This is a classic, easy pumpkin soup made with fresh pumpkin that is very fast to make. Thick, creamy and full of flavour, this is THE pumpkin soup recipe you will make now and forever!
Don’t forget the hot buttered crusty bread for dunking! {Bonus: pumpkin soup is super healthy with just 189 calories per serving!}
Pumpkin soup
Some recipes should be kept simple as nature intended them to be, and in my opinion, Pumpkin Soup is one of those dishes. The natural flavour of pumpkin is good enough that you need very little to make a beautiful, creamy, full flavoured soup.
And while sometimes it’s nice to have a dolled up version with all the bells and whistles, 99% of the time, this simple recipe is how I make it.
It’s just a great EASY Pumpkin Soup recipe, a classic version that has everything it needs and nothing it doesn’t to be can’t-stop-eating-it delicious!
The secret ingredients to make pumpkin soup tastier is onion and garlic!
What goes in Pumpkin Soup
To make this great quick and easy pumpkin soup, you will need:
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Pumpkin – Peeled and chopped into large chunks (or purchase it pre-cut). See below for the best pumpkin to use and recipe notes for canned pureed pumpkin option;
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Onion and garlic – the secret ingredients that adds extra savouriness into the soup flavour!!
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Stock/broth and water – for a tastier pumpkin soup, don’t skip the broth!
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Milk, cream or half and half stirred through at the end. Here’s my view on cream. Does it make it better? Yes, insofar as adding richness to the soup. Is it necessary? Absolutely not. You do NOT need cream to make the soup thicker. All the thickness comes from the pumpkin itself. I usually make Pumpkin Soup with milk instead.
If you don’t have cream but want extra richness in your soup, just add a touch of butter!
Do you have to peel pumpkin for soup?
Yes, you do. The skin is too tough and won’t puree properly so you’ll end up with hard bits in the soup.
Best pumpkin for pumpkin soup
Use any type of eating pumpkin you want OR butternut squash (which is called butternut pumpkin in Australia). DO NOT use Halloween carving pumpkin used to make Jack-O-Laterns. While they are edible, they are not that tasty!
US: sugar pumpkin or butternut squash.
Australia: common ideal types include Jap/Kent, Jarradale, Queensland Blue or Butternut Pumpkin (which is called butternut squash in the US)
If you’re not a fan of chopping and peeling pumpkin, try my No-Chop Roasted Pumpkin Soup!
How to make pumpkin soup from scratch
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Place peeled pumpkin, onion, garlic, broth/stock and water into a pot;
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Boil rapidly for 15 minutes until pumpkin is very tender;
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Use a stick blender or transfer to blender to blitz smooth; and
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Adjust salt and pepper to taste, then add either milk OR cream – whichever you prefer.
The secret ingredients are the garlic and onion. It makes all the difference to add extra savouriness!
How to add flavours to pumpkin soup
While plain pumpkin soup is my favourite and the way I serve it most often, sometimes it’s nice to change things up by adding other flavours! Here are a few suggestions:
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Curried pumpkin soup – stir in a touch of curry powder once you blitz it, add little by little
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Thai red curry – start by sautéing 2 tbsp red curry paste in 1/2 tbsp oil over medium heat. Cook for 2 minutes until really fragrant, then proceed with recipe ie add liquids and pumpkin etc. Then instead of using cream, use coconut cream. Garnish with coriander/cilantro. SO GOOD!
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Ginger– saute 1 tbsp finely chopped ginger in 1/2 tbsp oil or butter, then proceed with recipe.
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Lightly Spiced – stir in 1/2 tsp each cumin, coriander and smoked paprika.
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Turmeric – 1 1/2 tsp each ground turmeric, coriander and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Storing pumpkin soup
Pumpkin soup will keep in the fridge for 4 to 5 days, or can be frozen for 3 months – just thaw then reheat using your chosen method.
If your soup is too thick, just loosen it with a touch of water when reheating.
If it’s too thin (unlikely, but could happen!), then just simmer on the stove for a while to let it reduce – this will thicken it.
Soup Dunkers
A soup this thick and creamy demands bread for dunking! Try one of these:
4 steps. A bit of chopping, plonk it all in a pot, blitz, season then serve.
A thick and creamy pumpkin soup that’s full of flavour. Sweet pumpkin flavour, savouriness from the broth, garlic and onion.
You’ll be mopping up every last bit of this with your bread!! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Pumpkin Soup - Classic and Easy
Ingredients
- 1.2 kg / 2.4 lb pumpkin (any type) OR butternut squash , unpeeled weight (Note 1)
- 1 onion, sliced (white, brown, yellow)
- 2 garlic cloves , peeled whole
- 3 cups (750ml) vegetable or chicken broth/stock , low sodium
- 1 cup (250 ml) water
- Salt and pepper
Finishes:
- 1/2 - 3/4 cup (125 - 185 ml) cream , half and half or milk (Note 2)
Instructions
- Cut the pumpkin into 3cm / 2.25" slices. Cut the skin off and scrape seeds out (video is helpful). Cut into 4cm / 1.5" chunks.
- Place the pumpkin, onion, garlic, broth and water in a pot - liquid won't quite cover all the pumpkin. Bring to a boil, uncovered, then reduce heat and let simmer rapidly until pumpkin is tender (check with butter knife) - about 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and use a stick blender to blend until smooth (Note 3 for blender).
- Season to taste with salt and pepper, stir through cream (never boil soup after adding soup, cream will split).
- Ladle soup into bowls, drizzle over a bit of cream, sprinkle with pepper and parsley if desired. Serve with crusty bread!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
* Originally published June 2014, photos replaced in 2018, brand new improved video added in September 2019, minor housekeeping 2020 (no change to recipe).
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Thanks so much for this easy tasty recipe. Love it and sooo easy to follow. Agreed, onion and garlic really makes it even yummier! x
Thanks! N x
Thanks so much for this easy tasty recipe. Love it and sooo easy to follow. Agreed, onion and garlic really makes it even yummier!
I made this but mine seems quite thin for some reason
Hi James! All I can think is that the amount of pumpkin you used was less than specified?? 🙂 N xx
Great recipe, thank you Nagi!!! I used butternut squash, the soup came out delicious.
Wonderfully tummy filling AND heartwarming! Cooked this for family dinner tonight. Thank you for sharing the magic.
So nourishing! Enjoy Nx❤️
Wonderful, I served this soup with dinner tonight and my family loved it.
If using canned pumkpin… Is it necessary to blend?
Pictures don’t show hints of onion or nothing, so that will be in the soup. But will not blending smooth impact flavor?
Can I use frozen pumpkin?
Hi! Is there a way to make this in a crockpot?
A foolproof recipe tried and true. I impulsively picked up some kind of squash (I don’t speak the local language that well, so I don’t know what type I purchased), tossed it into a pot, and finally got to debut my new immersion blender.
It all boiled up nicely and with a few pinches of salt, pepper, and other spices around the kitchen, I was in Heaven. With winter rearing its ugly head, I learned how to make this just in the nick of time. I’ve proudly packed a cup for lunch tomorrow and am gonna brag all day about how good this stuff was. Thanks so much for the simple recipe.
Can I freeze this ? And would you add the cream once thawed so you can get it nice and hot again without separating cream?
Made it yesterday, the most delicious soup I’ve ever tried!
HI, If I use the canned pumpkin am I supposed to boil that in the water and broth? Would I just add the water, broth, and canned pumpkin puree in the blender? Thank you
No that won’t work sorry Chelsea as you have onion and garlic that needs cooking! N x
In terms of “Jack o’ Lantern” pumpkins – there are now heirloom varieties that have become popular in the US and Canada. Those are the ones that are flattened, have blueish/grey skin, or skin that is rough – those are the ones you’ll want to use those for this soup. The standard carving pumpkins that you and your kids can pick from a pumpkin patch are crap – stay away from those. Kabochas would be excellent for this soup, too.
Hello, would it work to combine chicken and vegetable broth to get the appropriate amount of broth?
Cooked this for the second time, was perfect 👌🏼
Thanks Nagi xx
Ps I follow a lot of your recipes and all have come out gorgeous 🙂
This really is the easiest to make and the most delicious pumpkin soup . I added some Bulla light cooking cream and it was perfect .
I’ll toss out my other pumpkin soup recipes after trying this one . Thanks Nagi 😀
So tasty! We added the red curry paste and more garlic/ginger and it was delish!
Hi Nagi, is it possible to blender all the ingredients first then cook & boil them together? I’m asking coz I only have a food processor & don’t have a blender or stick blender. And I would prefer not to wait for the soup to cool slightly before blending it into a puree & then having to heat it up again in order to enjoy a bowl of hot soup 😅
Thanks.
No sorry Melanie! You’ll kill your blender trying to blend raw pumpkin! N x
But she said she has a Food Processor and NOT a blender. I’d say Yes, you could try this. However, have fun trying to peel your Pumpkin first. It’s up to you though.