Love lentils? Those tender little pearls are so tasty! Here are 39+ amazingly delicious lentil recipes. From soups, salads, sauces and more!
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Wondering how to use up that package of lentils that’s been sitting in the pantry?
It’s easy! Lentils are such a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes – from savory pasta dishes, soups, stews, and more.
Here are 39+ of the top lentil recipes to try out. You’re guaranteed to find a new favorite here!
The BEST Lentil Recipes
This Spicy Lentil Soup is a warm and comforting hearty soup that’s perfect for chilly Fall days! The chipotle peppers give it a bit of heat and a great smoky flavor.
Spicy Lentil Soup
Make this copycat Costco Quinoa Salad at home for a healthy, hearty, and delicious grain-based salad studded with fresh veggies and fresh lemon dressing.
Costco Quinoa Salad
These EASY Cheesy Southwestern Instant Pot Lentils & Rice are the perfect quick vegetarian weeknight dinner recipe that's perfect for Meatless Monday! Hearty lentils and brown rice combine with southwestern spices, tomatoes, peppers & plenty of melty cheese!
Cheesy Southwestern Instant Pot Lentils & Rice
This hearty Lentil Soup with Sausage and Kale will warm you up and keep you wanting more!
Lentil Soup with Sausage and Kale
A recipe for how to cook lentils in the Instant Pot with perfect results every time. Using this super easy water to lentil ratio and cook time makes for the best, tender lentils in your electric pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Lentils
This Lentil Bolognese Sauce can be made in no time with the help of your Instant Pot.
Lentil Bolognese Sauce
This Lemony Lentil Soup recipe is full of bright and zesty flavors and easy to make in the Instant Pot, Crock-Pot or on the stovetop. So good!
Get the RECIPE from Gimme Some Oven
This Mediterranean lentil salad recipe makes a tasty and light meal or side salad. It’s simple to throw together and filled with fresh veggies and Greek flavors.
Get the RECIPE from Salt and Lavender
Deep green lentil stew with spinach, tahini, and lemon is a comforting vegan dinner with a flavour balance of herbs, citrus, and spice.
Get the RECIPE from The First Mess
Boldly flavored, super hearty and incredibly easy, this vegan walnut and lentil bolognese recipe takes your plant-based eating goals to new heights.
Get the RECIPE from The Modern Proper
This vegetarian Lentil Pot Pie features hearty lentils, mushrooms and sweet potatoes in an umami-packed gravy, all baked inside of a buttery double pastry.
Get the RECIPE from Everyday Pie
This vegan pumpkin and lentil soup is hearty, healthy, and comforting. A delicious and warming autumn soup recipe!
Get the RECIPE from Salt and Lavender
A wonderful simple, classic lentil side dish using dried lentils that takes a mere 10 minutes to prepare then you just let it simmer away for 30 minutes to work its magic!
Get the RECIPE from Recipe Tin Eats
A creamy, rich coconut curry broth loaded with veggies makes this coconut curry lentil soup the perfect 30-minute, one-pot dinner. Oh, and P.S. it’s vegan!
Get the RECIPE from The Modern Proper
Thai inspired Sweet Potato Lentil Curry with Crispy Sesame Chickpeas. The perfect bowl of warming comfort food that’s also really healthy.
Get the RECIPE from Half Baked Harvest
French lentils are cooked in a rice cooker until creamy, then tossed with a dijon and balsamic vinagirette. Serve warm with bacon, capers, and scallions!
Get the RECIPE from Well Seasoned Studio
Easy Lentil and Avocado Tacos are perfect for a Healthy Taco Tuesday!
Get the RECIPE from Gimme Some Oven
This is the best vegan shepherd’s pie! With a flavorful lentil and sticky onion filling, this is the perfect healthy comfort food for winter.
Get the RECIPE from Rainbow Plant Life
These tender baked lentil “meatballs” utilize pre-steamed lentils so they come together in a matter of minutes making for an easy meatless dinner or lunch the whole family will love.
Get the RECIPE from Caits Plate
This Lentil Burger is the ultimate in tasty veggie burgers! Inspire yourself and others with this healthy patty that’s high in fiber, folate and flavor! #vegan
Get the RECIPE from Namely Marly
Seasoned with fresh thyme and studded with earthy mushrooms, French green lentils—the “caviar” of lentils—lend a toothsome bite to this protein-rich, vegan lentil soup with quinoa and mushrooms.
Get the RECIPE from The Modern Proper
All-star power lentil salad, prepared the Mediterranean way with spinach, crunchy veggies and a tasty lime dressing! Great make-ahead.
Get the RECIPE from The Mediterranean Dish
Warmly spiced with paprika, cumin and cinnamon, this deceptively easy roast chicken with lentils and yogurt sauce is a one-pot wonder that’s a sure-fire hit with young and old.
Get the RECIPE from The Modern Proper
Warm, cozy and chock full of plant based protein, this easy and gluten free vegan red lentil dahl will be a family favorite all year long.
Get the RECIPE from Eat with Clarity
Caramelized Onion French Lentils and Cheesy Toast – Healthy and Delish!
Get the RECIPE from halfbakedharvest.com
This “healthy-ish” recipe combines tender nutty lentils with bitter radicchio, frisée and anise-flavored fennel in Meyer lemon vinaigrette.
Get the RECIPE from Cooking with Cocktail Rings
Coconut curry roasted sweet potato lentil bowl with black lentils, mushrooms, kale, sweet potato over a bed of jasmine rice in a vegan entrée
Get the RECIPE from Cooking with Cocktail Rings
Crockpot Moroccan Lentil and Chickpea Soup – colorful veggies, flavorful spices, all thrown into the crockpot. Come home to heavenly!
Get the RECIPE from @halfbakedharvest.com
Seared chicken thighs are served with a harissa lentil stew made with tomatoes and chicken broth for a flavorful meal.
Get the RECIPE from Cooking with Cocktail Rings
These Spicy Lentil & Rice Wraps are seasoned to perfection, loaded with crunchy cabbage and served with a tangy lemon tahini sauce.
Get the RECIPE from This Savory Vegan
One Pot Shrimp Jambalaya with lentils! This Creole inspired jambalaya is made with wholesome gluten free ingredients for a healthy meal!
Get the RECIPE from Cotter Crunch
Cooked brown lentils are refried in bacon fat with onions, garlic and seasoned with spices for a flavorful side dish.
Get the RECIPE from Cooking with Cocktail Rings
Simple Coconut Quinoa and Lentil Curry with Lime Mango – an easy, super healthy, delicious meal to start your week off right!
Get the RECIPE from halfbakedharvest.com
Easy Lentil Potato Soup Recipe – quick and simple to make, chunky, hearty and comforting meal, perfect for the cold weather.
Get the RECIPE from Cooking LSL
When you’re in need of warming comfort food, but you also want healthy, this Coconut Sweet Potato Lentil Soup with Rice is just the soup to make. All made in just ONE pot (or in your instant pot), in less than an hour.
Get the RECIPE from Half Baked Harvest
ℹ️ Lentil FAQs
How Long Do Lentils Last?
Lentils should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year.
How to Choose Good Dried Lentils
Because fresher lentils cook up quicker and more tender than old lentils, I generally buy my lentils in the bulk section of the grocery store, where turnover tends to be quicker.
Do You Have to Soak Lentils Before Cooking Them?
Generally you don’t have to soak lentils. However, you should give lentils a good rinse in a colander and pick through them to be sure there are no hidden stones.
How Much Does 1 Cup of Dried Lentils Make?
1 cup of dried lentils makes about 2 ½ cups of cooked lentils and is about four servings.
How Do You Know When Lentils are Cooked?
Lentils are cooked when they become tender, and are no longer crunchy. Note that older lentils may take longer to cook.
How to Freeze Cooked Lentils
Cooked lentils will keep in the freezer for up to three months. I like to package them into ziploc bags and freeze them flat. This helps to save room in your freezer and makes for quicker thawing.
More Pantry Staple Recipes
- Cannellini Bean Recipes
- Chickpea Recipes
- Quinoa Recipes
- Canned Chicken Recipes
- Canned Salmon Recipes
39+ BEST Ways to Cook with Lentils
Love lentils? Those tender little pearls are so tasty! Here are 39+ amazingly delicious lentil recipes. From soups, salads, sauces and more! Try this Spicy Lentil Soup. It's a warm and comforting hearty soup that’s perfect for chilly Fall days!
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Servings: 6 people
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil (if making on the stove)
- 2 cups lentils (red, brown or green, rinsed)
- 2 stalks celery (chopped)
- 2 carrots (peeled and chopped)
- 1/2 yellow onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes
- 1-2 chipotle peppers (seeded & minced, plus 3 teaspoons adobo sauce from the can)
- 1 quart vegetable broth (or chicken stock or bone broth)
- 3 1/2 cups water
- 1 Tablespoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1/4 cup minced cilantro
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice
For Topping
Instructions
Stove Top
- Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat.
- Add the onion, celery and carrots, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.Add the garlic, cumin and oregano, and cook about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add the lentils, chipotles, adobo sauce, vegetable broth, water and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to a rapid simmer, partially cover, and cook until lentils are tender, 30-35 minutes.
- For a smoother soup, transfer 3 cups of the soup to a blender and puree until the mixture is almost smooth. Pour the mixture back into pot.
- Stir in the lime juice and cilantro. Enjoy!
Slow Cooker
- Add the onion, celery, carrots, garlic, lentils, cumin, oregano and chipotle peppers and adobo sauce to the slow cooker.
- Stir in the vegetable broth, water and diced tomatoes.
- Cook on LOW until the lentils are tender, 8-10 hours. Or, on HIGH for 4-5 hours.
- For a smoother soup, transfer 3 cups of the soup to a blender and puree until the mixture is almost smooth. Pour the mixture back into the slow cooker.
- Stir in the lime juice and cilantro. Enjoy!
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!
Equipment
Slow Cooker optional
Large Pot optional
Nutrition
Calories: 276kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1552mg | Potassium: 800mg | Fiber: 21g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 4250IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 5.8mg
