Air Fryer Butternut Squash Soup – No Peeling, Just Roast & Blend!

What if you could make a silky, caramelized air fryer butternut squash soup — without peeling a single thing? This cozy recipe does just that: whole-roasted butternut, garlic, and onion cooked until sweet and golden, then blended into the creamiest bowl of comfort.

And the secret? A spoonful of almond nut butter (optional, but highly recommended) adds that extra smoothness and rich flavor that makes every spoonful feel like a hug.

Since our winter started, we’ve been cozying up to all the comfort meals we love — especially soup and stew. Soups are easy, and stews can be anything from vegetables and grains to meat or pulses.

I recently shared 20 Easy Comfort Food Recipes Anyone Can Make (and Everyone Will Love!) — and this butternut squash soup fits right into that cozy collection. Don’t miss the printable pantry & equipment checklist I’ve tucked into the post to make planning your next batch of comfort food even easier.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Soup

Warm soup is soul food and most of the time, it gives you a sense of healing.

• Hands-free: No slicing, no peeling, no chopping!
• Convenient – Quick with less fuss
• Timing: It’s quick and you don’t need to check on it until it’s done.
• Delicious: The flavor is everything—rich, sweet, and deep from the caramelized veggies. You have to taste it to believe it

Ingredients

Please find the full printable ingredient list in the recipe card below.

• Medium whole butternuts
• Onion
• Whole garlic bulb, halved horizontally
• Brown sugar (for caramelization)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Butter
• Chicken (or vegetable) stock
• Almond nut butter (optional secret ingredient but recommended)
• Seasoning & spices: salt, ground nutmeg, cumin, ground ginger

Try my air fryer roasted pumpkin & sunflower seeds to add as a topping to soups and nibbles! And this toasted breadcrumbs recipe is a great way to have them on hand without having to put the oven on every time you need breadcrumbs. Once toasted add them to an airtight jar or other container. Add them to anything you like from pasta to salads and fry ups!

How I Made This Air Fryer Butternut Squash Soup

• I started with two whole butternuts — no peeling needed. I just gave them a rinse, and then popped them straight into the air fryer. I set it to 180°C (350°F) and let them roast for about 30 minutes.

• In the meantime, I halved an onion and a whole garlic bulb and added them to the basket for the last 15–20 minutes. They go in with the butternut to continue roasting till the butternut is cooked through.

You may be wondering if you have to add the garlic and onion? Although they do help develop flavor you can definitely roast just the butternut squash.

• Once everything was soft and golden, I carefully sliced the butternuts open (they’ll be hot!), scooped out the seeds, and added a little olive oil and a sprinkle of brown sugar. After that, I tucked the garlic halves back into the cavity and returned everything to the air fryer for a final 15–20 minutes, until it was all beautifully caramelized.

Important Step if Skipping Garlic and Onion

If you are not using garlic and onion, after the 30 minutes, slice the butternuts in half, drizzle olive oil and sprinkle brown sugar and back in the air fryer (no need to remove the seeds) for 15 minutes. This is to soften the center of the butternut squash which will not be cooked through so don’t miss this step.

• Once it cooled slightly, I scooped out the soft squash, squeezed out those sweet roasted garlic cloves, and tossed everything into a blender.

• I also added the roasted onion, a knob of butter, some seasoning, and enough stock to get it silky. You can always add more stock if you want a thinner texture. However, I kept mine nice and thick because I love that rich, hearty feel.

Can you guess what that silky golden brown ingredient is in the image below? It’s my secret ingredient — almond nut butter! Just a spoonful smooths everything over and makes the soup extra velvety. Completely optional, but strongly suggested.

• Finally, I ladled the soup into bowls and topped it with a few crunchy bits—roasted seeds, breadcrumbs, herbs, whatever I had on hand. That’s it!

Optional Swaps & Add-Ins

Serving Suggestions

This soup is a complete meal on its own, but pairs beautifully with:

• Toasted sourdough, garlic bread or these cheese, garlic and herb toast slices.
• A simple side salad (any salad depending on what you prefer)
• A drizzle of cream or coconut milk (optional)

Storage

• Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days
• Freeze for up to 2 months (cool completely before freezing)

Expert Tips

• Don’t skip the sugar/olive oil — it helps caramelize!
• Watch the last 10 mins closely to avoid over-browning
• Use a spoon or rubber spatula to get every bit of squash into the blender
• We love roasted garlic however, use as little or as much as you like. The taste of garlic once roasted is much less pungent and more sweet and caramelised. You can also add them a smoothie, salad, sandwiches and more.

📥 Free Download

Grab your free Comfort Food Pantry & Equipment Checklist
Perfect for cozy meals like this one!

I hope this cozy bowl makes its way into your kitchen sometime soon — it’s one of those recipes that feels extra special but asks so little. If you give it a try, I’d love to know! Tag me on Pinterest, Instagram, or leave a comment below 🧡

Looking for More Cozy Bowls and Wholesome Comfort?

Try my Healthy Veggie Soup with butternut—it’s loaded with nourishing veggies and perfect for batch cooking. For something just as creamy but a little lighter, this Cauliflower Soup is a beautiful, smooth option that’s both elegant and easy. If you’re after something a bit heartier, my Lentils and Dumplings brings all the rustic, feel-good vibes of a classic family meal. These recipes are the kind you’ll want to make on repeat—so don’t forget to save or pin them for your next comforting kitchen moment.

📌 Pin This for Whenever You Need It

Save this cozy, caramelized soup recipe to your favorite board so it’s ready when the craving hits. No peeling, no fuss — just roast and blend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you give this recipe a try, let me know how it goes—I’d love to hear from you! Leave a quick rating or comment below, it really helps more people find these easy, feel-good meals. 🧡 Want more cozy recipes? Stay in touch on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram—I’d love to connect with you there too!