🍂 Chili Champions & Backyard Cooks 🍂🌞 Chuckwagon Fall Recipe of the Day — Tuesday, September 1, 2026

🥓 Creamy Country Pumpkin & Bacon Soup with Cheddar Garlic Biscuits 🥓🧀

Good morning, folks! 🤠🍁

Hello, September! 🍂 We're welcoming a brand-new month with a warm pot of homemade soup that tastes like fall comfort in a bowl.

And don't worry—this isn't a sweet pumpkin soup! Our Creamy Country Pumpkin & Bacon Soup is savory and hearty, with pumpkin, potatoes, smoky bacon, onions, garlic, herbs, and cream. Add a warm cheddar garlic biscuit for dipping, and you've got the perfect first taste of September. ❤️

Pumpkin & Bacon Soup Ingredients

• 8 slices bacon, chopped

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 1 medium sweet onion, diced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced

• 4 cups chicken broth

• 1 can (15 oz) 100% pumpkin purée — not pumpkin pie filling

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• ½ teaspoon rubbed sage

• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• Salt to taste

• 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half

• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

🌿 For Topping

• Crispy bacon

• Shredded cheddar

• Chopped green onions

• Sour cream

• Roasted pumpkin seeds

• Fresh parsley

🔥 Let's Get Cooking!

1️⃣ Cook the bacon.In a large Dutch oven, cook the chopped bacon until crispy. Remove it with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving about 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings in the pot.

2️⃣ Build the flavor.Add the butter and onion. Cook for about 5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook another minute.

3️⃣ Add the potatoes.Stir in the diced potatoes, chicken broth, thyme, sage, smoked paprika, nutmeg, pepper, and a little salt.

Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15–20 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork-tender.

4️⃣ Bring on the pumpkin! 🎃Stir in the pumpkin purée and simmer another 5 minutes.

5️⃣ Make it creamy.For a smooth soup, carefully blend with an immersion blender. If you prefer a more rustic soup, blend only part of it and leave some potato pieces.

6️⃣ Finish it off.Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the cream and cheddar until the cheese melts.

Don't let the soup boil after adding the cream.

7️⃣ Load those bowls!Ladle into bowls and top with crispy bacon, cheddar, green onions, sour cream, or pumpkin seeds.

🧀 Quick Cheddar Garlic Biscuits

You'll Need

• 2 cups baking mix

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• ⅔ cup milk

• 2 tablespoons melted butter

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon dried parsley

Mix the baking mix, cheese, and milk just until combined. Drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet and bake at 425°F for about 10–12 minutes, or until golden.

Mix the melted butter with garlic powder and parsley and brush it over those hot biscuits. 🧈🧄

⭐ MawMaw's Fall Kitchen Secret

Here's the secret to keeping pumpkin soup savory:

Don't overdo the traditional pumpkin spices!

We're not making pumpkin pie. 😄 A tiny pinch of nutmeg adds warmth, but thyme, sage, garlic, smoky bacon, and cheddar are what give this soup its rich country flavor.

For a thicker soup, add an extra potato. For a thinner soup, add a little more chicken broth.

🍽️ Serve It Up With

🥗 Apple-cranberry harvest salad🧀 Cheddar garlic biscuits🥓 Extra crispy bacon🍎 Fresh apple slices🍺 Cold apple cider or sweet tea

🍎 And for dessert?

Warm Cinnamon Apple Dumplings with Vanilla Ice Cream! 🍨

💜 September 1st Chuckwagon Encouragement

A new month feels a little like opening a fresh notebook.

There are blank pages ahead.

We don't know exactly what September will bring, but we know Who will walk with us through every day of it.

Maybe August didn't turn out exactly as you'd hoped. Leave yesterday with God.

Today is September 1st.

A fresh month.A fresh opportunity.A fresh season to love people, make memories, try something new, and thank God for His goodness.

Don't be afraid of a new season. God is already there. 🍂❤️

📖 Scripture for Today

"For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

— Psalm 100:5 (KJV)

September 1st Table Question

Which soup are you MOST excited to make when the weather turns cool?

Pumpkin soup🌶️ Chili🥔 Loaded potato soup🍗 Chicken & dumplings🥦 Broccoli cheddar🍅 Tomato soup & grilled cheese🥩 Vegetable beef soup

👇 Tell us in the comments—and share your favorite homemade soup recipe with our cooking family!

🍁 Hello September! 🍁

Here's to cozy kitchens, simmering soup pots, changing leaves, cool evenings, and tables surrounded by the people we love.

Faith ⭐ Family ⭐ Friends ⭐ Food ⭐ Memories 🤠🍂❤️