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🧈 Creamy Butternut Squash Soup with Bacon

This cozy, creamy butternut squash soup with bacon is a fall tradition in our home — made for our first fire of the season, movie night, and plenty of sourdough for dipping. Smoky, sweet, and velvety smooth, it’s comfort in a bowl.
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 260kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 large butternut squash about 4–5 lbs, peeled, seeded, and cubed
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon diced
  • 2 tbsp butter or reserved bacon fat
  • 1 large yellow onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 medium carrots peeled and chopped
  • 1 medium apple Honeycrisp or Fuji, peeled and chopped
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional garnishes: crisp bacon sour cream, chives, or roasted pepitas

Instructions

  • Crisp the Bacon: In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook diced bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels. Reserve about 1 tbsp bacon fat in the pot (or use butter).
  • Sauté Aromatics: Add the butter, then sauté onion, garlic, and carrots until softened, about 5–6 minutes.
  • Add Squash and Apple: Stir in the cubed butternut squash and chopped apple. Season with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and smoked paprika.
  • Simmer: Pour in chicken broth, bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat. Cover and simmer 20–25 minutes, until squash is very tender.
  • Blend Until Creamy: Use an immersion blender (or carefully transfer in batches to a countertop blender) and blend until smooth and silky.
  • Add Cream & Bacon: Stir in heavy cream and half of the cooked bacon. Simmer uncovered for 5–10 minutes to thicken slightly.
  • Adjust Seasoning: Taste and adjust with more salt, pepper, or nutmeg as desired. Serve warm, topped with remaining bacon and optional garnishes.

Notes

  • Make Ahead: This soup reheats beautifully. Store in the fridge up to 4 days or freeze up to 3 months. Add a splash of broth or cream when reheating.
  • Vegetarian Option: Omit bacon and use vegetable broth. Add a little smoked paprika or chipotle powder for smoky flavor.
  • Serving Tip: Pair with warm, crusty same-day sourdough bread for dipping.