This slow cooker lentil soup is hearty, veggie-packed, and easy to make ahead. With pantry staples, a quick blend for a creamy texture, it’s a satisfying dinner that’s perfect for spring nights and lunch leftovers.
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Holly’s Recipe Highlights
- Flavor: Savory lentils with tender vegetables, Italian seasoning, and a bright tomato finish.
- Recommended Tools: You’ll need a 6-quart slow cooker and an immersion blender (or a standard blender if you prefer).
- Technique: Cook until tender, finish with vinegar, then pulse a few times for a creamy-meets-chunky texture.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve with no-knead bread, crackers, or a simple salad for a cozy, complete meal.
Ingredients For Lentil Soup
- Potatoes: Russet potatoes make the soup extra thick and creamy when blended, while sweet potatoes add a subtle sweetness. Dice them small.
- Lentils: No soaking needed, just rinse the lentils and check for debris. Use green or brown lentils, as red lentils can turn mushy.
- Vegetables: For carrots, thicker slices hold their shape for a chunkier soup. Baby carrots can also be used.
- Tomatoes: Add near the end, after the lentils are tender, since the acidity can slow softening if added too soon. Fire-roasted diced tomatoes add extra flavor.
Easy Variations
- For a meaty boost, stir in cooked ham, sausage, or meatballs near the end.
- For extra veggies, add spinach or kale in the last 10 to 15 minutes.
- For extra-creamy soup, blend it a bit more, or just the potato-and-broth portion.
How to Make Lentil Soup in the Slow Cooker
- Add all ingredients to the slow cooker except the tomatoes (full recipe below).
- Once the lentils are tender, add the tomatoes and red wine vinegar.
- Pulse the soup to thicken, then season and serve.
Fridge, Freezer, Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stove over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. If it has been sitting, it may be thick, so add a splash of broth to help thin it out.
Cozy Soup Night Lineup
Did you enjoy this Slow Cooker Lentil Soup? Leave a comment and rating below.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 medium russet potato or 1 medium sweet potato
- 6 cups chicken broth more if needed
- 4 ribs celery sliced
- 3 carrots sliced
- 1 cup dried green lentils
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3 cloves garlic chopped
- salt and black pepper to taste
Add Later
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
Instructions
- Peel and dice the potato and add it to the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Add chicken broth, celery, carrots, lentils, Italian seasoning, and garlic. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 to 6 hours or LOW for 6 to 8 hours, until tender.
- Stir in diced tomatoes and red wine vinegar. Cook 15 minutes more. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.
- Using an immersion blender (see notes for a regular blender) pulse the soup a few times to create a thicker creamy texture.
Notes
- Make sure to use brown or green lentils, as red lentils will get too soft.
- If you don’t have an immersion blender, transfer a few cups of soup to a regular blender, lightly cover (do not seal the lid), and blend until smooth. Return to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Soup
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I am intimidated by the blending step of this recipe. Would it be good with zero blending?
It would still be delicious, it just won’t be quite as thick. If you try it I would love to hear how it turns out!
Just looking at it brings warmth and comfort to my tummy 😊
I can’t wait for you to try this Elizabeth!
Lentils cook so fast, I’m wondering why a slow cooker would be necessary. I plan to prepare thihs recipe for stovetop cooking. I would welcome the reviews of anyone who cooked this recipe in a slow cooker – were the lentils still holding up or mush? Thanks.
The slow cooker is a low and slow type of cooking, so while you could cook the lentils faster on the stove, generally things take longer in the slow cooker. It’s certainly not necessary, but it’s helpful to have slow cooker recipes for those busy days!