Healthy, hearty, and loaded with vegetables, this Instant Pot Lentil Soup recipe comes together quickly, and then it's all hands-off! Whether you want to cozy up to it on a cold day or enjoy it as a light lunch, this lentil soup is perfect.
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👩🏻🍳 Why You'll Love This Recipe
I am all about easy weeknight meals. I hate having to do a ton of dishes, prep work, and make an extra trip to the grocery store during the week if I can help it. If you're like me, then this Instant Pot lentil soup is just perfect. You can just set it and forget it and dinner will be ready in a flash!
This week, I've made my Chicken Meatloaf as well as my Crispy Chicken Sandwich so I've been craving soup to welcome in the fall weather. It's easy, packed with veggies, and best of all, just like my other weeknight recipes, it's made in just a pot so cleaning up is easy. The pressure cooker's liner is even dishwasher friendly so really, you don't have to pick up a sponge if you don't want to!
🥘 Ingredients Needed
- vegetables - this lentil soup uses onions, carrots, and spinach.
- lentils - I like to use green lentils but you can use brown as well. Brown lentils have a higher fiber content if that is important to your diet.
- garlic - the more garlic the better in my opinion.
- diced tomatoes - I recommend using diced tomatoes that don't have any salt added to them.
- seasoning - I season my lentil soup with cumin, herbes de provence, salt, pepper, and bay leaves.
- stock - I prefer using vegetable stock over water for extra added flavors.
- cheese - I top my lentil soup off with some parmesan for extra taste.
🔪 Instructions
- In the Instant Pot, add the onion, carrots, lentils, garlic, and seasonings. Give the ingredients a stir.
- To the pot, add the diced tomatoes and vegetable stock.
- Place the lid on, set the valve to seal, and pressure cook on high for 18 minutes.
- You can allow the pot to natural pressure release or quick release when done (or do a combination). Then, add the spinach.
- Stir until the spinach as wilted.
- Serve the lentil soup with some Parmesan cheese as garnish.
👪 FAQs
This lentil soup will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days in a sealed airtight container. Simply reheat portions in the microwave when ready to enjoy at work or in a pot on the stovetop.
You can! This is a freezer-friendly soup that keeps well. Keep this in a freezer-safe container in 1 to 2 cup portions. This way you can thaw what you need. Make sure you leave headspace if you're using a glass jar. It will last for several months in the freezer.
Natural Pressure Release (NPR) means you just wait for the metal pin in your lid to drop instead of doing a quick release to get all the steam out of your Instant Pot.
💭 Other Helpful Tips
- The soup will take up to 30 minutes to come up to pressure due to the amount of liquid in it.
- Add a splash of coconut milk or heavy cream to make this creamier.
- For an extra texture, you can top the lentil soup with croutons or crispy bacon pieces.
- Freshly chopped parsley or cilantro make for great garnishes.
The soup will take up to 30 minutes to come up to pressure due to the amount of liquid in it.
📖 Variations
- Swap the spinach for kale if you prefer.
- Add some cooked shredded chicken to make the lentil soup even more hearty.
- Blend a portion of the soup and add it back to the pot to make it more thick.
🥗 Suggested Side Dishes
If you're looking for some sides to go with this lentil soup, then try my Sauteed Potatoes, Air Fryer Potato Wedges, or Air Fryer Green Beans.
They're super easy to make and come together quickly while your soup is in the Instant Pot. The potatoes also make your dinner more hearty!
🍞 Fall Recipes
- Pumpkin Overnight Oats - This recipe is flavorful, warm, and will fill your stomach! It's also high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
- Cheddar Pumpkin Healthier Grilled Cheese - This autumnal take on grilled cheese is a bit healthier than the original sandwich; it tastes great and you can feel even better serving it to your family!
- Easy Pumpkin Spice Cake - For a simple and delicious fall dessert, try this pumpkin spice cake.
Instant Pot Lentil Soup
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📋 Recipe Card
Instant Pot Lentil Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 large carrots peeled and chopped
- 2 cups green or brown lentils rinsed & drained (uncooked)
- 28 oz can diced tomatoes
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- 4 teaspoon herbes de provence
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ground black pepper to taste
- 2 bay leaves
- 7 cups vegetable stock
- 11 oz spinach or kale
- 1 large garlic clove grated
- Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- In the Instant Pot, add the onion, carrots, lentils, garlic, and seasonings. Give the ingredients a stir.1 medium onion, 2 large carrots, 2 cups green or brown lentils, 2 teaspoon cumin, 4 teaspoon herbes de provence, 1 teaspoon salt, ground black pepper, 1 large garlic clove, 2 bay leaves
- To the pot, add the diced tomatoes and vegetable stock.28 oz can diced tomatoes, 7 cups vegetable stock
- Place the lid on, set the valve to seal, and pressure cook on high for 18 minutes.
- You can allow the pot to natural pressure release or quick release when done (or do a combination). Then, add the spinach.11 oz spinach or kale
- Stir until the spinach as wilted.
- Serve the lentil soup with some parmesan cheese as garnish.Parmesan cheese for serving
Notes
- The soup will take up to 30 minutes to come up to pressure due to the amount of liquid in it.
- Add some coconut milk or heavy cream to make the lentil soup creamier.
- Top the lentil soup with croutons or crispy bacon pieces for an extra crunch.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley or cilantro if you wish.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
Carmy is the blogger behind Carmyy.com and Onepotonly.com where she shares simple delicious recipes that are family friendly and easy to make! You can find her on Instagram and TikTok when she's not on her blog!
Barbara
What size Instant Pot? I only have a 3 quart one.
Kristin
Hi Barbara, this recipe needs a 6 quart instant pot. If you want to use a 3 quart, you would need to adjust the amounts down. 🙂
Gavin Sutherland
Perfect when you just want something tasty and easy on a cold day! LOVE it
Chenée
This is so perfect for soup season and so easy to make in the instant pot! Can't wait to make it!
Heather Perine
I have a bag of lentils in my pantry I wasn't sure how to use, so I can't wait now to make this soup this weekend!
Heidy
This Instant Pot Lentil Soup was over the top delicious! I made it for our work luncheon, and everyone loved it. I'm going to double the recipe next time! Pinned.
Teodora Grujic
This recipe looks so warming, perfect for upcoming cold days! Thank you for sharing!