When’s the last time you tried lentil soup? If your answer was anything other than “I just polished off a bowl!” then it’s time to give this Crockpot Lentil Soup recipe a whirl.
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While they might not appear especially riveting sitting in their simple plastic bag, lentils will surprise you.
I like to compare them to the YouTube videos of celebrity musicians playing in subway stations in disguise. Judge them by their appearance only, and you’ll miss a star opportunity.
Humble as it seems, the lentil is a total diva when it comes to nutritional prowess and culinary possibility. Lentils are loaded with vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, protein, and fiber.
They’re also versatile.
Since lentils are mild on their own, you can easily incorporate them into a variety of different dishes. From Indian-inspired recipes like this Curry Lentil Soup and Instant Pot Lentil Curry, to Thai-tastic ones like Slow Cooker Red Lentil Curry, this quiet legume is primed to take on bold flavor.
Like any true great, however, lentils don’t have to be showy. Case-in-point: lentil soup.
This Instant Pot Lentil Soup has long been one of my favorite recipes on my site, and it has become a reader favorite too.
It’s rich and cozy, earnest but by no means bland. It’s exactly what I crave on a chilly night when I need my dinner to warm me to my bones and to be healthy too.
Since not everyone owns an Instant Pot, I thought it was high time I created a slow cooker version (along with a regular Lentil Soup version). All are fantastic.
Whichever cooking vessel you choose, rest assured that you are making the best lentil soup recipe.
You can make this soup on a lazy weekend and enjoy the tantalizing smell as it builds in your kitchen, then wafts into the living room and calls everyone to dinner.
Or, you can set it and forget it on a weekday, then return home to a wholesome dinner that’s waiting just for you.
How to Make the Best Healthy Crockpot Lentil Soup
This hearty vegetable lentil soup is flavorful and filling. You can doctor it up with bacon or with ham if you like, but we adore the below vegetarian version just as it is.
The Ingredients
- Veggies. The tried-and-true combination of onion, carrots, and celery makes the soup colorful, nutritious, and provides a backbone of flavor.
- Spices. Italian seasoning and smoked paprika are the powerhouse spices. The smoked paprika especially gives the soup complexity.
- Green Lentils. French green lentils are the best choice for this soup. You can also use brown lentils, but I do not recommend red lentils as they are very delicate and won’t hold up to the long cook time in the crockpot.
- Fire-Roasted Tomatoes + Crushed Tomatoes. Fire-roasted tomatoes bring the heat and the crushed tomatoes provide richly flavored liquid for our soup.
- Vegetable Broth. Make sure to use low-sodium broth here to keep this soup from being overly salty.
- Parmesan Rind. A completely optional but AMAZING addition. As the soup warms, the rind releases delicious bursts of Parmesan flavor into the broth.
- Red Wine Vinegar. For balance, brightness, and pop. Don’t skip it!
- Fresh Parsley and Parmesan. My favorite toppings for this lentil soup! If you need to keep the soup dairy free, use nutritional yeast instead.
The Directions
- Sauté the onion in a large skillet. Add the carrots, celery, and spices. Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker.
- Add the lentils, tomatoes, and broth to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or low for 6 to 8 hours.
- Stir in the vinegar and sugar. Serve hot with desired toppings, and ENJOY!
Recipe Variations
- Crockpot Lentil Soup with Ham. Add 1 1/2 cups diced cooked ham to the slow cooker with the lentils. Cook as directed.
- Slow Cooker Lentil Soup with Bacon. Prepare 1/4 pound Baked Bacon, and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Stir almost all the bacon into the slow cooker with the lentils and cook as directed. Top each bowl of soup with remaining bacon pieces.
- Slow Cooker Lentil Soup with Sausage. Slice 2 pounds of kielbasa sausage into 1/2-inch pieces, and add the pieces to the slow cooker with the lentils. Cook as directed. To make a healthy spin on this variation, use chicken or turkey sausage.
- Vegan Crockpot Lentil Soup. Use nutritional yeast in place of the Parmesan.
- Gluten Free Lentil Soup. No changes needed! This recipe is naturally gluten free as written.
How to Store, Reheat, and Freeze Soup
- To Store. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To Reheat. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop with a little water or additional broth to thin as needed.
- To Freeze. Place soup in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
What to Serve with Crockpot Lentil Soup
- Bread. My favorite side to pair with soups! This Rosemary Olive Oil Bread, Crock Pot Bread, or a crusty loaf from your favorite bakery would all be tasty.
- Vegetables. Serve your soup with a side of these healthy and delicious Sautéed Brussels Sprouts or Sautéed Cabbage.
- Salad. Winter Salad with Kale and Pomegranate or Winter Slaw would both be great paired with this soup.
Recommended Tools to Make This Recipe
- Slow Cooker. This one has a “keep warm” function, which helps deter overcooking.
- Sharp Chef’s Knife. This is my most faithful kitchen companion..
- Skillet. Perfect for sautéing veggies in this recipe.
Crockpot Lentil Soup
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 4 medium carrots peeled and cut into a ½-inch dice
- 3 stalks celery thinly sliced
- 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 1/2 cups French green lentils or brown lentils; I do not recommend red lentils, which are more delicate and break down when cooked for a long period
- 1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes 15 ounces
- 1 can crushed tomatoes 15 ounces
- 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- Parmesan rind optional; add it if you have it
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- For serving: chopped fresh parsley and Parmesan
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high. Once the oil is hot, add the onion. Cook the onion, stirring often, until it is very soft and beginning to nicely brown and break down, about 8 minutes. Add the carrots, celery, Italian seasoning, salt, smoked paprika, and pepper. Sauté until the carrots and celery are barely soft, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.
- To the slow cooker, add the lentils, diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, and vegetable broth. Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or low for 6 to 8 hours, or until the lentils are tender and retain a slight amount of pleasant chew but are not mushy.
- Remove the Parmesan rind (if using). Stir in the red wine vinegar and sugar. If the soup is too thick for your liking, thin with a bit of water or additional broth until you reach your desired consistency. Taste and adjust the seasonings as desired. Serve hot with a sprinkle of parsley, Parmesan (if using), and bread for dipping.
Notes
- TO STORE: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- TO REHEAT: Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop with a little water or additional broth to thin as needed.
- TO FREEZE: Place soup in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- TO MAKE ON THE STOVETOP: Prepare the recipe in a large Dutch oven on the stove through Step 3. Bring the soup to a boil, cover, and reduce the heat to a simmer. Let cook until the lentil are tender but not mushy, about 25 minutes, stirring once or twice throughout. Enjoy hot.
Nutrition
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I will definitely be giving this soup a try, but one question first. How do you think black/beluga lentils would work for this? I bought them in bulk at Whole Foods in a moment of excited impulse and need to use them up!
Hi Angie! I haven’t tried this recipe with black lentils, but from what I can find online, they should hold up fine. If you decide to try it with the black lentils, I’d love to hear how it goes!
Update! I used the beluga lentils in this soup tonight and they were great. And the soup as a whole was a delight. Such a great depth of flavor. Yet another hit in our house thanks to you, Erin!
YAY! Thank you for taking the time to report back, Angie!
This lentil soup was amazing! I used brown lentils and after 6 hours in the slow cooker, everything was done. It smelled SO wonderful while cooking, and tasted even better. I do love a good bowl of lentil soup (mostly good old Trader Joe’s version) but this was so easy and delicious that I might never need to buy another can/carton of lentil soup. Thanks so much for another healthy winner, Erin!
Everyone else: Make! This! Soup!
This MADE my day, Danielle! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review!
Just finished eating this up. So good!!
I am so so happy to hear it Kristina, thank you!
Trying this over the weekend! Thank you for creating a crock-pot version. No instant pot over here!!
I hope you love the recipe, Adrienne!
DELICIOUS! Warm, flavorful, and hearty! Carried the whole crockpot to my best friend’s house and both our families enjoyed it! AND I still had 1 container for leftovers for lunch. :o)
Thank you for sharing this kind review, Adrienne! I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe!
Love this January soup! Both this one and the Instantapot one are great and both taste even better the second day. Thanks, Erin, for providing his healthy recipes.
I’m so happy to hear that this recipe was a hit, Lisa! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Hi Erin! I’m excited to try this soup (HUGE lentil soup fan!, but I have a slightly smaller slow cooker (4 qt not 6 qt). Will this still work in a slightly smaller crock pot? I’d be a little afraid to adjust the ingredient amounts on my own…. Thanks!
Lisa, I haven’t tried this before, but I think you should be OK; it might take your lentils longer since the slow cooker will be more crowded. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to hear how it turns out!
I must be missing something here. I normally am very easy to please, not super picky when it comes to food. And I love lentils and I love soup. But this was just pretty flavorless to me…? I didn’t salt it while cooking since I’m feeding it to my little one as well but even lots of salt added on after cooking couldn’t seem to rescue this for me. I feel like I must have missed something. The only other thing I did was add a few bits of left over sweet potato—like less than half of a sweet potato. Otherwise, followed the recipe to a T. Smelled amazing, but just so bland!
I’m sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy it, Krista. The flavor profile is pretty pronounced with the additions of fire roasted tomatoes, smoked paprika, and the Italian seasoning, but I know we all have different taste and I wished it would of been a hit for you!
Nice hearty soup that is simple to put together. Great for a cold winter’s night. Thanks for the recipe!
I’m so happy to hear that this recipe was a hit, Vivian! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Made this and enjoyed it! My husband doesn’t like onion or garlic, so I left those out and even put the carrots and celery in the crockpot without sautéing them first. And I forgot the parm rind- oops. Even with my modifications, the recipe was great! Looking forward to leftovers tonight.
I’m so happy to hear that this recipe was a hit, Sarah! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Hi! This recipe looks wonderful. How would I decrease the cooking time if I used canned lentils?
Thanks!
Hi Lone! I’ve never tried this recipe with canned lentils, but you may want to try the soup on the stovetop instead, as cooking canned lentils too long can cause them to become mushy. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to hear how it goes!
Just tried today and love it! Easy and with few ingredients, very tasty. served with pop- overs. Thanks!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Fran! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Just made this soup yesterday. I really enjoyed the flavor. The only change I would make would be to add more vegetable broth as the soup was a little too think for me.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the flavor, Jim! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
I’m excited to try this recipe!! I dint have vegetable broth but I do have organic chicken stock. Would this work in the recipe or should I try to buy some vegetable broth?
Hi Karla! I think that would work fine but heads up that the soup won’t be vegetarian anymore. I hope you enjoy it if you try it!
Hands down the best lentil soup recipe, slow cooker or otherwise, that I’ve ever made. So flavorful, we did not miss the meat at all!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Robin! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
OHMYGOSH ~ what a recipe full of flavor!!! Is this Lentil soup or Lentil Stew? I followed the recipe and used 3 meaty western ribs. I didn’t have fire roasted tomatoes, but had a selection of Penzey’s spices to add to fresh Roma tomatoes. I seasoned the ribs, seared in a skillet and added to the crock pot. It was “set it and forget it”. In 7 hours it was done. Served with crusty bread and Asiago cheese, it was the perfect meal to come home to on a cold and rainy night. The crock pot made it easy. I heartily enjoyed this recipe.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Debra! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
This was easy to make and really tasty, I was skeptical even after reading comments but it truly is a good recipe.
PS: I ate the rind…..it tasted like pizza……………………………………………I might chop it up into small chunks and spread it through the soup next time or just eat again.
I’m so happy that it was a hit, KC! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
This is a delicious recipe!! Very filling as well!!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, David! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Delicious and EASY to make!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Renée! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
This recipe is great! I did not have many of the vegetables on hand, so I used some frozen garden vegetables. (Carrots, green beans, broccolli, and cauliflower) it tasted good and I even got my 50 year old father to eat it! He hates vegetables and always told us growing up that he’s “allergic” to vegetables. Thank you for sharing the recipe! If it can get the pickiest vegetable-hater to eat it, it’s a miracle in my books.
I’m so happy that it was a hit, Dani! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
I was reading the ingredients for Lentil soup , it had
all the ingredients for it except the dry ingredients Lentils
it didn’t say how much to put in with the rest of the ingredients .
Hi Sandra! If you click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the recipe card that lists all the ingredients and instructions. I hope this helps!
Seeing that this soup had a five star rating, I made it according to directions with all of the listed ingredients. I, myself, and my family did not like it. The reason is the tomatoes take away from the lentil flavor. Sorry, but I’ll never make lenjatil soup this way again.
I’m sorry to hear that this soup wasn’t to your tastes, Joann. I (and many other readers) really enjoyed it, so I truly wish it would’ve been a hit for you too!
Couldn’t find quantities for recipe
Hi Ed! It is in the recipe card right above the comments section of the post. I hope you enjoy it!
This is more like a Tomato/Vegetable soup with Lentils in it.
Not my cup of tea, way too much Tomato in it.
Recipe isn’t necessarily “bad”, I just wouldn’t call it “Lentil Soup”.
I’m sorry that this recipe wasn’t to your tastes, Sasha. I (and many other readers) have really enjoyed it, so I truly wish it would’ve been a hit for you too!
Best lentil soup I’ve ever made our had!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Matty! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Hi Erin! I am detoxing feom sugar. Is there a plant based alternative you can recommend? Would omitting the sugar takeaway from the soup?
Hi Sam! You can omit the sugar if you prefer. I hope you enjoy it!
Hi Erin! I omitted the sugar and it was still delicious! Now a fam favorite in my house! Don’t be afraid to add more veggies than the recipe calles for (I did!) and it was amazing!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Sam! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
This recipe made me love lentils !!
I’m so happy that it was a hit, Brooke! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Delicious. Added a bit of water at the end to make a little bit thinner to my liking. Overall great flavor and super filling! Will make again and add to my recipe book.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Emily! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Hey, can I use red wine instead of the vinegar? Thank you, very excited to try your recipe!
Hi Tesla! I’ve only tested the recipe as written, so you’d be experimenting. The flavor of red wine vinegar is unique, so the red wine will not create the same flavor profile. I hope you enjoy the soup if you try it!
I made this tonight and it was so so good! I didn’t have a can of diced tomatoes so I left that out but otherwise followed your recipe. Definitely will be added into the rotation!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Lorelyn! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Great and easy recipe my first time making it i am so glad I used your recipe this one is a keeper.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Brenda! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
What to cook on a chilly Friday in January? Erin’s crockpot lentil soup, which is tasty, warming, healthy and so easy to put together! I made it on the stovetop in a dutch oven with 18oz of turkey kielbasa. Simmer time for me was about 40 minutes. Delicious on Friday and even better for lunch on Saturday.
Side note: I’ve been using Well Plated recipes to eat healthy and maintain my weight after losing 75 lbs and this was the 56th recipe from either your blog or cookbook that I’ve enjoyed. Love that I can enjoy such flavorful meals and desserts without gaining weight! So thankful for your recipes. Will there be a second cookbook? Thanks Erin and may 2021 be a good one for you!
I’m SO happy that you enjoyed the soup, Lisa! Thank you for sharing this incredibly kind review!
First time for me to fix lentils in my crockpot. This recipe was yummy. I added some chopped kale ans a couple of bay leaves. I will definitely be preparing this again.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Karen! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Would like to have the soup a little thicker. How should I thicken the soup? I have it almost ready to dish up. It looks delicious.
Hi Janet! You could try letting the soup simmer uncovered for a bit or puree a portion of it. I hope you enjoyed it!
I thought the flavor of the soup was terrific. I had some trouble getting my carrots to soften up. I think next time I will simmer on the stove.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the flavor, Jackie! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Mom asked for a Lentil Soup Slowcooker recipe,
Showed my mom this recipe, totally worth it! 10/10
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
I have made this recipe 3 times! I enjoy it so much that I freeze several servings after the cooking is done. The French Green Lentils are absolutely the best choice. They really do “hold up” throughout the slow cooking process which enhances the texture. The last time I made it, I added some diced yellow peppers for a change. They too held up quite well. Thank you for this excellent recipe.
I’m so happy that you’ve enjoyed it, Linda! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Do you cook the lentils before adding them to the soup?
Hi Cassidy! You do not need to cook them first. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
I accidently cooked them before but it was still delicious! Thanks for the amazing recipe (:
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Cassidy! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Kudos for lentil soup but why add vinegar and sugar. We want our very young son to enjoy it but think the vinegar will turn him off
Hi! The vinegar adds balance, brightness, and pop. I hope you enjoy the recipe if you try it!
I made this today and am sitting down to eat it now
It is SO good!!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Samantha! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
It’s probably just me, but … In Erin’s healthy crockpot lentils, I couldn’t find the measure of lentils (i.e. cups or pounds) nor the listing/measure of “sugar.”
Hi Jane, when looking in the recipe card you will see the measurement for the lentils as the 10th ingredient on the list. It calls for 1 1/2 cups French green lentils. For the sugar it is listed as the 16th ingredient. And it calls for ½ teaspoon granulated sugar. Hope that helps!
This is a great recipe. I really enjoyed the flavours that came from letting the onions brown as well as the Italian seasoning!
I however had trouble when it came to the lentils in this recipe. I purchased dried green lentils (not French, couldn’t find these) and after 8+ hours in my slow cooker, they were still hard and crunchy. They had softened up some but not nearly as much as I was expecting them to. Did I do something wrong? Perhaps should have soaked the lentils or cooked them first before adding to the slow cooker? Help! I’m sad that this recipe didn’t fully turn out. Thanks!
Hi Michelle, so sorry this didn’t turn out for you. The French lentils are smaller in size, they’re about one third the size of standard green lentil this may have been why your lentils were not fully cooked. Hope that helps!
Very delicious and felt healthy eating it, thank you for sharing this recipe, I followed the recipe almost exactly except I didnt pre-sauté the vegetables, i threw it all in the crockpot and let it cook
Hi Deborah! So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for this kind review!
I made this today and its wonderful! I made a couple of minor changes based on what I had on hand. Used shallots instead of onion which, for my taste, eliminated the need for vinegar. I added 3 bays leaves because I love them. I did not put sugar in it.
Thanks for the feedback Heather! So glad you enjoyed the soup! Thank you for this kind review!
Made this with just a few tweaks. Didn’t have fresh garlic on hand so I used garlic salt. Also added a little red wine instead of red wine vinegar and sugar. Turned out amazing!!! I did mine with kielbasa too. Perfect Sunday meal. Served with fresh Italian bread and a salad.
Hi Krista! So glad your tweaks worked out for you! Thank you for this kind review!
I have a pretty good recipe for lentil soup but have to say this recipe was absolutely delicious. Loads of flavor. Did add a bell pepper and a few potatoes. This one is a keeper.
Hi Pat! So glad you enjoyed this! Thank you for this kind review!
I used this as a “base.” I had to make changes due to diet restrictions. I did not use fire roasted tomatoes or crushed tomatoes, only a 15 oz can of diced tomatoes. I used only Italian Seasoning. I did add some bacon. I didn’t saute’ any of the veggies, I just threw everything in the crock pot. I liked it! I wanted to make some more, and WOW, my favorite grocery store was out of vegetable broth. So I tried Beef Broth. It was very good. I also threw in cilantro.
Hi JJ! So glad this turned out for you even with the changes made! Thank you!
Hi! I live in a country that doesn’t have red wine vinegar available to me (because alcohol is prohibited to locals). What is the best swap for RWV? Trust me — it makes me sad, too hahah
Hi Janelle! If it’s not available I would just leave it out! So sorry you can get it!!
Thanks! I ended up making the instant pot version since it’s very similar and holy cow. It’s so good.
Hi Janelle! So glad to hear! Thank you!
You could also use Apple Cider Vinegar. Adding vinegar (red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar) at the end of the cooking time will make the lentil soup pop and finish the flavor.
Holy crap, delicious! Made it on my lunch break.
I’m so happy that it was a hit, Mariana! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
This soup is delicious!! Very flavorful. I did the stove top version. Will definitely make again and again!!
Hi Kerry! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Just confirming I don’t need to pre-soak my lentils? :)
Hi Courtney! No need to pre-soak. Hope you enjoy it!
My wife and kids loved it! We added left-over spiral sliced ham and it was perfect!
Hi Jarin! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
The absolute best lentil soup I ever had. I only used one can of fire roasted tomatoes and omitted the crushed it was outstanding. Will definitely make this again.
Hi Wendy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Great flavor but lentils did not cook well on crockpot. 8 hours later and they are still hard. I will precook the lentils next time. Tip: Bay Leaves and Rosemary.
Hi Jessica! I’m sorry you had trouble with this recipe. They cook well for me in my crockpot, and it’s hard for me to say what went wrong without being in the kitchen with you.
I made this and followed the recipe to a tee. Was absolutely delicious. However, instead of serving with bread, I bought small sourdough loaves, hollowed them out and served the soup in a bread bowl. Needless to say, it was a complete hit with the family. Can’t wait to make it again and try more of your great recipes!
Hi Jason! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
This sounds delicious. The only thing stopping me making it is that as a novice cook, and especially a novice slow cooker, I’d don’t have a good grasp of measurements. Maybe I missed the information. But I didn’t see what size slow cooker you made this in. If I fill mine up to the rim-I seem to have a 5 quart size cooker. Would this recipe work with that, or would I need to downsize the measurements?
PS For others similarly measurement challenged would it be possible to put in the recipes the size of the slow cooker used (and Instant Pot if necessary)?
Hi Mark! The size of the slow cooker is listed at the end of step 1 in the recipe card. Hope this helps!
Made this recipe and will be making again! Included a splash of low sodium soy and a bayleaf in cooking. Topped it with parm and ate with baguette with butter and a glass of red wine. Sooo comforting and delicious! Meat eater partner rated it 8/10 and a solid meal!
Will be looking forward to more vegetarian crockpot / easy meals from your website!
Hi Ashtin! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Great soup. Very tasty and easy to make. I also added red wine (in addition to the red wine vinegar)
Hi Pat! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
It’s tasers delicious, but for some reason no matter how long we cooked it, the lentils are still hard…
Hi Sadie, I am glad you enjoy the recipe but am sorry to hear that you are getting that kind of result. It’s hard to know what is going wrong without being in the kitchen with you.
Hello,
I don’t have access to fire roasted tomatoes, what kind of flavour does that add? can I throw in extra herbs or spices and which ones?? Thanks so much
Hi Channy! Fire roasted tomatoes are sweet and smoky, so it’s hard to offer a flavor substitution. If you can’t find them, I’d recommend swapping in a can of regular tomatoes. I hope you enjoy the soup!
i have everything to make this except the cans of tomatoes. i do have a call of tomatoe paste. any suggestions?
Hi Dana! The tomato paste simply helps thicken a recipe or add flavor and unfortunately won’t work the same as the cans of tomatoes. I am not really sure what you could use to substitute with the tomatoes being such a key ingredient. You would need to add 30 ounces of something else if you don’t use the tomatoes. If you decide to experiment with something else, let me know how it goes!
Didn’t saute veggies do to time crunch. This still came out tasty! This is now a part of my rotating dinners!
Hi Artie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
**update**
I mentioned I didn’t sauté do to time crunch. I also didn’t use tomatoes (do to diet restrictions). I substituted all the tomatoe parts with 4 red bell peppers.
4 hours on high. Came out delicious! Great recipe for a quick dinner!
Thanks for the feedback Artie!
The lentils were still hard after 3 hours on high… i think they need to be cooked beforehand
I’m sorry you to hear had trouble with the recipe, Myra! I know it’s frustrating to try a new recipe and things not work out. The timing has worked well for myself (and many other readers), so I really wish it would’ve been worked for you too!
I made this recepie. I used ham, and skipped the vinegar and sugar. It was delicious !
Hi Gloria! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I cannot rate the recipe yet but your description of it gets 5 stars! Just recently got a slow cooker and this recipe will be my first try at a soup 🤞
Hope you enjoy it!
Erin, thank you SO much for this incredible recipe. I’ve had it in the slow cooker for about 2 hours now, and my whole house smells like a gourmet restaurant. The little “tastes” I’ve taken are amazing, as well. I’ll freeze a bunch for the coming cold nights here in NH.
Hi Amy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I made this today, with slight changes. I used a soup mix of mostly brown lentils, with split peas, rice, and tiny beans. It’s what I had on hand. Added fresh basil, and fresh rosemary, since they’re growing in my kitchen. :) I used “Better Than Bouillon”, veggie base. I don’t measure, so can’t say exactly how much of these additions. I cooked it in the oven @ 250 in a dutch oven for maybe 5-6 hours, since my central heat doesn’t work, and I was freezing here, LOL. The recipe is excellent, it came out great! Thank you so much Erin! It would be pretty hard to mess this recipe up, as I took quite a few liberties, and it still came out wonderful!
Glad it worked out for you Jude!
If I don’t want to pre cook the veggies on the stove top first – can I just throw them in raw to the slow cooker and maybe add the lentils (brown) a little later so they don’t turn to mush? Thank you
Hi Pam! I’ve only tested the recipe as written. If you decide to experiment with those changes, I’d love to know how it goes!
thanks, lots of flavor without cooking meat, it should be a hit at the pot luck
Exactly! Thanks Diana!
This was ok. I felt like it needed something. The vinegar at the end was definitely good, it still needed something else.
I’m sorry this recipe wasn’t to your tastes, Kristen. I (and many other readers) have truly enjoyed it, so I wish you would’ve too!
Very good, and just what I needes for a rainy winter day. I did end up doubling the spices and garlic, but that’s probably because I didn’t have a parmesan rind. If you have meat lovers in the family, would be good with kielbasa or sausage.
Hi Kelly! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
The whole family loved this. I served it with some potatoes and vegan sausage and even my non-vegan children thought it was delicious. My son even asked for the recipe (although he’ll probably add meat to his). I also put some in the freezer for another day and it was even more delicious. Making some again now.
Hi Tracy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Definitely not my favorite lentil soup. To much tomato for me. Lentils stay hard. I’ve been cooking six hours already and they are still crunchy. This is a big no for me
I’m sorry to hear that you had trouble with the recipe, Kim. The method and timing has worked well for myself (and others) but I know how frustrating it can be to try a new recipe and not have it work out, so I really wish you would’ve enjoyed it!
I have the soup cooking on the stovetop. It smells and looks delicious. I am cooking low sodium for my husband who has kidney disease and I was hoping to see the sodium content in this recipe. I made it as directed without the salt.
Hi Nancy! I stopped including sodium info because it can vary so much depending upon what products you used, and I found a lot of conflicting info online, so ultimately I didn’t feel comfortable publishing it because sometimes it wasn’t even in the ballpark. If you’d like to calculate it yourself, there are lots of free tools online (myfitnesspal.com is popular). I hope that helps!
This was a yummy dish for a cold Ohio dinner, especially during Lent. It was good as is and also on top of rice or a baked potato. It would also be good with smoked kielbasa pieces the next time.
Hi Christine! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
This is a wonderful soup, hearty and satisfying, and with a really nice blend of flavors. My wife and I are vegan, so we eat a LOT of beans and lentils. This soup is a bit different from most of the lentil soup recipes we have and we really enjoyed it. My only comment on the recipe is that, after 6 hours on low, I needed to turn it to high for another 90 minutes to finish cooking. I think the next time I make this I’ll plan for it to cook 9 hours on low. Suggestion: No one wants to use a partial bag of lentils! Please consider recipes that use an entire 16 ounces ;-)
Hi! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Am I able to halve the ingredients and still use the same cooking time? I’ve only got a small slow cooker and am just cooking for me ^^
Hi Josie! Yes, I would keep the same cooking time. Hope this helps!
Just made this recipe but skipped the salt, sugar, and red wine vinegar it was delicious. Will be added to my dinner meals going forward.
Hi Nicholas! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I am a meat lover, who rarely eats vegetarian or ‘hippie’ recipes and I LOVED this meal. It was so cheap too, and tried it to save costs. Threw everything in the crock pot. Didn’t have Parmesan, and I didn’t add the fresh herbs at the end. It really didn’t matter. Added an extra carrot and a parsnip to use up veges in the fridge. This is an amazing dish, so tasty and moreish. My 14mo loved it too!
Hi Penny! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I put some cheap sausage in, used green lentils and had it in the slow cooker for 8 hrs (because I forgot to turn it off before my early morning dog walk!). Definitely better reheated the next day and hubby loved it so I’ve saved the recipe. Might try with some chunks of bacon in next.
Sounds delish, thanks for sharing!
I don’t have much experience with lentil soup, but this soup had such wonderful flavor and will be made often in our household from now on! I didn’t have crushed tomatoes, so I left them out (risky I know) and it turned out amazing! I highly recommend the parmesan rind. I think it really added some fantastic flavor. Even my toddler loved it! Thanks, Erin :)
Yay! Thanks Maddy!
Looks delicious but lacks great flavor. I would not make this recipe again.
Hi Kodi, the flavor profile is pretty poignant in this soup but you can definitely adjust according to your own taste.
So I don’t need to add any broth or water is that correct? Is this for a 4 quart crockpot?
Thank You.
Hi Logan, broth is the #13 ingredient on the list. Also, I test all of my recipes in a 6 quart. Enjoy!
These lentils turned out amazing! I opted to cook the soup on high for 4 hours, the lentils were very tender. The Parmesan cheese rind was a really interesting twist and goes well with the smoked paprika! Perfect lentil recipe for prosperity in the New Year!
Glad you enjoyed it, Aimee! Thank you!
This crockpot lentil soup is the absolute BEST lentil dish I have ever had. I have been vegetarian and then vegan for a long time, and have become quite particular with my taste. I think it’s the brilliant spice choice, and the cooking time that make this so delicious. I did 4 hours on high, however had to let it sit for a couple hours afterwards. By the time we ate it, it had thickened right up, and the temperature was just warm. Wow. I did not want to stop eating this! Thank you for this fabulous recipe.
So happy to hear it, Lynda!
Have you tried making with ground turkey? If so, any recommendations? Thank you! I’m loving your recipes.
I haven’t tried it, Lindsey but I think you could easily add it. Enjoy!
This soup is phenomenally satisfying and tasty! We had leftovers, and the soup was even better the next day!
Thank you Wendy!
Delicious and simple! Aromatic and colorful! I have a pic to share.
Glad you enjoyed it Lieolani!
I doubled the recipe but ran out of room in the crock pot after pouring in the 4 cups of vegetable broth. Is this going to be a problem? (Hoping for an answer/solution before 6 hours 😂)
Oops! How’d it turn out Dwayne?
Delicious!
Lentils cooked perfectly on high for 4 hours. I added thyme, sage and marjoram and garlic.
Honestly, I forget to add the red wine vinegar &sugar. It didn’t need it
So glad you enjoyed it, Mary! Thank you!
I made this soup with a spicy vegetable broth and it tasted like a spicy chili.I froze the leftovers and they still had a kick..
Sounds great! Thanks Lea!