Easy Hearty Lentil and Vegetable Soup Recipe

Easy Lentil and Vegetable Soup is the ultimate comfort food. After making this many times, I’ve found the secret to a perfectly hearty soup every time. The cozy aroma of this soup fills your home and warms your soul. Try it with my Easy Cheesy Asparagus Casserole for a complete meal. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Maple Bacon Pork Chops with Creamy Dijon Sauce and Easy Chilled Cucumber Avocado Soup with Fresh Dill.

What You'll Need for Easy Hearty Lentil and Vegetable Soup Recipe

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1 cup green lentils
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• Optional: Chopped fresh parsley
• Optional: Crusty bread
• Optional: Shredded cheese

How to Make Easy Hearty Lentil and Vegetable Soup Recipe

1. Sauté: In a large pot, sauté onion, carrots, celery, and garlic until soft.
2. Add Ingredients: Add lentils, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, bay leaf, and thyme. Bring to a boil.
3. Simmer: Reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for 20-25 minutes, until lentils are tender.
4. Blend (optional): Use an immersion blender to partially blend the soup for a creamier texture.
5. Serve: Ladle into bowls and top with optional toppings.

Storing & Reheating Easy Hearty Lentil and Vegetable Soup Recipe

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: Soup can be made up to 2 days ahead and reheated before serving.

Freezing Easy Hearty Lentil and Vegetable Soup Recipe

Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in a pot on the stove over medium heat until warmed through. Microwave: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: Sautéing the vegetables first builds flavor and adds depth to the soup.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the lentils with split peas for a similar texture and flavor.
• Make-ahead: Soup freezes well and can be made ahead for meal prep.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If the soup is too thick, thin it out with a little water or additional broth.

Easy Hearty Lentil and Vegetable Soup Recipe

⏱

Prep

10 mins

🍳

Cook

25 mins

⏳

Total

35 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Vegetarian

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 cup green lentils
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 4 cups vegetable broth

Seasonings

• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp dried thyme

Optional Toppings

• Chopped fresh parsley
• Crusty bread
• Shredded cheese

Instructions

1. Sauté: In a large pot, sauté onion, carrots, celery, and garlic until soft.
2. Add Ingredients: Add lentils, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, bay leaf, and thyme. Bring to a boil.
3. Simmer: Reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for 20-25 minutes, until lentils are tender.
4. Blend (optional): Use an immersion blender to partially blend the soup for a creamier texture.
5. Serve: Ladle into bowls and top with optional toppings.

Notes

• Chef tip: Sautéing the vegetables first builds flavor and adds depth to the soup.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the lentils with split peas for a similar texture and flavor.
• Make-ahead: Soup freezes well and can be made ahead for meal prep.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If the soup is too thick, thin it out with a little water or additional broth.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
• Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in a pot on the stove over medium heat until warmed through.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
• Make ahead: Soup can be made up to 2 days ahead and reheated before serving.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 250
• Protein: 18g
• Fat: 3g
• Carbs: 40g
• Fiber: 16g
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sat. Fat: 0.5g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Hearty Lentil and Vegetable Soup Recipe FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Easy Hearty Lentil and Vegetable Soup Recipe and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!