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Loaded with veggies and herbs, this Nourishing Pumpkin Wild Rice Soup is perfect for keeping you warm and full on chilly Fall days! Try this vegan recipe today, because even if you’re a carnivore like me, you’re going to love it.

A spoon is lifting a bite sized portion of soup from a blue bowl.
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The weather’s about to get nice and chilly, so you know what that means! Soup season is officially upon us! Now that Fall’s here and the holiday season is just around the corner, it’s time to break out all the tried and true comfort food recipes.

So many comfort foods are exactly that – comforting!

However, comfort doesn’t always have to translate to unhealthy! With this easy to make vegan pumpkin soup that’s chock-full of vegetables, you can curl up with something warm, cozy, and nourishing for your soul.

The medley of veggies in this soup aren’t just healthy. They’re flavorful, too!

Plus, their natural flavors are enhanced by other natural ingredients like thyme and garlic. So if you’re like me and find yourself needing a break from all the super hearty casseroles and stews this Fall season, indulge in a way your stomach will thank you for with this pumpkin and wild rice soup!

Fresh herbs garnish a full white bowl of pumpkin wild rice soup.

When we think of pumpkin, we often times think of sweet pumpkin recipes like pumpkin cream cheese muffins or pumpkin cake or even a pumpkin cold brew.

There are so many creative ways to use pumpkin in savory dishes too like my pumpkin pasta or cheesy pumpkin stuffed shells.

This pumpkin wild rice soup is no exception! I love using pumpkin in savory dishes because it helps the dish become naturally creamy without the added fat from cream or other dairy. Additionally, pumpkin has a mild flavor and an excellent canvas for adding your favorite Autumn flavors. Pumpkin puree is so convenient to purchase these days in cans. A quick ingredient like that can easily be transformed into a flavorful weeknight meal with just an addition of some other ingredients.

For this recipe, I was craving something nourishing and cozy with lots of Fall flavor. I wanted something hearty as well to stick to my bones, as one would say. I also wanted something dairy-free because I have found that it does better with my body.

You wouldn’t be able to tell that this was dairy-free. There is not one bit of heavy cream or dairy in this. It is velvety smooth and creamy from the pumpkin and coconut milk.

I love the hearty chunks of vegetables and beans throughout the soup. In one spoonful, you’ll get wild rice, beans, and butternut squash. It’s honestly so nourishing and full of rich, Earthy flavor that is undoubtedly Fall!

A white pot is filled to the brim with soup and is topped with fresh thyme.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Wild Rice Soup

  • Olive oil – Avocado oil also works.
  • Yellow onion – In a pinch, you could use a white onion instead.
  • Carrots – Chop up some medium carrots, or just buy a pre-chopped baggie.
  • Celery – Make sure to rinse it prior to chopping.
  • Garlic – Pre-minced is fine, but fresh garlic will yield more flavor.
  • Pumpkin puree – Always double check that it’s pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling!
  • Vegetable broth – I usually opt for a low-sodium option.
  • Wild rice – This rice is actually pretty dense with nutrients!
  • Salt and pepper – To taste.
  • Herbs – I like to use both fresh and dried thyme. And of course a bay leaf, because what soup would be complete without one? Add in some rosemary and sage too if you like.
  • Beans – Cannellini beans are the best.
  • Milk – To keep this soup vegan, use a dairy-free option like coconut milk. You can use almond milk, oat milk, cashew milk, macadamia milk, or even a creamer option like NutPods if you don’t have coconut milk on hand. There are many dairy-free/plant-based milk options out there!
  • Butternut squash – This helps make the soup taste even more Fall-friendly and hearty.
A spoon has lifted a portion of soup from the pot.

Side dish suggestions for pumpkin wild rice soup

  • Bread. I love sopping up creamy soups with bread. This rosemary olive oil bread would be perfect for that job or if you want extra bold flavor, this extra garlicky bread would be delightful as well!
  • Salad. For a touch of freshness and light flavor, serving this soup with a harvest chopped salad would pair nicely.
  • Roasted vegetables. If you want even more vegetables with your soup, I can’t recommend roasted vegetables enough. Roasted vegetables bring out a unique and extremely flavorful side of veggies that you can’t get when you steam or sauté them. 9 times out of 10, I will always roast my vegetables. My favorite are a medley of roasted vegetables, roasted brussels sprouts, or this addicting roasted cauliflower.
Fresh thyme is placed on a serving of pumpkin soup.

What are some of the health benefits of pumpkin wild rice soup?

I’m no expert in the medical field but you hear all the time how great veggies are for you and this soup is chockfull of them.

All the veggies in this soup have a long list of vitamins and minerals that benefit our bodies and nourish it to keep us going and living a healthy lifestyle.

For example, carrots are a good source of nutrients like potassium, antioxidants, and vitamin A (source). Butternut squash is rich with antioxidants and vitamin A while high in fiber (source). A quick Google search of these ingredients will make you feel great about going back for seconds!

How long will pumpkin wild rice soup stay fresh?

In an airtight container in the fridge, this autumnal soup will stay fresh for about 3-4 days.

While it reheats pretty well in the microwave, I recommend popping your leftovers back on the stove top and reheating over medium heat until warmed through.

Stay warm this Fall with more of my favorite soups recipes!

Harvest Corn and Pumpkin Chowder

Instant Pot Lentil Soup with Squash

Best Chicken Noodle Soup

Instant Pot Autumn Harvest Butternut Squash Soup

Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup

4.43 from 89 votes

Nourishing Pumpkin Wild Rice Soup (Vegan)

Loaded with veggies and herbs, this Nourishing Pumpkin Wild Rice Soup is perfect for keeping you warm and full on chilly Fall days!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ large yellow onion
  • 3 chopped carrots, about 1 ½ cups
  • 3 stalks chopped celery, about 1 ½ cups
  • 4 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 cup (245 g) pumpkin puree
  • 5 cups (1183 ml) vegetable broth
  • cup (107 g) wild rice
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 15 ounce (425 g) can of rinsed and drained cannellini beans
  • 1 cup (237 ml) coconut milk or dairy-free milk of choice
  • 1 ½ cup (210 g) frozen butternut squash or freshly diced/cubed

Instructions 

  • Rinse the wild rice and place it in a cup or jar with water covering it to let it soak while you prepare the other ingredients.
  • Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion and carrots. Saute for 2-3 minutes, then add the celery and saute for an additional 2 minutes. Add the garlic and stir until fragrant.
  • Add the pumpkin puree and 4 cups of the vegetable broth. Drain the wild rice and add it to the pot along with the sprigs of thyme and bay leaf. Give a stir and bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot.
  • Allow the soup to simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and carefully take out the thyme and bay leaf. Stir in the remaining cup of broth along with the salt, pepper, thyme, beans, milk and squash. Cover the pot again and simmer for an additional 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Add salt and pepper to taste and a little more broth or milk if you’d like a thinner soup. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves and enjoy!
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Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 323kcal, Carbohydrates: 45g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Sodium: 1028mg, Potassium: 867mg, Fiber: 8g, Sugar: 7g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.

The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.

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Recipe Rating




31 Comments

  1. Amanda Ruiz says:

    I accidentally bought pumpkin pie filling so I just chanced it and used. I also didn’t make it vegan, I used whole milk, added cream cheese and a second can of beans plus some cornstarch to thicken it up. Turned out great! Like a slighty sweet stew.

  2. Michelle says:

    I had to skip the coconut milk and beans due to a broken can opener but it was still delicious! I added an extra bay leaf because I love them and fresh sage at the end with a splash of smoked paprika. This will be a staple! Recipe shared by YouTuber Regretlyss who made it in her early October episode.

  3. Megan says:

    Is it possible to make this in the crock pot?

    1. Julie Chiou says:

      yes, you could! i would say low for 4-6 hours and high for 2-3 hours…these are guesses since i haven’t actually tested it for a slow cooker. you may need more or less time depending on the rice cooking through.

  4. Catherine Cherry says:

    Absolutely loved this soup! I had to make a couple of modifications. I’m allergic to beans so just added thinly sliced chicken breast to cook in the soup. Wild rice isn’t readily available here but I had a package of parcooked brown/wild rice and quinoa and put this in towards the end with the chicken. Used chicken broth as that’s always what I have. Added tatsoi and sorrel from my garden. I think this soup is super flexible but the base flavours and especially the use of the pumpkin puree are the key. I’m making it again tonight!

    1. Julie Chiou says:

      What great substitutions and using what you had! It sounds so hearty and you’re right – this soup has a great base to change it up to your tastes. I’m so glad you did that. Thank you for the feedback!

  5. Sky says:

    Recipe as is definitely is too bland. I ended up adding coriander, a bit of curry powder, fresh tomatoes, and chili powder. With those things it was good enough.

  6. Elad says:

    This soup was extremely bland. I added three heaping tablespoonful of Better Than Bouillon which helped with the flavor. Also, the rice took forever to cook.

  7. Echo says:

    This was so good! I forgot beans when I was at the store but I had a zucchini so I chopped that up and added it instead. I also used chicken broth instead of veggie broth because that is what I had on hand. I put some away for lunch tomorrow and I can’t wait to eat it again.

    1. Julie Chiou says:

      great substitutions with what you had on hand!

  8. Haley says:

    How much is a serving? 2 cups?

    1. Julie Chiou says:

      A serving is about 300 grams

  9. Laura says:

    This was good but seemed to be missing something. Stirred in some curry powder and woke it right up!

  10. Daniel says:

    Great recipe!!