Roasted Butternut Squash Gnocchi Soup

This Roasted Butternut Squash Gnocchi Soup is a bowl of creamy comforting nourishment. Easy to make and loaded with umami flavor.

It was below 70F the day I made this. I consider that as good a time as ever to start up a series of tasty soups. So I hope you’re ready for all the comfort in one bowl. Honestly, what better way to emphasize comfort than a bowl of butternut squash soup? But we can do better than that and add some gnocchi to that too. Wholesome, tasty and a good way to welcome the fall season.

Why You’ll Love This Butternut Squash Gnocchi Soup

• Satisfying soup. This soup uses wholesome and filling ingredients loaded with fiber, nutrients and protein to help create a satisfying meal in one.
• Easy to make. This soup doesn’t require a lot of chopping and preparation. Just roast and blend then add the gnocchi and kale to finish the soup off.
• Nourishing. Even with a few simple ingredients, this soup is loaded with a ton of antioxidants, fiber and protein.

Health Benefits of Butternut Squash

Butternut squash is part of a category of hearty squashes known as winter squash. The brilliant yellow orange flesh on the inside of winter squash are an indication of the rich antioxidants they contain. To name a few of these nutrients, we have beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E — all associated with supporting your immune system. The beta-carotene, along with vitamin E, are also great for skin health and eye health, and are associated with lower chronic disease risk.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

• Butternut Squash: This soup is best with butternut squash as it has a natural sweetness to it that works really well with the flavors. A good alternative is acorn squash, but you may want to adjust flavors and cooking time based on size and variety used.
• Garlic: We are using 2 heads of garlic. While this may seem like a lot, we are roasting both bulbs to help bring out more sweet and savory undertones.
• Onion: I used yellow onion, but red onion or 2 large shallots can work here too.
• Fresh Herbs: I used a combination of thyme and sage. Feel free to use more or less based on preference.
• Nutritional Yeast: This is a way to add in extra umami flavor. You can instead dissolve some miso paste in vegetable broth then pour it in at the end.
• Kale: Wanted to add in some extra greens, so chose some kale. Feel free to use spinach or collard greens instead.
• Chickpeas: Feel free to use white beans, butter beans or lentils as an alternative. They all can bake well, just make sure to pat them dry before roasting.
• Gnocchi: I used mini gnocchi, which takes 2-3 minutes to cook in the broth. You can use regular gnocchi or gluten-free gnocchi as an alternative.

How to Make Butternut Squash Gnocchi Soup

Preheat the oven to 425F. Cut the butternut squash in half then scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Cut 1/4 inch off the top of each head of garlic to expose the cloves.

Place the squash and garlic bulbs cut side up in a large baking dish along with the onions then top with the thyme sprigs and sage. Use enough oil to drizzle over the squash and garlic to properly coat then sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt and white pepper. Flip the squash and garlic cut side down in the pan then place in the oven to bake for 35 minutes or until the squash is soft.

Place the chickpeas in a clean kitchen towel and pat dry. Add the chickpeas to a separate sheet pan then top with the paprika, thyme, a pinch of salt and pepper then drizzle with oil. Toss to coat then place in the oven for 30 minutes, stirring half way.

Once the squash and garlic are safe to handle, scoop out the flesh into a large pot. Add the onions, roasted sage and squeeze out the garlic from the bulb into the pot.

Pour in the broth, nutritional yeast, and smoked paprika then stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer then use an immersion blender to blend the soup smooth.

Add the gnocchi and kale then stir well to combine. Continue to simmer until the gnocchi is tender and cooked through (time will vary based on the brand of gnocchi you use). Taste and adjust the salt and pepper to your liking.

To serve, portion your soup then top with the chickpeas and enjoy.

Expert Tips

• Cook time for the gnocchi will vary package to package. Using regular gnocchi will require more cook time. Always check the recommended cook times and test out a gnocchi before removing it from heat.
• Roast the squash until soft. The thickness of your squash will determine your cook time. If your squash still needs cook time after 35 minutes, just place back in the oven for 5-10 minutes more until soft.
• Good quality vegetable broth makes a big difference. I like to either use 1-2 cubes of bouillon cubes dissolved in water or Better Than Bouillon Paste instead.
• If the broth is too thick, you can thin it out with more vegetable broth or water until it is at your desired consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ways to Customize Your Soup

• Extra Herbs: Portion out the soup, then top with the crispy chickpeas before serving. If you have some extra sage, you can heat up some oil in a pan. Add the sage and allow to cook for 1 second before removing from heat. Use the crispy sage to top over the soup and enjoy.
• Up the Protein: Replace the chickpeas with some baked tofu or crispy tempeh crumbles. For higher protein tofu, try super firm tofu instead of extra firm tofu.
• Extra Richness: Drizzle the top of the soup with some garlic infused extra virgin olive oil or some chili oil for a little extra spice.

More Soup Season Recipes

• Creamy Vegan Potato Soup
• Chipotle Red Lentil Potato Soup
• Lemony White Bean Potato Soup
• Vegan Split Pea Soup with Smoky Baked Tofu
• Mushroom Wild Rice Soup

Print

If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog, then let me know what you thought in the comments below! And if you loved it, don’t forget to rate it too. Feel free to follow on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok for the latest nutrition tips and recipe videos.

★ Catherine

This post contains affiliate links which means I will make a small commission if you purchase from those links. I only recommend and share products that I know, trust and personally use myself!