sauté the butternut squash and onion
As soon as the butter is a light golden brown color, add the first part of the butternut squash and onion to the pot. Toss them with the butter until they are fully coated, then allow them to sit undisturbed for 4 to 5 minutes. This will allow them to begin to brown on the bottom.
Step 5: Toss and repeat
Toss the squash and onion around and then let them cook for another few minutes before tossing yet again. Continue repeating this process until the squash and onion have begun to brown on all size and caramelize on the edges. This will take anywhere from 12 to 14 minutes. This will help us mimic that great roasted flavor from the oven, in our Instant Pot.
Step 6: Add the garlic and spices
Add the garlic, paprika, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper to the pot. Mix the spices into the butternut squash and onion and then continue sautéing, tossing periodically until the spices begin to release their aroma. This will only take a couple of minutes.
Step 7: Turn off the ‘Sauté’ function
Once the garlic and spices have sautéed for a couple of minutes, turn off the ‘Sauté’ function.
Step 8: Add the remaining butternut squash and onion – plus the apple
Add the rest of the butternut squash and onion to the pot. Then add the diced green apple and mix everything together well.
Step 9: Add the salt and coconut water
Add the salt and coconut water to the Instant Pot and then mix everything together very well, scraping the bottom to deglaze the liner.
Step 10: Close the Instant Pot and cook
Close the Instant Pot and set the pressure release valve to ‘Sealing’. Next, select the ‘Soup’ function and set the cook time to 30 minutes at ‘High Pressure’. Once the cooking has completed, allow for a 10 minute ‘Natural Pressure Release’ before releasing any remaining pressure.
Step 11: Puree the Butternut Squash Soup
Once all the pressure has been released from the Instant Pot, use an immersion blender to puree the butternut squash, onion and apples until the soup is smooth.
Step 12: Add the coconut milk and maple syrup
Add the coconut milk and maple syrup to the pot and, using the immersion blender, blend them into the soup.
Serve the Butternut Squash Soup
Now it’s time to grab a bowl and serve up a warm bowl of this butternut soup. I hope you have a chance to try this wonderful version of Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup. It’s the perfect recipe for the cooler fall and winter months. If you make this soup, please leave a comment below and let me know how it was.
QUICK & EASY RECIPES
When you sign up to become a newsletter member, you’ll get access to my latest quick & easy homemade recipes, homemaker tips and tricks, free printables, and more delivered directly to your inbox each week.
Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
BROWN BUTTER CARAMELIZED BUTTERNUT SQUASH IN A COCONUT BASE
Ingredients
- 1 large butternut squash 2 ½ – 3 lbs, skinned, seeded, cubed and divided
- 1 medium yellow onion rough cut, and divided
for the Sautéed Vegetables
- 4 tablespoons butter (unsalted)
- 1 cup yellow onion
- 3 cups butternut squash
- 4 cloves garlic minced
for the Spices
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
the remaining Fruits and Vegetables
- butternut squash the remaining squash
- yellow onion the remaining onion
- 2 Granny Smith apples cored, peeled, and diced
for the Soup Base
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt or to taste
- 3 cups coconut water
to add After Cooking
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut milk
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot on ‘Sauté’ and using the ‘Adjust’ button, adjust the pot to ‘Normal’ and allow it to warm up for a few minutes or until the pot reads ‘Hot’.
- Add the four tablespoons of butter and allow it to melt. Sauté the butter, continually stirring and scraping the bottom of the liner with a spoon or spatula until the butter begins to brown evenly, about 2-3 minutes.
- As soon as the butter is a light golden brown color, add 3 cups of the butternut squash and 1 cup of the onions to the pot and stir them into the butter so that they are fully coated and then allow them to sit undisturbed for 4-5 minutes so that they will begin to brown and caramelize on the bottom. Toss the squash and onion around and then let them cook for another few minutes and then toss again. Repeat until the squash and onion have begun to brown and caramelize on all sides, approximately 12-14 minutes in total. Take care not to allow them to burn.
- Add the garlic and spices and continue sautéing for an additional 2-3 minutes tossing periodically until the spices begin to release their aroma.
- Turn off the ‘Sauté’ feature and add the remaining butternut squash, onion and apples and toss everything together. Then add the salt and coconut water and mix everything together well, scraping and deglazing the bottom of the liner as you mix.
- Close the Instant Pot and set the pressure release valve to ‘Sealing’ and then set the pot to cook at ‘High Pressure’ for 30 minutes using the ‘Soup’ function. Once the cooking time has completed, allow for a 10 minute NPR (natural pressure release).
- Once the 10 minute NPR has completed, release any remaining pressure and open the pot. Using an immersion blender, puree all of the ingredients in the pot.
- Add the coconut milk and maple syrup and blend into the soup.
- Serve and enjoy!
I just made the butternut squash soup! Delicious.
Can I freeze it if I put the coconut milk in it? Thanks
Hi Barbara! I’m so happy you enjoyed the soup! I have to tell you, I’ve never tried freezing it so I couldn’t tell you if there would be a problem with the milk. Let me know if you try it out! Thanks for stopping by the blog!
Hi, can you use frozen butternut squash?
Hi Monica! My recipe calls for sauteing the butternut squash before pressure cooking it. This allows for better flavor and the cook time I provide is based on sauteing as well. You wouldn’t be able to do this with frozen butternut squash. Hope this helps. Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you!