Butternut squash soup is rich, creamy, and so delicious! It’s a great fall soup, but what should you serve with it? This post is full of recipes for salads, sandwiches, main dishes, and breads that all pair well with butternut squash soup.
Butternut Squash is one of my favorite fall flavors. I love using it to make soup because it comes out so creamy.
For my easy Butternut Squash Soup recipe, I roast the butternut squash along with a red onion on abaking sheet, then puree it with a good quality vegetable stock using an immersion blender. The result is a simple but insanely delicious soup that is great on its own, or used as a base recipe to add your own spin to it.
I love that this soup is simple enough for a quick lunch, but also impressive enough to serve at your holiday dinner. This is the perfect soup to serve for your soup course at a fall or holiday dinner party.
What Does Butternut Squash Taste Like?
Butternut squash tastes like fall to me! It is sweet, nutty, rich, and a little earthy. Its flavor is similar to pumpkin or sweet potato. You can usually find it all year long at the grocery store, but its peak season is the fall and winter.
Butternut squash has a texture similar to a carrot when cooked. It can be roasted, sautéed, mashed, and puréed. It is a winter squash like pumpkin, acorn squash, and spaghetti squash.
Since butternut squash soup’s main ingredient is butternut squash, the soup also has a sweet, rich, and earthy flavor with a smooth velvety texture.
What Flavors Pair Well With Butternut Squash Soup?
I love thinking about flavor pairings when developing recipes. Some flavors are just perfect together, while others clash with each other.
These are some of my favorite flavors to pair with butternut squash and butternut squash soup.
- Fresh herbs – sage, rosemary, and thyme
- Warm spices – nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, cayenne pepper, and black pepper
- Creamy elements – butter, coconut milk, and heavy cream
- Cheese – parmesan, goat cheese, and gruyere
- Sweet flavors – maple, bourbon, honey, and vanilla
- Proteins – pork, pancetta, bacon, and chicken
- Earthy flavors – onions, mushrooms, carrots, and parsnips
What to Serve With Butternut Squash Soup?
Butternut squash soup is a pretty versatile dish!
It is a hearty soup that can be eaten alone, but light enough to be served with another dish.You can serve it as is with some toppings, or pair it with crackers or a baguette. Soup and a sandwich is a classic combination! For a lighter pairing, you can try a fall inspired salad with autumn produce. For dinner, you can serve it as an appetizer, or pair it with your favorite protein for a great side dish.
My favorite way to eat butternut squash soup is with homemade garlic butter croutons, fresh sage, and a swirl of cream. I have gathered some of the best recipes from each of these categories for you to pair with butternut squash soup!
Here are my favorite things to pair with butternut squash soup:
- Sandwiches
- Salads
- Main course proteins
- Breads and crackers
- Toppings
Let’s break these down and look at some perfect pairings below, or click the links above to go straight to that section!
Sandwiches
Soup and sandwiches are a classic combo, and perfect for lunch or a lighter dinner. I love a hot pressed sandwich dipped into a savory soup! Try some of these sandwiches to pair with your creamy butternut squash soup.
Brie and Apple Grilled Cheese
A grilled cheese sandwich is made for soup dipping! Gooey melted cheese, crunchy fresh fruit, sweet and sticky honey in between crispy, buttery bread make this Brie and Apple Grilled Cheese absolutely delicious.
Turkey Pesto Sandwich
This is the best turkey pesto sandwich recipe! It’s full of flavor and made with turkey breast, pesto, sun dried tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. This turkey pesto panini is a great way to use up turkey leftovers and you will love how easy it is to make.
Bacon Turkey Bravo Sandwich
This Bacon Turkey Bravo Sandwich is a Panera copycat. Soft and delicious tomato basil bread, smoked turkey, smoked Gouda cheese, smoked bacon, crispy lettuce, juicy tomatoes with a signature sauce. Perfect for dunking into a bowl of butternut squash soup!
Fall Harvest Turkey Wrap
A turkey wrap is a great lunch option anytime of year, but great when paired with autumn flavors! This wrap is easy to prepare and has a cranberry, apple, and butternut squash slaw.
The Best Turkey Reuben
Crunchy on the outside with a creamy, tangy interior creates a delightful grilled sandwich. This leaner twist of the classic reuben sandwich uses turkey instead of corn beef. In addition to the melted cheese and yummy sauerkraut, homemade Russian dressing makes this sandwich a special treat.
Roast Beef Sandwiches
Make an elegant beef roast for a special dinner, then serve thick deli style roast beef sandwiches the next day. These are out of this world heavenly, and all made at home. Take a crusty baguette, slather it with a creamy balsamic horseradish sauce, place long shaves of parmesan cheese, some crisp lettuce, and load on the roast beef.
Apple & Brie Grilled Cheese with Baby Greens
This fall-inspired grilled cheese features luxurious brie cheese, crisp apple slices, fresh baby greens, and a honey-mustard dressing. Can’t imagine a more satisfying lunch!
Grilled Turkey Cranberry Cream Cheese Sandwich
This Grilled Turkey Cranberry Cream Cheese Sandwich is the perfect light meal after a decadent Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Creamy and tart on the inside, toasty on the outside. It’s worth cooking chicken for all on its own!
Salads
Soups and salads are another dynamic duo! Butternut squash soup pairs especially well with autumn inspired salads that are full of other fall produce. There is also something refreshing about serving a cold salad with a warm soup. Here are some delicious salads to pair with your butternut squash soup.
Savory Steak and Squash Salad
While most people think of a soup and salad as a light meal, serving this steak and squash salad with your butternut squash soup would be incredibly satisfying! This savory salad has a wonderful apple maple dressing as a nod to the fall season, while squash and cranberries also play their part. This is one of the best fall salads!
Sweet Potato Kale Salad with Maple Mustard Dressing
This sweet potato kale salad is the perfect warming salad for fall. It’s easy to make and is packed full of tasty spiced roasted sweet potatoes, kale, chickpeas and apples. A great option for make ahead salads for the week. Hearty kale and sweet potato make a filling salad to accompany your butternut squash soup!
Fall Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash
This Fall Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash is a little sweet, a little savory, warm, and hearty. It's a simply delicious addition to your next dinner spread or holiday meal.
Roasted Chickpea Fall Salad
This delicious Roasted Chickpea Fall Salad is crisp and hearty! Made with chopped kale, crunchy pepitas, walnuts, pomegranate arils, dried cranberries and chickpeas roasted with oil, turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon, this salad is one of the BEST for fall. Top it off with a sweet or savory vinaigrette and enjoy! This hearty salad paired with butternut squash soup would make for a filling and wholesome meal!
Autumn Harvest Kale Salad
This Autumn Harvest Kale Salad has slightly roasted kale and Brussels sprouts (for easier digestion), delicata squash, and tossed with tangy balsamic vinaigrette. This fall kale salad is naturally paleo and Whole30 boasting all your seasonal favorites.
Wholesome Fall Grain Salad with Harissa Dressing
This fall grain salad is packed full of goodness with roasted butternut squash, grains and plenty of tasty mix-ins and dressed with a lovely spicy dressing. It’s simple to make and perfect for preparing lunches ahead for the week.
Acorn Squash Salad with Maple Dressing
Roasted acorn squash salad is a must for Thanksgiving or even as a side for a fall dinner, especially drizzled with creamy dressing made with maple syrup! Acorn squash is similar to butternut squash, but their flavors are different. They pair well together to make a perfect butternut squash soup meal.
Fall Cobb Salad
A fun fall twist on the classic cobb salad! This Fall Cobb Salad is packed with the fun flavors and textures of the season. The salad is finished off with a rosemary and apple cider vinegar salad dressing. This salad a warm bowl of butternut squash soup make for a perfectly filling fall meal.
Roasted Pumpkin Salad
This Roasted Pumpkin Salad is topped Homemade Honey Vinaigrette Dressing, pomegranate seeds, roasted pumpkin seeds and more making it a deliciously flavorful meal or side salad.
Main Course Proteins
If you are serving a larger meal, butternut squash soup can be the perfect side dish to compliment your main course! Soups make the best side dishes for a savory main dish. I especially love serving pork with butternut squash, but chicken, beef, and even seafood pair well with it too! I curated this list of delicious main course proteins to pair with butternut squash soup.
Blackened Cast Iron Pork Tenderloin Recipe
This is the best pork tenderloin recipe! The pork is coated in blackening seasoning, seared in a cast iron skillet, then transferred to the oven to finish cooking. This method makes juicy, tender, and flavorful pork tenderloin every time!
Go to recipe
Sous Vide Cajun Turkey Breast
This Sous Vide Cajun Turkey Breast is hands down the juiciest turkey breast you will ever make! The turkey breast is coated in cajun spices, butter, and fresh herbs, then cooked with the precision cooker until moist and flavorful. It is perfect for slicing thin for sandwiches, or thick for your holiday main course!
Go to recipe
Whole Roasted Turkey
A whole roasted turkey slathered with a savory compound butter with rosemary, sage, and thyme. The turkey is stuffed with garlic, onions, and lemon and roasted until juicy on the inside and crisp on the outside. Obviously turkeys are a Thanksgiving staple, but they are still delicious any time of the year! Pair this turkey with butternut squash soup for a special holiday dinner, or just because.
Pork Tenderloin au Poivre
A twist on classic Steak au Poivre made with juicy and succulent pork tenderloin seared to perfection then smothered in creamy, peppercorn infused pan-sauce. This elegant roast is sure to become a part of your holiday traditions!
Butter Poached Sous Vide Lobster Tail
Sous Vide Lobster Tail sounds fancy, but is shockingly easy to make! With the magic of sous vide, you can't mess lobster up, so no need to worry about a rubbery disaster. Serving this lobster with a side of butternut squash soup would make for a seriously impressive dinner!
Pork Roast Dinner For Two
Enjoy a classic Sunday dinner for two without the leftovers by cooking Pork Roast For Two in the oven with vegetables and gravy. To make an even more filling meal, serve butternut squash soup as your appetizer or side dish to this meal.
Honey Balsamic Chicken
Honey Balsamic Chicken is a great weeknight dinner recipe! Tender, juicy chicken is served with a sweet and simple balsamic glaze and perfectly roasted vegetables for a dinner that is as easy as it is impressive! This would be great as a main dish with butternut squash soup on the side.
Apple Cider Pork Chops
These one-pan apple cider pork chops are seared and then oven baked with delicious caramelized apples and sage for a really quick but elegant and easy meal with minimal ingredients. Pair this with butternut squash soup to round out your fall flavored meal!
Crispy Roasted Pork Belly with Cranberry Mustard
This easy-to-follow recipe will teach you step-by-step how to make perfect, melt in your mouth, crispy roasted pork belly. Serve this pork belly alongside tangy cranberry mustard, the perfect condiment to complement and balance the fattiness of the pork! Pork belly can be a deliciously decadent protein. To balance it out, pair it with a simple healthy butternut squash soup.
Breads & Crackers
Serving a soup with breads or crackers is a great option to create a more filling meal. I love adding some homemade croutons to the top of a thick soup like butternut squash soup, or dunking a crusty bread to soak up all the delicious broth of french onion soup. Here are some homemade breads and crackers perfect for serving with butternut squash soup.
Homemade Rosemary Cheddar Cheese Crackers
If you’re anything like me, you will love cheddar cheese crackers too! They’re crunchy, cheesy and just make the perfect snack. A lot of the boxed ones have preservatives, so you might want to make this homemade cracker recipe yourself. They are an easy cracker recipe if you are looking for some homemade cheese bites. They would be delicious to add some texture to your butternut squash soup.
Herb Parmesan Wool Roll Bread
This fancy pants herb parmesan wool roll bread looks difficult to make but is quite easy. It’s packed with chopped herbs and parmesan and is pillowy soft. Fresh herbs and parmesan cheese both pair well with the flavor of butternut squash.
Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread
This recipe for Dutch Oven Sourdough Bread will be the easiest loaf of sourdough bread you will ever make! All you need is a dutch oven and 4 ingredients to make this artisan-style bread at home. A crusty loaf of sourdough is a delicious pairing with any soup!
Sourdough Sour Cream And Chive Pull-Apart Rolls
These sourdough sour cream and chive pull-apart rolls are soft, fluffy and super easy to make! They're the perfect addition to any Thanksgiving spread! These are brushed with lots of chive butter and topped with flaky sea salt!
Sourdough Crackers
These sourdough crackers are the perfect healthy snack to serve along with your favorite dips or soups. A great way to use your sourdough discard and you only need 5 ingredients! These would be a great accompaniment to your soup course.
French Baguette
This classic French Baguette recipe uses 4 simple ingredients to make long loaves of crusty bread that have a tender and chewy inside! Perfect when paired with butter, jam, cheese, or a delicious soup!
Garlic Butter Rolls
Throw out your boring basic dinner roll recipe! These garlic butter rolls hold a special secret. Tossed generously in garlic herb butter, then completely covered in fresh parmesan cheese, these garlic rolls are perfect for your holiday dinner table, or to accompany any meal!
Homemade Crackers
You won't believe how easy these savory crackers are. Crackers are a great addition to a smooth and creamy soup like butternut squash, since it adds a nice texture contrast.
Braided Challah Buns
Challah bread is a lightly sweet, fluffy white bread that is a must for Jewish holidays and family celebrations. These Braided Challah Buns are a delicious handheld version of the gorgeous loaves I grew up loving. These make such a stunning presentation served up in a basket on the table.
Toppings
This butternut squash soup is a simple recipe, so it’s the perfect canvas to add in your favorite toppings! Here are some ideas for topping your savory soup.
- Go for a nice contrast in texture by adding croutons, kale chips, or nuts.
- Make it more hearty with sautéed mushrooms or diced roasted root vegetables.
- Keep with the creamy texture by swirling in some cream or coconut milk.
- Add crumbled bacon or pancetta for a savory crunch.
- Roasted garlic or caramelized onions would be perfect to enhance the rich flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to freeze butternut squash soup?
Butternut squash freezes very well. I like to portion out 2 servings each in quart size freezer bags and lay them flat in the freezer. Once frozen I stand them up filing cabinet style for easier organization. Don’t forget to label and date!
When is butternut squash in season?
You can usually find butternut squash all year long at the grocery store, but its peak season is the fall and winter.
Is butternut squash soup healthy?
Yes! This recipe for butternut squash is pretty healthy since it only contains vegetable broth, butternut squash, red onion, and a little bit of olive oil.
Meet Lauren
I’m the blogger, recipe developer, food photographer, and otherwise food obsessed gal behind Lauren From Scratch. I was born and raised in New Orleans and lived in South Louisiana most of my life. Growing up around Cajun country has instilled a love of food that runs deep in my bones. I am passionate about food and teaching you how to make mouth-watering Louisiana inspired dishes in your own kitchen!
About Lauren
