Stay warm with this healthy slow cooker lentil and vegetable soup recipe. It’s one of those amazing set-it-and-forget-it recipes and is great for making for healthy meals to take for lunch throughout the week!
During the holidays, I like to take a little break after posting the top recipes of the previous year (see here for 2017 top reader favorite recipe, 2018 favorite recipes and 2019 favorites). I like to shut down my computer and only check email via phone, occasionally.
It is really great and relaxing…but then one year when I was pregnant with my first child (I now have three kids, boy/girl twins and a toddler) I got a head cold for 5 days. And of course, being pregnant I couldn’t take any medications. So I relied on healthy healing soups, including this lentil soup (I swear this lentil soup cured me!)
This lentil and vegetable soup is packed full of veggies. It’s so comforting! And whenever I’m talking about comforting meals and dishes, I always think of the South.
A few years ago I got to tour behind the scenes at Southern Living Magazine, an event that was cosponsored by Delta Faucet. It just so happened to be a coincidence that the faucet in our kitchen was leaky. As I toured the Southern Living studios I was in awe of all their amazing faucets- they were all Delta Faucet and the ones that one just touches and the water comes on/off. When I got my very own Touch2O Technology faucet from Delta, I was beyond happy and grateful.
The faucet makes washing everything so easy! When I was cleaning and prepping the veggies for this soup, it took me a fraction of the time because I was able to use the pull down handle, and turn it on/off with my arm. It’s the little things, right?
With the start of the new year, there’s always a desire for healthier recipes, and healthy slow cooker recipes are some of my faves.
When it comes to soups, I have to admit that I’m not much of a brothy soup type of person. I like a more heartier soup (like this slow cooker beef and sweet potato stew) – a soup where you can just put ingredients into a slow cooker and it comes out great. This lentil and vegetable soup does just that. It goes into the slow cooker, does it’s cooking, and voila, a delicious healthy gluten free soup is the end result.
Because this soup uses red lentils, the texture is nice and thick at the end, almost creamy. Sometimes to get a thicker soup, recipes call for putting the soup in a blender. Not with this soup! The red lentils cook down and become soft and stir in beautifully with the other veggies for a delicious soup! You can definitely use other lentils, but they might not cook down like red ones do, still delicious, just not as thick in texture.
If you love this recipe, two other vegetarian soup recipes you might enjoy are this vegan red lentil chili and this 5 ingredient tomato white bean soup recipe.
Next time you’re looking for a comforting healthy meal, make this healthy slow cooker lentil and vegetable soup recipe.
Healthy Slow Cooker Lentil and Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
- [1 1/2 cups red lentils]
- 4 large carrots peeled and chopped
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 1/2 a bunch of kale about 4 leaves stems removed and chopped
- 2 russet potatoes peeled and chopped
- 1 jalapeno chopped (optional)
- 2 garlic cloves pressed
- 1/2 an onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 6 1/2 cups vegetable stock
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and pour in vegetable stock.
- Cook on high for 5 hours, or low for 8 hours (low is preferred). Stir a few times throughout the cooking. If you like a more brothy soup, add in 1-2 cups additional stock.
- Serve with a dollop of sour cream and crusty bread on the side (optional)
Nutrition
This post was brought to you in partnership with Delta Faucet & Southern Living Magazine. As always, all thoughts and opinions are mine alone. Thank you for reading about the brands and partnerships that make the SweetPhi blog possible.
Melissa says
What a fabulous recipe!!! Just sent it to friends and family as a must-try! 😉
Sweetphi says
So happy you liked this recipe Melissa, and THANK YOU so much for sending it along, that’s a true sign that you liked it 🙂
Lesley says
If I want to double the recipe, should I double everything?
Sweetphi says
Yes, I would double everything. I would like to add though that you might need a giant slow cooker – or nesco if doubling this recipe because it really fills a slow cooker 🙂
Helene says
This was absolutely delicious. Because requested by my kids, I left the kale out and the hot pepper. I also used sweet potatoes instead of russets (what I had on hand). Bookmarked it, will be making it again and again! Thank you for sharing ?
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for sharing how much you loved it and the substitutions you made 🙂
Faye says
I made this today and it was wonderful! I didn’t have a jalapeno so I used a can of diced green chili’s instead and it turned out great. Thanks for a delicious and healthy recipe!!
Sweetphi says
So glad you liked this soup! I love the swap of jalapeno for some diced green chilis!
Sarah says
I made this at the weekend & it’s seriously amazing! So easy to make. Thank you 🙂
Krista says
Any advice for making this in an Instant Pot pressure cooker? How long does it take? Looks super tasty.
Sweetphi says
Oh great question! Unfortunately I have never used an instant pot, it’s definitely on my christmas list though, so i’ll hopefully be able to help after that. Sorry!
Maelui Yumiko says
I made this soup, and I cooked it on high for 2 hours, and on low for 4 hours. It was still pretty brothy, so I turned it up on high again, and cooked it for 2 more hours. It didn’t quite look like yours. So, I used an emulsion blender to get that thick consistency. The stew is really good though! I didn’t have jalapeño, or celery, so I added one zucchini to my stew, and it was really good! I’m just wondering why my lentils didn’t break down very much. I also left my potatoes unpeeled, to keep nutrients intact. I’m wondering if that had something to do with it as well. Anyway, awesome recipe, and thank you!
Sweetphi says
Hi there, I know zucchinis can be very watery, so that may have contributed to it being brothy – but as to why the lentils didn’t cook down, that I’ve never had happen. Did you use red lentils? Red lentils vs. other kinds (green/brown/etc.) break down and cook a lot faster so that could have something to do with it. Regardless, so glad you liked the soup!
Sara says
Do you use dry lentils or hydrated lentils in this recipe?
Sweetphi says
I use dry lentils in this recipe 🙂
Samantha says
1 hour left in the cook time and my home is smelling amazing!! Can’t wait to dig in and try. Very easy recipe to follow and make, 15 easy minutes of prep and then vegging out in front of the tv while the tantalizing smells start tingling in my nose. Yum!
Sweetphi says
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for your amazing comment, hope you love it as much as everyone does 🙂
Teresa says
This was incredible! I made this with sweet potatoes vs russet potatoes only because that’s what I had on hand. My husband and I loved it!! This recipe is a must try!
I was concerned it wouldn’t be flavorful enough and boy was I wrong.
Fantastic!!
Sweetphi says
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. I’m so happy to hear that you loved this soup as much as I do 🙂
Melinda says
Don’t have red lentils but just regular. How can I adjust this recipe to use what I have on hand?
Sweetphi says
You can cook it the same way, just note that green lentils won’t break down as much as red ones. I’d suggest cooking it on low in the slow cooker for 8 hours 🙂
Karen says
Absolutely love this recipe, Have made it twice already and its just absolutely delicious. Recently moved into my own apartment and bough a slow cooker. Never made soup before. Glad to make this now that winter is coming!
Sweetphi says
Oh my goodness, thank you so much for sharing!! I truly appreciate your comment!
Bjorn Again Chef says
Phi-
Wow! Your recipe elevated me to Rockstar status with one meal. During the last couple of weeks I put a lot of good dinners on the table that were enjoyed, but this was the first one that was so healthy – and fully vegetarian.
It turned out extremely well and was appreciated by everyone.
I’ll definitely be making it again and look forward to checking out more of your recipes.
Thanks again!
Sweetphi says
Oh my goodness, thank you SO MUCH for your awesome feedback, so excited to have you as a reader 🙂
Bjorn Again Chef says
This looks fantastic and I know my wife will be excited with all of the healthy ingredients. I am a born-again chef (ordering pizza was my previous idea of making dinner) and just learning my way around the kitchen.
Since I am so new at this, the prep work took me an extra hour but I’m sure I will be much quicker as I gain experience.
I have 4 1/2 hours left to experience the magical combination of the slow cooker and this recipe. I will let you know how it turns out!
Sweetphi says
Thank you for the awesome comment, hope you love the soup 🙂
deepika singh says
Thanks for the great recipe. This looks great. it’s rainy and cold here and the perfect time for this soup, I will make something like your soup for my boyfriend soon.I hope he is gonna like it.
thank you
Sweetphi says
Rainy and cold weather is the perfect time for a soup, I think you’ll absolutely love this one!
Nicole Warren says
Would it be a big deal if you don’t use red lentils? I can’t find red lentils in any of the grocery stores by my house!
Sweetphi says
The red lentils give it the almost creamy and thick consistency, but you could certainly try it without them 🙂
jane says
I made it, it had no flavor it’s a nope for me 🙁
Lori says
Just tried this tonight and it was a big hit…going into regular rotation! I didn’t have jalapeño, so just used the cayenne and smoked paprika. Really delicious! Thanks!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for the feedback, and I love how you made it work with the ingredients you had on hand 🙂
Shelly Norton says
It would be so great to include the serving size and calorie count with the fabulous recipes…..
Sweetphi says
Thank you for the suggestion 🙂
Nan Price says
Do you still need to soak the lentils first?
Sweetphi says
No, you do not need to soak the lentils in this recipe first
Nan says
What if I used spinach instead of kale (just because that’s what I have on hand). Would that be a very different taste to the final product? Thank you!
Sweetphi says
That would work perfectly 🙂
MRF says
Never mind, I totally missed the part in the ingredients list where it specifies chopped! Silly me! ? Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Sweetphi says
Glad you found the answer to the question, hope you enjoy 🙂
MRF says
This might be a silly question, but are you supposed to cut the vegetables before adding them to the pot? Or do you leave them whole and they get soft and mushy and mixed into the soup by the time they’re done?
Shena says
I’m going to try this. I am very much enjoying your site and made your slow cooker, sweet potato and beef stew recipe tonight. It was a hit and all gone now. 🙂
Sweetphi says
Oh my goodness, thank you SO much Shena!!! So glad you enjoyed the slow cooker sweet potato and beef stew (it’s one of my favorites) and this lentil soup is really good – hope you enjoy it as well!
Roxanne says
Can you freeze this soup?
Sweetphi says
Yes, this soup freezes really well.
jude says
FABULOUS soup, phi. thank you! the only changes i made were swapping sweet potatoes for the russet potatoes and smoked paprika for the paprika. my somewhat fussy family raved and raved and said i could make it every week!
Sweetphi says
That is so nice to hear Jude, THANK YOU for commenting and letting me know how much your family loved it. I also love the swaps you made!
Vivian says
Love this!!!just what I was
Looking for?thanks so much!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for your comment Vivian, I think you’d love this soup – several people have made it and raved about it 🙂
Diane says
Hi Philia,
This soup looks and sounds amazing, but can I leave out the jalapeno without sacrificing flavor? Planning on getting this into the slow cooker tomorrow :)!!
Sweetphi says
You of course can leave out the jalapeno without sacrificing flavor 🙂 I’d love to know how you like the soup!
Jess says
Yay! Welcome back! Thank you for sharing this delicious soup, definitely on the menu next week!
Sweetphi says
Hope you had a great start to the new year, and I think you’d love this soup – it’s SO easy to put together 🙂
Shawnna Griffin says
Hey girl -this looks so yummy! Congrats on the baby! When are you due?
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much! I’m due June 21st and am so excited!! 🙂
Susan Craig says
That looks easy and amazing! Also, my family members with allergies can eat it. Thanks so much.
Sweetphi says
This soup would definitely be great for any family members with allergies, it has such amazing flavors from all the veggies and seasonings 🙂
finja says
This looks so delicious, really want to try more soups out, so healthy!
Sweetphi says
I think you’d love this healthy soup 🙂
Gerty says
Hi. I’m confused about the 8 hours cook time vs. 8 hours 15 minutes inactive time. What is inactive time? Also, do you think I can keep the soup in the slow cooker for 24 hours since that suits my schedule best on some days?
Sweetphi says
Hi – sorry about the confusion. Inactive time is time you’re not doing anything. The cook time is 8 hrs. I’ve never had anything in the slow cooker that long, so I wouldn’t know if it would work or not, if it does work for you, I’d love to know. Enjoy.