Hearty, healthy and an instant family favorite.
Lentil Soup starts to sound extra delicious to me as soon as the fall season approaches. The absolute best way to make lentil soup is in the slow cooker. This Easy Crockpot Vegetable Lentil Soup Recipe has been a family favorite ever since Big D was a baby. The soft veggies were perfect finger foods for her little fingers. Ahhh the memories 🙂
Now that my girls are getting older, they ask for this soup all the time. And I am MORE than happy to make this veggie packed soup for them.
Easy Crockpot Vegetable Lentil Soup Recipe
- 4 cups lentils, rinsed and picked through
- 32 oz beef broth (or veggie broth to make vegetarian)
- 2 cups water
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 cups carrots, sliced
- 1/2 cup celery, sliced
- 28 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 large russet potato, diced
- 4-6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2-3 bay leaves (optional)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Directions:
- Place all ingredients in a 5-6 quart crockpot. Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or until vegetables are tender. Enjoy!
- Do you want to pack the leftovers for lunch? Check out my post on How to Pack Soup For Lunch (and keep it warm!)
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Easy Crockpot Vegetable Lentil Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups lentils rinsed and picked through
- 32 oz beef broth or veggie broth to make vegetarian
- 2 cups water
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 2 cups carrots sliced
- 1/2 cup celery sliced
- 28 oz can diced tomatoes undrained
- 1 large russet potato diced
- 4-6 cloves garlic minced
- 2-3 bay leaves optional
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a 5-6 quart crockpot. Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or until vegetables are tender. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes:
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Nutrition Information:
Nutrition Disclaimer
Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Here are more crockpot soups we love!
- The Best Crockpot Minestrone Soup
- The Best Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Loaded Crockpot Hash Brown Potato Soup
Post Updated September 2020
Liz says
Nice and easy recipe. Thank you.
Marie H says
Perfect for my boy who just started an ortho appliance. I’ve been hunting healthy soup recipes for our daily meals and lunchbox items. Thanks for this easy to make crockpot soup!
Corey says
Yay! I am so glad I could help!
Sarah says
Love lentils, the crockpot, and you!! Adding this to the list! 🙂
Melissa @ My Recent Favorite books says
This really sounds good!
Mary says
Are the lentils the dry variety??
Corey says
Yes 🙂
Cindy says
Making this right now! Thank you so much! My kitchen smells wonderful. 🙂
Corey says
I think I can smell it through the computer 🙂 hehehe YUM!
Cindy says
I am making this now for the third time. It is SO delicious. It’s the perfect lentil soup! Thank you so much for such a great recipe.
Corey says
That is wonderful to hear Cindy! You made my morning with such a sweet comment 🙂 XO
Audrey says
This was absolutely delicious!! Our whole apartment building smells amazing and it was so easy! Perfect for this fall day!
Corey says
Awesome Audrey! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Tressa says
I am making this right now and it seems like there wont be enough liquid?? I am 4 hours into the cooking time, should I put more broth or is it supposed to be a thick soup?
Corey says
If you like a soupier soup, you can add more water or broth. Lentil soup tends to be a a thick soup, but more liquid wouldn’t hurt anything if that is your taste 🙂
Bert says
Did you end up putting more liquid into the soup? I have the same issue… halfway through and it looks like there’s NO liquid in my crockpot. Help!
sheena says
i am definitely going to start this tonight before bed for tomorrows dinner. sounds and looks very yummy.
Beth says
This looks amazing, can’t wait to try it 🙂 Did you use red, green or brown lentils?
Corey says
I actually used both green and red 🙂 I think any lentil would work out great!
Beth says
Great, thanks so much! My crockpot just arrived, going to try this tonight 🙂
Theresa says
Hi Corey,
If I don’t have a crockpot could I use my cast iron stove top dutch oven instead? Would you keep it on simmer in lieu of the low setting on a crockpot? Would you cook for the same length of time?
Thanks!
Corey says
I would simmer for less time. Maybe 45 mins to an hour. Just until your veggies are tender. Let me know how it goes 🙂
Diana says
Hi there! I really want to try this recipe tonight, but I’m short for time…do you think the recipe will work on high for 4 hours? Thanks!!
Corey says
I think that should work. If you have a couple minutes to saute the thicker veggies to soften them a little bit before putting them into the crockpot, that might help too. Hope that helps!
C. Olsen says
Thanks for this recipe. The flavor is pretty good but I really don’t think it can be called a soup. It’s more like cooked lentils and vegetables with very little broth. To make it soupy, I’d reduce the lentils to 2 or 2 1/2 cups. I had to add 4 more cups of broth and it’s still not soupy. Will probably have to freeze the leftover lentils to add into other soups.
Franklin says
Thanks for the recipe! I added extra carrots and celery, and it came out almost too thick when I woke up this morning. Lentils absorbed more water than I thought. It turned out fine after I added 2 more cups of water. House smelled great!
Mari says
Awesome recipe! I made it two weeks ago but I used split peas (I thought I had lentils!) and it was so yummy. I’m making it again this weekend for my son’s first birthday party…. This time with lentils 🙂
Corey says
Yum! I bet the split peas tasted great too! haha
Andrew Brusnahan says
I made a variation of your stew and loved it. I posted my adaptation on my site here:
http://www.quitehungry.com/today-i-made/vegetarian-lentil-stew/
Jenny says
Please post more recipes like this one! Do you have other bean soups or a split pea soup to share? I am on a gluten free diet and am always looking for options. Meat is okay if it’s in a soup or stew – just not noodles.
Kim says
This was delicious! The only modification I made was I used vegetarian broth.. it was flavorful and filling. A great meal, and another great option for my vegetarian teen! Thank you!
Casey says
Worst lentil soup I’ve ever had.
Corey says
I’m sorry it wasn’t to your liking Casey. We sure do love it around here 🙂
Von Kruiser says
I’ll say that this is not a good recipe. 4-6 cloves of garlic and the onion made the whole house stink to high heaven. Put it outside to finish cooking. As for your breath don’t plan on being in the same room with anyone.
Corey says
Onion and garlic are so good for you! Sorry you don’t like the taste of those two things, they are a main ingredients for this recipe 🙂
Cheryl says
This calls for 4 cups of lentils, washed and picked through.
Is this 4 cups before or after they are washed?
There is a big difference!!!
tammy says
Made this on the weekend. the flavor is great but the lentils got so big they filled my 6qt slow cooker to the brim, I had never cooked dry lentils before even though I like them. I couldn’t even add broth in the pot so I have to dump them in my soup bowl and add broth. I joked with my partner that I was going to open a soup kitchen just to eat it all. live and learn. I will make this again, but half the lentils and I will soften the veggies first as the potatoes were still a little on the firm side for me even though I cooked them a longer than called for. Great blog TX
Laura says
Fantastic soup and very simple to make. I too used half the lentils. Yum! Am about to make this again.
Papa says
Modified the recipe by using, 3 cups of Lentils and only 2 large Garlic cloves but added 1 TBS of Cider Vinegar and an additional cup of vegetable stock. Turned out great and not too thick or too soupy. Next time I’m going to try diced butternut squash instead of the potato. I think the recipe is a great one to experiment with and develop several favorable adaptations.
Jennie says
Oh my goodness! So good. I’m always looking for good winter soup recipes because I don’t eat meat so chili is out for me. I added garbanzo beans to mine and one extra can of beef broth. Thank you!
paula says
definitely needs more liquid than the recipe calls for,added 8 oz of water and 15oz of tomato…threw in some spinach, I thought it was really good
Corey says
Yes, if you like a soupier soup, that’s a great idea to add in some more liquid. I LOVE your addition of spinach too 🙂
paula says
needs more liquid but it was really good, I added a cup of water and another 15oz can of diced tomatoes and I threw in a handful of spinach
Nancy says
Four cups of lentils! Way too much lentils to liquid! It turned out like the consistency of a thick chili. I will question portions should I make any of your recipes.
Corey says
Yes Nancy, this is a thick and hearty soup. We love our lentil soup to be thick like chili. YUM! If you are looking for a soupier soup, feel free to add some more broth.
Patty says
Sounds Delicious! Do you need to soak the lentils over night?
Corey says
No Patty, you just toss them in. No soaking required. 🙂
Elizabeth says
I just found this by googling “slow cooker lentil soup” and it sounds great! I am about to try it right now. I will add chopped kale because that’s how I always make lentil soup. 🙂
Corey says
YUM! I love kale 🙂
Lauren says
I followed the recipe and cooked on low for 8 hours and the lentils were still hard. What do you think I did wrong?
Corey says
Where they just firm, or still hard like they feel when they are try? Lentils are meant to be a little firm. Mushy lentils are no fun 🙂
Mike says
Looking at this for a lunch at work. How many does it serve? If i missed previous answer, sorry.
Rebekah says
great recipe! Last time I made it I had to cook additional and add about 2+c of water, on the stove using the pressure cooker (15 minutes and it came out GREAT!). Trying in the crock pot on high this time, reduced lentils to 3c, I like it thick but it was a little too “goopy” with 4c. I also use 2 sweet potatoes, no other potato, and only 1/2 onion and 2 garlic cloves- makes it a bit more appetizing smell than the full onion and 4 garlic cloves. I love the idea to add ACV- think I’ll do that, too! As to serving, last time I made it we served about 12 bowls- AT LEAST! As it sat for a day or 2 we added more liquid as the lentils absorbed.
Candice says
Is it harmful to omit the potato?
Corey says
I don’t think if would be Candice 🙂
Shalana says
Like many of the comments before, 2-3 cups of lentils is plenty for this recipe. It’s pretty dry and not really a soup with 4 cups of lentils. The flavor is great though!
Jacklyn says
Suggested cook time/portions for 7-8 quart crock pot? I’m new to the crock pot game ?
Corey says
That is a LARGE crockpot 🙂 If you keep the same portions, you might want to reduce the time a little bit.
shonia gibsonn says
Absolutely love this!
It’s in my slow cooker waiting for the kids after school!
Thanks Corey! Our family loves your recepies ? xx
Corey says
Thanks Shonia! This is one of our favorite soups too!
Sam says
Delicious soup – made it three times now at request of my teenage boys – perfect supper to warm them up after school on a cold January night 🙂 Only thing I changed, as I do in all recipes, was to add leeks instead of celery.
Laurel Clark says
This was fantastic to come home to! Teens are eating it up (we’re used to vegetarian/vegan, though.) I added a little more flavoring for our family, including liquid aminos (soy sauce) and hot sauce. So good! We served it with sprouted sourdough toast and it was perfect! Thank you!
Corey says
So happy you loved it Laurel!
deepika singh says
Just made this for dinner and it was fantastic. I’m not much of a soup eater, but with all of these clean and wholesome ingredients, I will definitely make this again. It is popping with flavor and I feel great about eating it
Jacqueline Gilson says
I made it and had to add about 3 times the liquid suggested by the recipe. Not sure your proportions are correct.
Corey says
Make sure your tomatoes are undrained, there is a lot of liquid in there. And this soup, is a thicker stew, so it’s not that “soupy”. If you do like a soupy lentil soup, then adding liquid like you did works out great!