I have a new Halloween tradition!
Ever since I made those creamy tomato soup shooters with grilled cheese sticks years ago, I’ve been obsessed with the idea of serving soup and grilled cheese on Halloween—right before trick-or-treating. This year I swapped tomato for pumpkin and landed on the creamiest pumpkin bisque topped with fontina grilled cheese croutons. Golden, toasty bread and melty cheese? Absolutely essential.
Growing up, my family never paired grilled cheese with tomato soup—my mom hated canned tomato soup—so it’s funny that the combo has become one of my favorite comfort meals. Now that it’s cooler outside I crave it even more, and this pumpkin version feels like the perfect seasonal twist.
It was cold and rainy all weekend, and besides this pumpkin bisque, another favorite comfort dish I made was creamy chicken and dumplings. But today it’s all about grilled cheese croutons or sticks—maybe even a mix of tomato and pumpkin soups with a little cheese stirred into the soup for extra richness. Because truly, there is never enough cheese in the universe.
The bisque starts and finishes with bacon, which elevates it even more. Fry the bacon for flavor, reserve the crispy bits for garnish, and you’ll get that contrast of silky soup with crunchy topping that I love. Texture matters—especially on top of a bowl of soup.
Also—how cute are those pumpkin cocottes? I keep white and orange ones on my counter through fall and right into Thanksgiving; they’re decorative and practical. They’ve become a seasonal staple in my kitchen and make serving this kind of soup even more fun.
I’m so into this soup combination that I’ve been daydreaming about other forms of it—like a pumpkin fondue with crusty bread or a pumpkin–gruyere cheese sauce for a croque monsieur. A pumpkin cheese dip would be incredible for fall gatherings.
This soup feels like the ultimate pre-trick-or-treat meal for now: a big bowl of silky bisque with a grilled cheese raft and crunchy bacon on top. It’s cozy, quick to eat before heading out, and totally satisfying.
Do you have a pre-trick-or-treat meal tradition? Ours might change over time, especially if Halloween falls on a weekend or we host a party, but for now this pumpkin bisque with grilled cheese croutons is my go-to.
Smoky Pumpkin Bisque with Grilled Cheese Croutons
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
Pumpkin Bisque
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1/2 sweet onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
- 3 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons snipped chives for topping
Grilled Cheese Croutons
- 4 slices bread
- Softened brown butter for spreading
- 6 ounces fontina cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
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Heat a pot over medium-low and add the bacon. Cook until crispy and the fat has rendered. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
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With the pot over medium heat, add the onions and garlic. Stir in the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, cumin and nutmeg. Reduce heat to low and cook until the onions are soft and lightly caramelized, about 8–10 minutes.
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Add the pumpkin puree and stock, stirring to combine. Turn off the heat and puree the soup using an immersion blender, or carefully transfer to a blender and puree until smooth. Return to the pot, heat over medium and bring to a simmer. Let it simmer about 10 minutes.
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After simmering, stir in the cream. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Warm through, then serve topped with the crispy bacon, snipped chives and grilled cheese croutons.
Grilled Cheese Croutons
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Spread the outside of each bread slice with softened brown butter. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-low. Fill sandwiches with the grated fontina, place the bread slices buttered-side up, and cook until golden on both sides and cheese is melted, about 5–6 minutes per side. Let cool slightly, then slice into bite-sized “croutons.”
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Just look at that silky dream!