• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

our recipes + your inbox = the eatmail

Join now

Subscribe for new recipes + 3 fan-favorite ebooks

  • About
  • Contact

Live Eat Learn

Easy vegetarian recipes, one ingredient at a time

free ebook

Subscribe for new recipes + 3 fan-favorite ebooks

  • Recipe Index
  • Vegetarian 101
  • Travel
  • Meal Plans
  • Course
    • Breakfasts
    • Lunches
    • Dinners
    • Appetizers
    • Sweets
    • Drinks
  • Diet
    • Dairy Free
    • Gluten Free
    • Low Carb
    • Paleo
    • Raw
    • Vegan
  • Season
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
  • Ingredient
    • Avocado
    • Bean
    • Cauliflower
    • Chickpeas
    • Eggplant
    • Mushroom
    • Tofu
    • Quinoa
    • View All
  • Collections
    • All Time Favorites
    • Air Frying
    • Budget Friendly
    • Comfort Food
    • High Protein
    • Meal Prep
    • Meatless Monday
    • View All
  • Visit our kombucha site
    Visit our dog food blog
Home Eat Dinners Soups

Slow Cooker Vegan Butternut Squash Soup

4.75 from 4 votes
Recipe Print Share
Share on:
By: Sarah BondUpdated: Nov 18, 2022 9 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.

Slow Cooker Vegan Butternut Squash Soup is a hands-off and delicious soup perfect for cold fall or winter days. Bonus: It makes your house smell amazing!

A bowl of vegan butternut squash soup with coconut milk and thyme drizzled and sprinkled on top

Despite being a food blogger, I can be really lazy when it comes to dinner time. I’ll throw an assortment of random blogging experiments on a plate (none of which go together) and call it a day. 

To prevent this, I’ve been relying more on my slow cooker to create a well-rounded dinner, because it’s just so easy. 

Throw in a bunch of yummy stuff, let it cook all day while I work, and have a meal magically appear before us when dinner time rolls around? It’s perfect!

This Slow Cooker Vegan Butternut Squash Soup is the epitome of crock pot meals, filled with fresh veggies and seasonings (and less ingredients mean less prep!).

And did I mention that making this soup is easy? Because it’s so easy. Cutting the butternut is probably the most time intensive part. Just throw the diced butternut in your slow cooker along with a granny smith apple (which brings the perfect amount of sweet zinginess), onion, garlic, thyme, and seasonings.

A bowl of vegan butternut squash soup with coconut milk and thyme drizzled and sprinkled on top

Ingredients in crockpot butternut soup

This vegan soup uses only 9 ingredients. Between the main items (squash, broth, and apple) and the flavorings (spices, onion, etc.), this dish features sweet, savory, and salty flavors and is a great option for a cozy night at home.

  • Butternut Squash: For this dish, 1 medium butternut squash will be plenty. It should amount to about 4 or 5 cups once diced. (Not sure how to cut a butternut? Here’s how.)
  • Vegetable Broth: We’ll be cooking the squash in 2 cups of veggie broth. I like going with the low-sodium option, but use what you have.
  • Garlic: Throw in 4 whole garlic cloves for maximum flavor.
  • White Onion: You’ll want 1 whole medium white onion, which should equal about 1 cup when diced. Yellow onions will also do the trick!
  • Granny Smith Apple: For a touch of tangy sweetness, add a granny smith apple! It may sound weird, but the apple is the magic ingredient.
  • Seasoning: Salt and pepper round out the flavor.
  • Fresh Thyme: Adding 1 bunch of fresh thyme will give the dish a subtle herby flavor.
  • Coconut Milk: Finally, add 1 cup of canned coconut for creaminess, and you’re done!
A bowl of vegan butternut squash soup with coconut milk and thyme drizzled and sprinkled on top

How to make easy butternut squash soup

The best part about this slow cooker butternut soup is how foolproof it is. Seriously, it’s as easy as dinner gets! Just cut up the squash, place it in a slow cooker (with almost everything else), and go on about your day. Prior to serving, simply blend and add the coconut milk, and that’s it! 

Step 1: Prep the butternut
Peel, deseed, and roughly chop the butternut squash. Add it to a slow cooker, along with everything except the coconut milk.

A slow cooker filled with diced butternut squash, diced green apple, diced white onion, thyme, and various seasonings

Step 2: Cook the soup
Stir to combine, and then cook for 6 to 8 hours on low, or 2 to 4 hours on high. The soup is ready when the butternut is easily mashed with a fork. 

A bunch of fresh thyme laid on top of butternut squash, green apple, and white onion cooking in a slow cooker

Step 3: Blend the ingredients
Pick out the sprigs of thyme. Use a handheld immersion blender to puree the soup. Alternatively, you can transfer it to a countertop blender and puree. 

Using a handheld immersion blender to blend the soup ingredients directly inside the slow cooker
Using a handheld immersion blender to blend the soup ingredients directly inside the slow cooker

Step 4: Serve and enjoy
Finally, stir in the coconut milk and serve, optionally drizzling more coconut milk over the soup after ladling it into bowls.

Pouring a can of coconut milk into a slow cooker filled with vegan butternut squash soup
Using a handheld immersion blender to blend the soup ingredients and coconut milk directly inside the slow cooker

What to serve up alongside vegan butternut squash soup

You may be wondering what on earth you should cook up to go with your butternut soup. That’s a fair question, as it’s always tricky finding the perfect pairing for soup, not to mention one made of squash and apples! However, I have some delicious ideas that you may want to consider.

Salad
You can never go wrong with a soup and salad combo! I mean, it’s Panera’s signature thing for a reason (pick 2, anyone?)! Essentially any salad would work well, though I’d bet money that something refreshing like Thai Cucumber Salad would taste the best! 

Veggies
If you’re not feeling salad, consider pairing your soup with a simple plate of veggies! You could try Roasted Asparagus (with Romesco Sauce!), Roasted Chickpea Stuffed Avocados, or even Cucumber Sushi Rolls.

Appetizer-Style Sides
Finally, if you’re craving something a bit heartier, go for some app-style sides! Spanikopita Triangles are a favorite in our house, as are Baked Zucchini Fries and Eggplant Parmesan Poppers.

Cozy up with more delicious soup recipes

As far as coziness is concerned, you can never have too much soup! After you’ve fallen in love with this crockpot butternut soup, try your hand at these meat-free options. Between tomato basil, pumpkin, and cauliflower, there are flavors for every craving!

  • 20 Minute Taco Soup
  • Mung Bean Soup
  • Fresh Tomato Soup with Basil
  • Pumpkin Soup with Smoky Roasted Chickpeas
  • Creamy Cauliflower Soup
A bowl of vegan butternut squash soup with coconut milk and thyme drizzled and sprinkled on top

Slow Cooker Vegan Butternut Squash Soup

4.75 from 4 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 10 minutes
Author: Sarah Bond
Calories: 298kcal
Servings: 4 servings
Print Rate
This Slow Cooker Vegan Butternut Squash Soup is a hands-off and delicious soup for cold fall or winter days (bonus: it makes your house smell amazing!)

Ingredients

  • 1 medium butternut squash about 4 to 5 cups diced
  • 2 cups vegetable broth 480 mL
  • 4 cloves garlic peeled
  • 1 medium white onion about 1 cup diced
  • 1 granny smith apple
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 1 bunch fresh thyme
  • 1 cup canned coconut milk 240 mL

Instructions 

  • Prep: Peel, deseed, and roughly chop butternut. Add butternut to slow cooker along with everything except the coconut milk.
  • Cook: Stir to combine then cook for 6 to 8 hours on low, or 2 to 4 hours on high. Soup is ready when butternut is easily mashed with a fork.
  • Blend: Pick out the sprigs of thyme. Use a handheld immersion blender to puree the soup (alternatively, carefully transfer to a countertop blender and puree).
  • Serve: Stir in coconut milk and serve, optionally drizzling more coconut milk over soup after ladling into bowls. 

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1serving Calories: 298kcal (15%) Carbohydrates: 40.1g (13%) Protein: 6.6g (13%) Fat: 15.4g (24%) Saturated Fat: 12.9g (81%) Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 692mg (30%) Potassium: 1119mg (32%) Fiber: 7.8g (33%) Sugar: 14g (16%) Calcium: 110mg (11%) Iron: 4mg (22%)
Did You Make This?

Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!

Tag on Insta! Leave a Rating Pin on Pinterest

You may also like...

  • Curried Butternut Squash Soup
  • Collage of vegetarian butternut squash recipes
    10 Ways To Use A Butternut Squash
  • Creamy Vegan White Bean Soup
    Creamy Vegan White Bean Soup
  • This Easy Slow Cooker Cauliflower Soup has a handful of ingredients and requires almost no prep time (plus, it's vegan!)
    Easy Slow Cooker Cauliflower Soup
Previous Post
Next Post

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Rate this Recipe:




  1. Tiffany R says

    Posted on 2/25 at 5:38 pm

    I’m a big fan of using a slow cooker since my schedule can be a bit hectic at times. I like how I can just pop things into it and forget about them. This soup actually inspired me to get an immersion blender, something I had been putting off since I didn’t have any recipes that called for one. I’m glad I got it because this soup is tasty and warm and perfect for chilly, lazy days. The flavors are great and I love the addition of coconut milk, both within and on top of it as a garnish. Great call!5 stars

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 2/26 at 2:01 pm

      Aren’t immersion blenders the BEST? I use mine ever day, just so much more flexible than the standing ones. Happy you liked the soup! 😀

  2. Sarah says

    Posted on 10/22 at 3:48 pm

    I made this yesterday! I used fresh rosemary rather than thyme (that’s what I’ve got in my garden) and increased the garlic a bit. The soup is really good! A little rich for me, but it was so easy to make and the green apple was an interesting addition! I’m hoping to enjoy all the leftovers with some homemade sourdough bread (:

    Does this freeze alright? I really do have a lot and want to enjoy it at it’s best.

    Thanks for the recipe!4 stars

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 10/23 at 12:07 am

      Happy to hear you liked it, Sarah! While I haven’t frozen this one in particular, I’ve had success with freezing other butternut soups in the past, so I think this would freeze well. Enjoy! 😀

  3. Brenda G says

    Posted on 11/1 at 6:33 pm

    Any suggestions for this soup being made in an Instant Pot?

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 11/2 at 8:28 am

      I haven’t tried this one in an instant pot. You might check out this recipe for some ideas.

  4. Beverley lee says

    Posted on 11/25 at 8:45 pm

    Do you peel and cut up the apple? I’m making this today.

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      Posted on 11/26 at 5:34 pm

      No need to peel, but cube it up! 😀

  5. Audrey Rice says

    Posted on 4/13 at 2:06 pm

    Believe it or not, I never had butternut squash before. I was expecting this to be a little bit sweeter than it was, but overall I think it turned out pretty good. Very easy to make, and my husband loved it.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hello

I'm Sarah

A flavor-loving nutritionist and sensory science specialist showing you how to make easy vegetarian recipes, one ingredient at a time.

Let's Meet

Freebie alert!

3 reader-favorite cookbooks delivered straight to your inbox.

Get in now!

Subscribe for new recipes + 3 fan-favorite ebooks

Air Fryer Recipes

Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

Plate full of crispy chickpeas with a wooden spoon.

15 Minute Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

Personal size mozzarella pizza cooked in an air fryer

Air Fryer Pizza

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Brussels sprouts on a plate with wooden serving spoons.

The Best 15 Minute Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Kale chips on a white plate.

10 Minute Air Fryer Kale Chips

Dinner This Week

Vegan tikka masala with naan and rice in a white bowl

M

Chickpea Tikka Masala

Roasted Chickpea Gyros

T

Roasted Chickpea Gyros

Vegan Thai red curry in a bowl on a red background

W

Thai Vegetarian Coconut Curry

Vegan nachos on a black plate on a white background - These vegan nachos are piled high with easy mushroom BBQ "pulled pork" and a cashew-based queso cheese sauce that will knock your dairy-free socks off.

R

BBQ Mushroom Pulled Pork

Roasted Cauliflower Street Tacos

F

Roasted Cauliflower Tacos

Lemon risotto in a bowl with basil on a yellow background

S

Lemon Basil Risotto

As featured on:

3 bonus books!

Join our Eatmail newsletter to get free copies of our top 3 cookbooks, new recipes, exclusive meal plans, and more!

Follow Along

  • Easy Vegetarian Facebook Group
  • Kombucha Brewers Facebook Group
Back to Top
  • Web Stories
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Collaborate
© 2023 Live Eat Learn
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Support by Foodie Digital
1.9K shares