Crockpot Lentil Soup

This crockpot lentil soup is so colorful, tasty, hearty and frankly, beautiful that you won’t believe the down home, fill your tummy with yummy flavor that it has! Plus, I’m not gonna tell anyone, but…. (shhhhh)(whispering)…. it’s good for you! (surprise eyes!)

Slow Cooker Lentil Soup

I love making this soup because it works for ANY time of the year! It’s so colorful with the green celery, orange carrots, green lentils, red tomato, oh man, talk about eating the rainbow!

Besides, it’s versatile and you can take liberties with the veggies you add! It is great with some bell peppers (or even a spicier pepper), more onions, beans, etc. We can go crazy, let’s get nuts! (to quote my favorite musician).

This crockpot lentil soup is so colorful, tasty, hearty and frankly, beautiful that you won’t believe the down home, fill your tummy with yummy flavor.

Did I Also Say That It Is Easy?

Because it is… so very easy. Just a little chopping and then throw it all in the crockpot for a flavorful, smells great cooking dinner. Just stay out of the kitchen because you’ll be tempted to taste it all day long!

Here’s How You Do It:

• Chop your veggies
• Everyone into the crockpot.
• Set the crockpot on low and come back in 8-10 hours (or high 5ish hours).

But What Do I Serve With My Crockpot Lentil Soup?

That’s a great question!

Sometimes we do a grilled cheese, pour it over rice or fry an egg to slide on top.

Of Course, you could do a larger meal and offer this as a side to something like a great chicken dish or serve over a hearty baked potato.

Here’s What You’ll Need

• Lentils – this is the “meat” of the soup. Lentils add the heartiness that this soup needs to stick to your ribs and keep you going.
• Better than Bouillon (BTB) (or stock concentrate) – I use this instead of chicken stock (use the veggie stock or beef, your choice, if using the roasted garlic, use half). If you only have actual stock, then leave this ingredient off and replace the water in the recipe with the stock. I use the BTB to save money.
• Carrots, Celery, Red Onion – adds a ton of flavor and an oh so lovely color
• Sweet Potato – gives the dish a hearty sweet flavor and more lovely color
• Rotel Tomatoes and Green Chilis – A base to this soup with a kick!
• Salsa – adds an unexpected flavor that is just perfect.
• Garlic Powder, salt, pepper – flavor
• Bacon Grease – smokiness and the right amount of fat to help the flavors glide over your tongue. If you don’t have bacon grease or are maintaining a vegetarian recipe, use 1 tbs vegetable or olive oil and 1/2 tsp liquid smoke.
• Cider Vinegar – for a little kick of tanginess at the end.

Talk about eating the rainbow! Wow, this dish!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Tips and Tricks

• It’s fine to use dried lentils and pour them straight into your crockpot, however, this dish will be ready much faster if you presoak the lentils per the package directions. There’s no change in taste, its just ready quicker.
• This does take quite a long time to cook in the slow cooker. What I often do is to set the cooker on high, check the results after 4 hours and then adjust the cooking temp to low if things seem to be going well. Check again in a couple of hours and then set to “warm” when it is done.
• Make this dish without a slow cooker by using a dutch oven in a 350 oven for 2 hours.
• Make this dish quickly by using precooked lentils, cut the sweet potato into small cubes and precook the sweet potato in broth. Add the cooked lentils and the other ingredients and heat through.
• Ever want to know more about lentils? Now is your chance!

Substitutions

• Better than Bouillon – To use chicken broth instead, replace the BTB and water with chicken broth.
• Bacon Grease – 1 Tbs vegetable or olive oil and 1/2 tsp liquid smoke.
• Carrots/Celery and Onion – can use frozen versions.
• Garlic Powder – 4 cloves minced garlic.
• Rotel – same size can of diced tomatoes and a 4 oz can of green chilis.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – same amount of white vinegar or lemon juice.

If You Liked This Recipe,

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A Verse To Share

These words are from Paul in a letter to the church at Corinth. He talks about his own path to Christianity and encourages other believers. You will want to go read the whole passage.

1 Corinthians 15:2

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain