Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 to 6 servings
  • Total: 1 hr 20 min
  • Active: 45 min
Get the flavor of a slow simmered squash soup in half the time using an Instant Pot® multi-cooker.
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Ingredients

Soup:

5 ounces pancetta, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 stalk celery, cut into 1-inch pieces

1/2 medium onion, cut into 1-inch pieces

4 large sage leaves, minced

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

7 cups butternut squash cut into 1-inch pieces (from a 2-pound squash)

3 cups chicken stock

1 cup cream, optional

Toppings:

8 ounces small white button mushrooms, stems trimmed, cut into 1/8-inch slices

Pinch ground cumin

Kosher salt

Creme fraiche or full-fat Greek yogurt, thinned to a pourable consistency with 1 to 2 tablespoons water 

Minced chives

Directions

Special equipment:
a 6- or 8-quart Instant Pot® multi-cooker; an immersion blender
  1. For the soup: Set a 6- or 8-quart Instant Pot® to medium saute setting (see Cook's Note) and line a plate with a paper towel. Add the pancetta to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp and the fat is rendered, about 8 minutes. Remove the pancetta with a slotted spoon to the lined plate. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of the drippings from the pot and reserve.
  2. Add the carrots, celery, onion, sage, cumin, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened, about 5 minutes. Add the squash and chicken stock. Follow the manufacturer's guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. Set to pressure cook on high for 25 minutes. After the pressure cook cycle is complete, follow the manufacturer's guide for quick release and wait until the quick release cycle is complete. Be careful of any remaining steam and unlock and remove the lid. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth. Use the cream or water to thin the soup to the desired consistency. Season with additional salt and pepper.  
  3. For the toppings: Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the reserved pancetta fat in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, cumin and a generous pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms have released all their liquid and turned brown and slightly crisp, 10 to 20 minutes. Remove the mushrooms and set aside for the topping.
  4. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve topped with the crisp pancetta, mushrooms, creme fraiche and chives.

Cook’s Note

Settings may vary on your Instant Pot® depending on the model. Please refer to the manufacturer's guide.

Let's Get Cooking!

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Anonymous

This was good but I wasn’t a fan of the immediate taste of celery in the soup. Instead of cumin, I used a little nutmeg. I also added brown sugar- maybe a spoonful- and added a little more 1/2 and 1/2. I feel like otherwise, it reads chicken soup but with a squash flavor. I think this is a good base recipe and then you can make it according to your taste and flavors you’re going for.

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