Sausage Butternut Squash Soup (dairy free)

caitlinbrae — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 23:28:41 +0000

Sausage butternut squash soup is cozy and comforting. It’s loaded with veggies, spicy sausage, baby kale plus a variety of seasonings. It’s also made dairy free by using canned coconut milk!

Sausage butternut squash soup

Calling all soup lovers!

If you are a soup lover like me, you’re going to love this sausage butternut squash soup. The ‘broth’ of this soup id made from a mixture of chicken broth and blended butternut squash – genius right? Lol kidding, but it is actually so delicious. The combination of broth and blended squash creates a creamy and flavorful base for this recipe.

What’s also great about this recipe is that it uses frozen butternut squash (which you can typically find in the frozen vegetable section). This makes the soup process SUPER easy. There is no peeling, cutting, chopping or scooping of butternut squash necessary. Although, if you want to use fresh butternut squash – go for it! Just make sure you roast the squash in the oven until fork tender.

Here are a few other reasons why you’ll love this soup:

This soup makes the best cozy meal.
It is packed with lean protein.
Butternut squash soup is freezer friendly.
You can use frozen or fresh butternut squash.
This soup makes a family-friendly meal.

Ingredients in sausage butternut squash soup

Spicy ground turkey sausage, (I like ground turkey or ground chicken sausage but you can also use pork sausage)

Two fresh garlic cloves to enhance all the flavors

Chop one small yellow onion or half of a medium onion.

We will sauté the garlic and onion in a little bit of olive oil before mixing it in with the rest of the ingredients.

Chicken broth helps to make the soup the consistency we want.

Using frozen butternut squash creates a creamy nutrient dense base for this soup and also makes this recipe super easy.

Seasonings: dried thyme, dried sage, salt and pepper to taste

Adding canned coconut milk creates the best creaminess in this soup!

Potato gnocchi is the pasta we are working with.

Lastly, baby kale for added greens.

How to make butternut squash soup

Sausage and butternut squash makes the best combination, just follow the five steps below!

STEP 1

Firstly, start out by grabbing a large pan or skillet with tall sides. Sauté the onion and garlic (this will be for the butternut squash broth mixture). Add the garlic and onion to a pan with oil over medium heat. Sauté until fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Add the sautéed mixture to a high speed blender.

STEP 2

Meanwhile, microwave your frozen butternut squash (it should come in a microwaveable steam friendly bag). Once steamed, add the squash to the blender with the onion and garlic. Add in the chicken broth and seasonings. Blend for 1-2 minutes or until the mixture is smooth. Let is rest while we prepare the rest of the soup.

STEP 3

Using the same pan you used for the garlic and onion, brown the sausage in one tablespoon of oil over medium heat. If you are using full sausages, make sure to remove the casings so you can ground it in the pan. Brown the sausage until full cooked through.

STEP 4

Now, pour in the blended butternut squash mixture into the pan with the sausage.

STEP 5

Time to add in the coconut milk, broth, gnocchi, and kale. Bring the soup to a simmer. Let it simmer for 5-10 minutes until the gnocchi is cooked and the kale is wilted. You can add more broth to get the soup to the consistency of your liking.

Substitutes and variations

Gnocchi or tortellini. This soup calls for one package of gnocchi but if you want to switch things up you can substitute in tortellini (plain cheese tortellini is a great option!)

Turkey, chicken or pork sausage. This soup works great with a wide variety of protein options. While ground turkey or ground chicken are my go-to choices, feel free to use regular spicy pork sausage.

Coconut milk, milk, or half and half. To keep this recipe dairy free you’ll want to use coconut milk. If dairy isn’t an issue for you or you simply want to use an alternate option, you can definitely use whole milk or half and half as a 1:1 substitute.

Baby kale or spinach. A soup with added greens is always a great choice! This recipe calls for baby kale (no chopping or stem removal necessary!) however, you can definitely add in baby spinach instead.

Frequently asked questions

Can I store this soup in the freezer?

Yes! Simply cook the soup according to the instructions below. Let the soup cool and add it to a freezer friendly container (or these freezer cubes!) and store it in the fridge for 3 months.

What type of gnocchi can I use?

Gnocchi is a pretty simple pasta made of potato, flour and egg. However, different brands may vary with their seasonings and ratios. I recommend using fresh gnocchi found in the refrigerated section at the grocery store. Or feel free to use frozen gnocchi if that’s what you have on hand.

What other veggies can I add?

If you want to pack this soup with more veggies, I’ve got you covered. While this soup is loaded with kale and butternut squash you can definitely add in more veggies. When you’re sautéing the sausage you can add in finely chopped mushrooms, bell pepper, or broccoli. Or you can get creative and add any veggies you love! Please note if you add more veggies, you’ll likely need to increase the amount of chicken broth you are using to make sure the soup reaches the right consistency.

Other soup recipes you’re going to love

Chicken Tortellini Soup

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Gnocchi Sausage Soup

The Best Easy Taco Soup

The Easiest Roasted Tomato Soup

Did you make this soup?

If you make this sausage butternut squash soup, then please don’t forget to rate this recipe or leave a comment down below! I love hearing from you and your feedback and support is super helpful to me and to other readers thinking about making this recipe. For some more recipe inspiration, you can also find and follow me on Instagram and Pinterest. Enjoy!