The temperatures have turned cool and the wind is blustery … yep! Winter is upon us, and what sounds better during winter than a warm bowl of soup?! This tasty meal is one that is comforting and soothing when it’s too chilly to go outside.
There are so many soups and chilis to choose from, and vegan butternut squash soup is a healthy, creamy option that perfectly suits this time of year! And while butternut squash soup is suuuuper tasty, that alone may not be quite enough to fill you up.
Side dishes are a great way to complement a savory cup of butternut squash soup, and we’ve shortlisted a few yummy options to save you the hassle of looking them up!
What is Butternut Squash Soup?
Butternut squash soup is tasty AND simple! It often consists of a few ingredients, including butternut squash, olive oil, butter, shallot, garlic, vegetable broth, maple syrup and nutmeg.
Not to mention it is extremely versatile and can easily be added to sweet OR savory dishes!
If you’re looking for a convenient butternut squash soup option that’s delivered right to your door, Proper Good has the answer! Our Butternut Squash Soup is made with only the tastiest, most wholesome ingredients and is also plant-based.
There’s a delicious blend of both sweet and savory flavors inside–butternut squash, cinnamon, and coconut provide a lovely sweet flavor and are balanced out with carrots, onions, and garlic for a savory touch.
In fact, one reviewer described our butternut squash soup as, “Autumn in a bowl. The perfect lunch for a crisp afternoon. Smooth–flavorful texture and the perfect balance of spices.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves–YUM!
Butternut Squash Soup Toppings
So now that you know WHERE to get your butternut squash soup (Proper Good of course ;) ) … now you need to know what to top it with!
Dinner Then Dessert gives a few tasty suggestions like pumpkin seeds, and here are a few favorites:
Sour cream:
If you’re looking to dial up the creaminess of your butternut squash soup even more, sour cream is an awesome option! The cool flavor of sour cream nicely balances out the cinnamon and nutmeg spices. And if you’re looking for a dairy-free alternative, swap sour cream for coconut milk instead!
Bacon:
It’s true–almost everything tastes better with bacon! If you’re craving pork bacon, go for it! We love a thick cut variety. If you’re looking for something new to try, turkey bacon is leaner than pork bacon, and it only has 25 calories!
Chives:
Garlic chives are an immunity superfood! Chives are rich in vitamin C, which prevents many types of common colds and fevers, and they are also rich in riboflavin, potassium, vitamin A, iron, thiamin, and beta carotene. During peak flu season, every extra vitamin goes a long way. Add a few pumpkin seeds for an extra flavor kick!
Benefits of Butternut Squash Soup
People from all over love butternut squash soup because it has several important vitamins, minerals, and disease-fighting antioxidants inside.
This soup is also low-calorie and fiber-rich thanks to the winter squash, which means it may even help you lose weight!
The ingredients in butternut squash soup are known to protect against conditions like cancer, heart disease, and mental decline.
Not to mention that just one serving of butternut squash soup contains more than a quarter of your daily fiber requirements!
Easy Butternut Squash Soup Recipe
We may be a little biased, but we think Proper Good’s Butternut Squash Soup is the best. ;) However, if you’re feeling like getting a little crafty in the kitchen and serving butternut squash soup yourself, give it a go!
Using just 6 ingredients (many of which may already be in your pantry!), here’s a super easy, healthy recipe from Yummy Healthy Easy to make butternut squash soup at home.
Ingredients
- ½ Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 onion diced
- 1 butternut squash peeled and diced into cubes
- 32 ounces vegetable broth
- 1-2 tsp. salt
Instructions
- In a dutch oven pot (or heavy pot), heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add cut up butternut squash and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil then cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes until squash is softened.
- Carefully pour the entire contents of the pot into a blender. Add salt.
- Carefully blend until smooth. Serve in bowls with thyme if desired.
What to Serve With Butternut Squash Soup: 8 Side Dish Ideas
Now that you know the basics, you may be wondering what to serve with butternut squash soup! After all, there are so many options that go well with this nutritious and delicious meal.
Here are a few inexpensive, easy-to-find side dish ideas to serve with butternut squash soup meal.
Garlic Bread
Mmmmm, garlic bread … such a delicious, savory side that goes with anything from pasta, to pizza, to soups and beyond!
There are many different ways you can make garlic bread. A simple method is by rubbing a cut clove of garlic over toasted slices of bread, then spreading the toast with olive oil or butter. Easy peasy!
If you make your garlic bread using wheat toast, this increases the amount of healthy fiber and nutrients, which can help regulate blood sugar levels and boost metabolism.
Most garlic bread recipes are high in fat, but a few minor adjustments can make this appetizer healthier. Try using gluten free bread or grass-fed butter!
Garlic bread pairs well with creamy butternut squash soup, and you can even dip your garlic bread in the soup. Here’s an easy recipe.
Salads
What could possibly be a better pairing than soup and salad?! Serve butternut squash soup with many types of salad!
Sweet potatoes salad:
Most potato salad recipes are not healthy because they’re usually made with a lot of mayo, which is a high-fat ingredient.
However, a healthy swap for mayo is greek yogurt, which provides the same creaminess as mayo but with healthy protein and calcium.
Potato salad consists of a few key ingredients: sweet potatoes, white vinegar, hard boiled eggs, celery, green onions, greek yogurt, yellow mustard, and celery seeds.
Pasta salad:
Perfect for summer, pasta salad is a fresh and easy side dish that pairs nicely with butternut squash creamy soup!
It usually includes vegetables, fresh mozzarella, and a simple dressing. Pasta salad doesn’t take long to make either and can be prepped in under 20 minutes. Plus, it keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days–which means you can have leftovers!
Greek Salad:
If lettuce isn’t your thing, this lettuce-free Greek salad is perfect for you to make alongside your butternut squash soup! Delicious tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, olives and feta are inside, and this salad is traditionally served with bread, not pita. One serving is only 189 calories, so this is a lighter option. Eating Well has a 1 step recipe for you to make at home!
Mint and Apple Mixed Leaf Salad:
This is a masterpiece of our own creation (if we do say so ourselves ;) )! If you’re looking for a summer salad or simply a reminder of summer during cold winter days, this refreshing salad could do the trick. This crunchy and tangy side pairs nicely with the velvety texture of butternut squash soup and serves 4! Arugula adds a peppery kick while the pink lady apple provides a sweet note.
Rosemary-Parmesan Breadsticks
Did you know that rosemary is a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds?
Rosemary can help boost the immune system and improve blood circulation. It is also considered a cognitive stimulant and can help improve memory performance and quality. Rosemary is known to boost alertness, intelligence, and focus.
So what better way to eat this herb than in a breadstick?! Making rosemary parmesan breadsticks couldn’t possibly be easier!
The ingredients used are butter, flour, parmesan cheese, sugar, baking powder, milk, rosemary, and freshly chopped garlic.
Quick tip: Make sure you watch the butter closely while it melts so it doesn’t brown!
Savory Scones
Originating in Scotland, scones are a dense type of bread commonly eaten for breakfast.
However, scones are versatile and can be eaten any time of day, like with butternut squash soup! Savory varieties taste amazing with soup and when made correctly, have a crumbly texture versus a tough, bread-y one.
While scones are typically pretty calorie dense, they can be made healthy through a few ingredient swaps! This ham and cheese scone recipe uses white whole-wheat flour, which adds a boost of fiber.
It also uses very little butter, which gives the scones a tasty flavor and texture without loading up on calories.
Another savory option is this flaky butternut squash parmesan biscuit recipe! With super simple ingredients like flour, baking powder, baking soda, and olive oil … you may already have many of these ingredients in your pantry! Add in some parmesan cheese, chives, and Proper Good butternut squash soup and voila! A double butternut squash whammy for those who loooove it!
Sandwiches
Sooo many different types of sandwiches go with butternut squash soup!
Ham and Cheese:
Ham and cheese doesn’t just belong in scones! A ham and cheese sandwich can also be a lovely side dish option with soup. Not to mention, it can be as simple or complex as you’d like! The simplest type of ham and cheese sandwich consists of just bread, ham, and cheese.
You can then choose to spice it up with tasty condiments, like mustard, pesto, or garlic aioli for a flavorful kick! Or, try adding some nutritious greens, like spinach, lettuce, or shredded roasted brussels sprouts.
Avocado Toast:
Avocado-based foods are an excellent side dish with soup! That’s because avocado has a creamy texture but is healthy for you, too! Avocados are a source of vitamins C, E, K, and B6, as well as riboflavin, magnesium, and potassium. They also contain high levels of healthy fats, which help you feel fuller between meals.
We’d recommend making your toast of choice (we love sourdough!), and simply slicing and topping the toast with avocado. This is truly a side dish made easy!
Apple and Bacon Grilled Cheese:
The sweetness of apples balances the savoriness of bacon in this side dish. If you love dipping something into your hearty soup, grilled cheese is a wonderful option!
Often made with just bread and melted cheese, grilled cheese can easily be made on a stovetop or inside a toaster oven. For something a little fancier, we made this simple apple and bacon grilled cheese recipe a while back, which uses only 5 ingredients! Hope you enjoy!
Grilled Veggie:
Grilled veggie sandwiches are packed with filling grains and fibers! Simply toss an assortment of your favorite roasted vegetables (roasted brussels sprouts is one of our faves) into the oven, cook until they’ve reached your preferred level of done-ness (typically around 20 minutes), and voila!
You have your sandwich filling. Or, try an open-faced grilled veggie sandwich if you’re looking to lessen grain intake.
Grilled Chicken
If you’re looking for a side dish option that really dials up the protein, grilled chicken has just 165 calories per breast and 31 grams of protein.
If the weather permits, chicken made on an outdoor grill has a mouthwatering, smoky quality! But when temperatures are cool, cooking chicken in your kitchen couldn’t possibly be easier.
This grilled chicken recipe includes ingredients for a simple, healthy homemade marinade, too!
Glazed Carrots
Butternut squash soup has so many heart-healthy veggies and ingredients inside! But if you’re looking for your side dish to deliver an extra serving of veggies, glazed carrots complement butternut squash creamy soup and are easy to make.
Carrots are about 10% carbs and primarily consist of starch, fiber, and simple sugars. They are extremely low in fat and protein, so they’re filling without making you feel too full!
Honey roasted glazed carrots are a little sweet AND savory by using a touch of brown sugar and parsley for flavor. Not to mention minimal meal prep time! Done in under 30 minutes so you can get on with your day. ;)
Roasted Cauliflower
If glazed carrots aren’t your thing but you still want that double dose of veggies, roasted cauliflower is a tasty idea! Cauliflower is a great source of nutrients, such as vitamin C, folate, and potassium. Roasted cauliflower is most commonly cooked in the oven.
Simply cut the cauliflower, toss it on a sheet pan, and put in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes (flipping once halfway).
Cauliflower also is a great base for yummy toppings, such as cilantro, gochujang sauce, olive oil ... and more!
Proper Good Soups
Are you hungry for butternut squash soup yet?! We know we are! Now that you know what to serve with butternut squash soup, there’s something for everyone with so many healthy side options to go!
At Proper Good, our butternut squash soup is ready to eat and quick to make–not to mention all sorts of other delicious perks!
Shelf Stable
Have you ever made a meal in advance only for it to go bad a few days later? Ugh–so frustrating! Never worry about your favorite soup or chili going bad again, because at Proper Good, our products are shelf stable and keep fresh for several months.
Simply order your favorite soup or chili, put them in your pantry, and dig in whenever you need a nutritious, tasty meal. No refrigeration or freezing required!
Zero Prep: 90 Second Meals
Did you know that cooking soup from scratch can take anywhere from 25 minutes to 3 hours? While extremely tasty, making soup can be a labor of love, not to mention tedious and time consuming.
In just 90 seconds, you can have a healthy meal ready at your fingertips! Perfect as a lunch on the go or cozy dinner, Proper Good soups and chilis can be made in the microwave, stovetop, or even a pot over fire (for all of you campers and hikers!)
Diet-Friendly Options + Variety
We know that sometimes, food sensitivities or allergies can limit your food options. But just because you’re on a specific type of diet doesn’t mean you should only have access to bland, tasteless options!
At Proper Good, our soups and chilis keep many types of dietary needs in mind–all while staying flavorful, of course!
Here’s a cheat sheet of where you can find Proper Good build-your-own packs that are hand selected to fit common dietary needs!
Keto: Don’t miss out on this mix of our best selling ready to eat Keto Soups and Bone Broths!
Plant-Based: Perfect for the veggie lovers out there, our plant-based soup, chili, and oatmeals keep your plant-based whole food diet fresh and exciting!
Dairy-Free: No dairy? No problem! You won’t miss dairy one bit when you eat these delicious dairy-free meals.
Gluten-Free: It can be tricky to find tasty gluten-free food options, but not anymore! We’ve curated a selection of gluten-free Proper Good meals for ultimate convenience.
Nutritious, healthy, and easy!
Yep, it’s really that simple! Who said healthy eating had to be boring or time consuming?
Yum! Butternut squash soup for the win! We hope you’ve enjoyed peeking through side dish options and learning all about the many health benefits of butternut squash soup.
Bon appetit!
