Butternut Squash, Chicken, and Quinoa Soup

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 95 min
Servings: 8
Yield: 8 servings

Description

This creamy butternut squash soup with two sources of protein - chicken and quinoa - makes a filling, comforting soup perfect for Fall.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 1/2 pounds butternut squash, quartered and seeded
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 onion, minced
4 cloves garlic, crushed
3 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 (14 ounce) can canned diced tomatoes
2/3 cup quinoa
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1 Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2 Sprinkle chicken with salt and ground black pepper. Wrap in aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet.
3 Place butternut squash pieces cut-side down in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Add about 1/2-inch water to the dish and cover with aluminum foil.
4 Bake chicken and squash in the preheated oven until butternut squash is tender and chicken breasts are no longer pink in the center, about 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the chicken should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
5 Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; cook and stir until softened, about 5 minutes.
6 Scoop cooked squash flesh into a large pot. Pour in chicken broth and mash together until smooth using an immersion blender or potato masher.
7 Cube cooked chicken and add to the pot. Stir in onion, garlic, canned tomatoes, quinoa, oregano, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring soup to a gentle boil; reduce heat and simmer until quinoa is tender and flavors are well-blended, about 1 hour.