Easy & Creamy Instant Pot Curry Butternut Squash Soup: A Flavorful Fall Favorite
Embrace the cozy comfort of fall with this incredibly creamy and delicious Curry Butternut Squash Soup. Infused with a perfect blend of sweet squash, aromatic spices, and a delightful curry kick, this soup is a true culinary masterpiece. It combines simple, easy-to-find ingredients with a bold, unforgettable flavor profile, making it an ideal meal for any day of the week. Whether you’re seeking a comforting weeknight dinner or an impressive dish for entertaining, this recipe delivers on both taste and convenience. What makes it even better? We’re preparing this savory squash soup in the Instant Pot, ensuring minimal effort and maximum flavor, along with an incredibly easy cleanup. Get ready to fall in love with your new favorite soup!
This Instant Pot Curry Butternut Squash Soup is more than just a meal; it’s an experience. Each spoonful offers a harmonious balance of sweet, savory, and subtly spicy notes, thanks to the star ingredient, butternut squash, complemented by the exotic warmth of curry. The addition of creamy coconut milk transforms it into a silky-smooth texture that melts in your mouth. This recipe is designed for ease, proving that gourmet flavors can be achieved without spending hours in the kitchen. Let’s dive into how you can create this extraordinary soup with me!
Why the Instant Pot is Your Best Friend for Soups
If you’re a regular here, you know my profound love for the Instant Pot. It’s not just a kitchen appliance; it’s a game-changer, especially when it comes to crafting rich, flavorful soups. The Instant Pot excels at developing deep flavors in a fraction of the time compared to traditional stovetop methods. Its pressure cooking function locks in moisture and infuses ingredients with spices more effectively, resulting in a more robust and satisfying end product.
Beyond flavor, the Instant Pot is a master of convenience. It cooks tough ingredients like butternut squash, potatoes, and even meats to tender perfection with incredible speed. This means less active cooking time for you and more time to enjoy your culinary creations. Plus, the single pot cooking means significantly less cleanup – a huge win in any busy kitchen. If you haven’t yet experienced the magic of pressure cooking, this Curry Butternut Squash Soup is the perfect recipe to start your Instant Pot journey!
Ready to revolutionize your cooking? If you don’t own one yet, now is the perfect time to shop the Instant Pot on Amazon and unlock a world of quick, delicious meals. Its versatility will quickly make it an indispensable tool in your kitchen.
Other Instant Pot Recipes You’ll Love
Once you’ve mastered this amazing soup, explore other fantastic dishes you can whip up with your Instant Pot:
- Instant Pot Rice Pudding: A comforting dessert ready in minutes.
- Instant Pot Fresh Tomato Sauce: Garden-fresh flavor, effortlessly.
- Instant Pot BBQ Rump Roast: Tender, savory meat perfect for any occasion.
- Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup: A hearty and zesty classic.
The Star Ingredient: Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is the heart and soul of this creamy soup, offering a naturally sweet and nutty flavor that perfectly complements the curry. To make this curry butternut squash soup recipe as effortless as possible, I highly recommend using pre-cubed butternut squash. You can find it readily available in the produce or freezer sections of most grocery stores, including places like Smith’s and Costco. Using pre-cubed squash saves you significant prep time, allowing you to get this delicious soup on the table even faster.
However, if you prefer to go the fresh route and cube the squash yourself, it’s absolutely doable and offers that extra satisfaction of homemade goodness. Just be sure to choose a squash that feels heavy for its size and has smooth, unblemished skin. When cubing, use a sturdy chef’s knife and exercise caution, as butternut squash can be quite firm. Cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, then peel and cube it into roughly 1-inch pieces. This additional step will only enhance the fresh flavor, but it will add a bit of time to your preparation.
Beyond its delicious taste, butternut squash is also a nutritional powerhouse. It’s packed with vitamins A and C, fiber, and antioxidants, making this soup not just comforting but also incredibly healthy. It’s a fantastic way to sneak in some wholesome goodness.
Achieving Perfect Creaminess: The Immersion Blender
The secret to the incredibly smooth and velvety texture of this Curry Butternut Squash Soup lies in the blending process. My go-to tool for this is an immersion hand blender. This convenient gadget allows you to blend the soup directly in the Instant Pot, eliminating the need to transfer hot liquid to a separate blender, which means fewer dishes and less risk of spills. It’s a must-have for any soup enthusiast!
If you don’t have an immersion blender, don’t worry! You can absolutely achieve the same silky-smooth consistency using a regular blender. Simply ladle the cooked soup mixture (in batches, if necessary, ensuring not to overfill the blender) into your blender, secure the lid, and blend until smooth. Be cautious when blending hot liquids; leave a small opening at the top of the lid (or remove the center cap) to allow steam to escape and prevent pressure buildup. A towel over the lid can also help prevent splashes. The goal is a uniform, lump-free texture that enhances the soup’s luxurious feel.
Flavor Deep Dive: Curry, Ginger, and Coconut Milk
The magic of this soup truly shines through its flavor profile, anchored by aromatic curry powder. Curry powder is a blend of spices, typically including turmeric, coriander, cumin, and fenugreek, offering a warm and complex taste. You can adjust the amount of curry powder to your preference, from a mild hint to a bold, spicy kick. Feel free to use 1 teaspoon for a subtle flavor or up to 1 tablespoon for a more pronounced, vibrant curry experience.
Fresh grated ginger adds a bright, zesty counterpoint to the sweetness of the squash and the earthiness of the curry, while basil contributes a hint of herbaceous freshness. A splash of lime juice at the end brightens all the flavors, adding a necessary acidic balance. Finally, a can of full-fat coconut milk is crucial for that rich, creamy texture and a subtle tropical undertone that harmonizes beautifully with the curry. It’s the ingredient that transforms this soup from good to absolutely divine.
Making it Your Own: Vegetarian & Vegan Options
This recipe is incredibly versatile and can easily be adapted to suit various dietary needs. To make this soup vegetarian, simply substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth. The flavor profile will remain robust and delicious. For a completely vegan version, ensure your butter substitute is plant-based (like vegan butter or olive oil for sautéing) and, of course, continue using vegetable broth. The coconut milk naturally makes it dairy-free, so no changes are needed there. It’s a simple swap for a nourishing plant-based meal!
Serving Suggestions & Creative Variations
This Curry Butternut Squash Soup is delightful on its own, but a few simple additions can elevate it further. Garnish each bowl with a sprinkle of toasted pumpkin seeds for crunch, a swirl of extra coconut milk, fresh basil leaves, or a few sprigs of cilantro. A side of crusty bread or warm naan bread is perfect for dipping and soaking up every last drop of this savory goodness. For a heartier meal, consider adding some cooked chickpeas, red lentils, or even shredded chicken (if not making it vegetarian) during the last few minutes of cooking.
Feel free to experiment with other vegetables like carrots or sweet potatoes for added depth and nutrition. A pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce can amplify the heat if you crave more spice. The beauty of homemade soup is its adaptability, so don’t hesitate to customize it to your taste!
Storage and Reheating Tips
This soup is wonderful for meal prepping! Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. It also freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply warm gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. If it’s too thick, you can add a splash of vegetable broth or water to reach your desired consistency. Freezing and thawing might slightly alter the texture, but the flavor will remain fantastic.
Don’t Forget to Pin It!
Loved this recipe? Make sure to save it for later! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board here so you can easily find it whenever a craving for creamy, flavorful soup strikes!
Curry Butternut Squash Soup

This Butternut Squash Soup is so creamy and delicious! It has simple, easy ingredients and a bold flavor! It’s the perfect combo deal!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 24 oz. butternut squash, cubed
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon-1 Tablespoon curry powder* depending on spice level
- 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon basil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 14 oz. can coconut milk
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to sauté.
- Add butter and onion and cook until the onion is soft.
- Next, stir in the garlic.
- Add in the butternut squash, chicken broth, curry powder, ginger, basil, lime juice, and salt and pepper.
- Turn the Instant Pot off, lock the lid, and set the valve to seal. Manually set the timer to 12 minutes.
- When the time runs out, quick release the pressure.
- With an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth.
- Finally, stir in the coconut milk.
- Serve hot with pumpkin seeds and additional basil if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6 servings
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 180
Total Fat: 6g
Carbohydrates: 27g
Protein: 4g