Somehow, I only have one Instant Pot recipe here on the blog so far. #bloggerfail (It’s my Instant Pot pulled pork, which is just 3 ingredients and so flavorful.) I have so many others I’ve made, tweaked, tested again and are ready for you guys. But they need photos and writing and sheesh, I just haven’t gotten around to it. Can you say catch-up time? Well it starts today with this Instant Pot lentil soup, which is perfect for some January healthy eating and some cozy, warm dinners on a chilly night.
It’s also vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free, if you or someone in your family has special dietary needs. Or in case you’re doing Veganuary or just trying to incorporate more meatless meals into your routine. (You might also love this smooth and creamy butternut squash soup.) Soup for everyone! And this soup, oh it smells so good as it’s cooking. Those aromatics of carrots, onion, celery and garlic get things going and then the spices and tomatoes add another layer that will light up your senses. And it’s so flavorful! You’ll want to greedily gulp down spoonful after spoonful of this soup.
(As you should. Lentils are a great source of protein, fiber, polyphenols and so many other nutrients. Definitely trying to incorporate them into my meals more this year.) This soup is also really hearty and filling, even for my husband who usually is not a fan of meatless meals. Even my kids eat about half of their bowls, and that’s saying something! And I love that this Instant Pot lentil soup is an all-in-one dish that is prepped and cooked all in the Instant Pot, no other pans or dishes needed. Easy recipe, easy clean up - total win for a healthy weeknight dinner!
Now, I’ve got some notes, tips and substitutions coming up below on how to make Instant Pot lentil soup. Just tryin’ to be helpful. If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.
Notes on Instant Pot lentil soup:
You can use green or brown lentils for this recipe. Fire-roasted diced tomatoes add some extra flavor but you could use a regular diced can of tomatoes if that’s all you have on hand. It can be hard to find a small (15 oz.) can of crushed tomatoes. They often are only sold in the 28 oz. size cans. If that’s all you can find, just use half of that can and reserve the other half for another use. I have and love this 6-quart Instant Pot. If yours is much smaller, you may want to halve the recipe - or pay close attention to your max fill line.
Also, a disclaimer: Instant Pot recipes often fail to mention the time it takes for the pot to come to pressure or to release it. I have found it very misleading when trying to plan for dinner, so I wanted to be sure to include it here. I’ve listed “additional time” as 20 minutes to account for the amount of time it will take for the pot to come to pressure and then the time for natural release at the end. The exact amount of time for these will vary, but that’s at least a rough estimate. (I always think, as I’m waiting for it to come to pressure, it’s not exactly “instant,” is it? Still though, it’s a nice, hands off way to make dinner and it really is pretty fast.) Moving on, we are now ready to serve!
Topping ideas for Instant Pot lentil soup:
Fresh grated Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast if you need this to be vegan) Fresh chopped parsley or basil Cracked black pepper Hot sauce for a little kick Oyster crackers or croutons for some crunch
This also goes great with some warmed bread, cheese toast or biscuits on the side. (My Parmesan herb drop biscuits would be a fabulous combination and are ready in under 25 minutes! You can make them after you get the soup prepped. ) And because this recipe does make a lot - yay for leftovers! - I wanted to share some tips on how to store it.
How to store leftover lentil soup:
- Once the soup has cooled down, transfer it to a covered container and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Alternatively, you can freeze the soup in a freezer-safe plastic bag or container for up to 6 months.
- Thaw overnight in the refrigerator then rewarm the soup on the stove. It’s nice to have some extra on hand for lunch (you can even pack it in a thermos to send to school or work) or for dinner another night. I hope you give this a try; I think you’ll love how easy and flavorful it is! Enjoy! XO, Kathryn P.S. I have lots more Instant Pot recipes coming your way (promise) so stay tuned! You can sign up for free e-newsletter to get all of my new recipes delivered straight to your inbox so you never miss a thing. I’ll even send you my free e-cookbook, Healthy Weeknight Dinners, as a thank you!
You can use green or brown lentils for this recipe. Fire-roasted diced tomatoes add some extra flavor but you could use a regular diced can of tomatoes if that’s all you have on hand. It can be hard to find a small (15 oz.) can of crushed tomatoes. They often are only sold in the 28 oz. size cans. If that’s all you can find, just use half of that can and reserve the other half for another use. I have and love this 6-quart Instant Pot. If yours is much smaller, you may want to halve the recipe - or pay close attention to your max fill lines. I’ve listed “additional time” as 20 minutes to account for the amount of time it will take for the pot to come to pressure and then time for natural release at the end. The exact amount of time for these will vary, but that’s at least a rough estimate to help with planning/timing of the meal.
