Creamy Pumpkin Soup

Meet your new cozy shortcut: creamy pumpkin soup made with canned pumpkin and ready in about 30 minutes. Silky, gently spiced, and endlessly customizable, it tastes like an all-day simmer using nothing but pantry staples.

overhead shot of bowl of pumpkin soup topped with pomegranates and pepitas


 

Recipe Essentials

While the ingredient list might look long, a cozy bowl of creamy pumpkin soup is more than worth it. A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.

  • Pumpkin puree – I like to use canned pumpkin for this recipe because it’s quick and easy, but if you have the itch to roast your own pumpkin to build the flavor profiles, here is my recipe for how to make your own pumpkin puree.
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • White onion
  • Fresh garlic cloves
  • Apple butter
  • Apple juice
  • Vegetable broth
  • Plain Greek yogurt
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Dried marjoram
  • Ground thyme
  • Ground nutmeg
  • Coarse Kosher salt
  • Ground black pepper
  • Toppings
overhead shot of ladle in pot of creamy pumpkin soup

Mix Things Up

This creamy pumpkin soup is a blank canvas waiting for you to add your own personal touches. Here are some ideas.

  • Curried Pumpkin Soup: curry powder + ginger, finish with lime + cilantro
  • Maple-Sage: brown butter + fresh sage, finish with 1–2 tsp maple
  • Smoky Chipotle: adobo + smoked paprika, finish with crema/lime (DF: coconut yogurt)
  • Protein Add-Ins: crispy pancetta/bacon crumble; toasted chickpeas for vegan
close up angled shot of bowl of creamy soup topped with pomegranate seeds and pepitas

Perfect Pairings

One of my favorite parts of this soup is the toppings! We like to top ours with pepitas, microgreens, a swirl of additional yogurt, olive oil, flakey sea salt, pomegranate seeds or fresh herbs.

I love to serve this creamy pumpkin soup alongside warm bread like focaccia bread or garlic knots. You can also serve it as a starter for any meal with porkbeefchicken, or seafood.

I also love serving soups with a salad of some sort. Something as simple as a side salad is perfect, or serve with something a little more sophisticated like Fried Halloumi Salad, Brussels Sprout Salad or Pear Salad with Candied Walnuts.

close up of spoon full of creamy pumpkin soup

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use pumpkin pie filling instead?

No, pie filling is no the same as pumpkin puree. It is sweetened and spiced. Use 100% pumpkin for proper seasoning.

How do I make this dairy free?

Swap the greek yogurt for full-fat coconut milk or cashew cream and use olive oil instead of butter. Keep in mind the texture will be slightly thinner.

Can I make this in the slow cooker or Instant Pot?

Slow Cooker: Place all of the ingredients into the slow cooker and set to low for 2 hours. The benefit is being able to serve it at parties and also that the heat will not have the chance to get high enough to separate.
Instant Pot: Combine everything except Greek yogurt and set to low manual pressure for 4 minutes. Use quick release and whisk in Greek yogurt before serving.

slice of bread dipping into creamy soup
overhead shot of bowl of pumpkin soup topped with pomegranates and pepitas

Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin

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Silky, cozy pumpkin soup using canned pumpkin—ready in 30 minutes. Balanced spice, topping ideas and freezer tips included.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

Optional Garnishes:

Instructions

  • In a large Dutch oven or stock pot, heat the 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil over medium high heat. Add the chopped 1 white onion, sauteing for 2-3 minutes, then stir in the minced 2 cloves garlic, sauteing for an additional minute.
  • Stir in the 30 ounces canned pumpkin puree*, 9.5 ounces apple butter, 1/2 cup apple juice, 2 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, 1 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram, 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon coarse Kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper. Blend the mixture well using an immersion blender.*
  • Bring the soup to a low simmer over low heat for approximately 15-20 minutes. Do not heat too high or the yogurt can separate from the soup.
  • To serve, ladle into soup bowls and top with desired garnishes of pepitas , microgreens , additional yogurt , olive oil , pomegranate seeds , fresh herbs , and/or flaky sea salt .
  • If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Notes

If using homemade pumpkin puree, this is about 3 2/3 cups. 
Storage: This creamy pumpkin soup will stay fresh in the fridge in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
Freezing: Place in an airtight container and store for up to 3 months. Frozen soups can lose a little flavor, so make sure you adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 287 kcal, Carbohydrates: 56 g, Protein: 8 g, Fat: 5 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g, Trans Fat: 0.003 g, Cholesterol: 3 mg, Sodium: 1210 mg, Potassium: 652 mg, Fiber: 8 g, Sugar: 38 g, Vitamin A: 33428 IU, Vitamin C: 12 mg, Calcium: 138 mg, Iron: 4 mg
Author: Jessica Formicola
Calories: 287
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: canned pumpkin soup, creamy pumpkin soup, fall soup, pumpkin soup recipe
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!

More Cozy Soup Recipes

There’s nothing I love more on a cold fall or winter day than a hot bowl of soup! Here are some of my favorites.

collage of creamy pumpkin soup
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

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