Crock Pot Vegetable Lentil Soup

I adore hearty soups for dinner, and this Crock Pot Vegetable Lentil Soup surprised me with how much flavor it has without any meat at all.

It’s also a top pick with my readers. I first found this recipe in a Forks Over Knives email, then made a couple of small changes to suit us, including swapping the spinach for kale. I LOVE kale in soups!

To make this recipe, I add brown lentils, vegetable stock, fire-roasted tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, celery and onion to the crock pot and let it cook low and slow. The kale goes in near the end so it stays green and tender.

Why You’ll Love It

This is about as easy as a crock pot recipe gets. You add almost everything at once, and the slow cooker does the rest while you go about your day.

It’s filling, too. The lentils and potatoes make this a real dinner, even though the soup is completely vegan as written.

Lentils were new to me when I first made it, so don’t worry if you’ve never cooked with them. If you like this one, try my Rustic Lentil Stew or Cheesy Lentil Chowder next.

Crock Pot Vegetable Lentil Soup Ingredient Notes

This Crock Pot lentil soup only needs a few basics, and these are the ones to pay attention to.

Brown lentils: These dried lentils hold their shape in a slow cooker and turn tender without falling apart. Green lentils also work, but red lentils cook much faster and turn soft.

Fire-roasted tomatoes: A can of these adds a smoky flavor that you won’t get from plain diced tomatoes. Plain will work in a pinch.

Vegetable stock: This keeps the soup vegan, and it’s where a lot of the flavor comes from. Vegetable broth works the same way, so pick one you like the taste of.

Fresh kale: I chop it and add it toward the end. Spinach was in the original recipe, and it works if that’s what you have.

How to Make Crock Pot Vegetable Lentil Soup

First, I rinse the lentils and pick out any small stones. Then I add everything except the kale to the crock pot and give it a good stir.

It cooks on low until the lentils and potatoes are tender. The cooking time is long, so it’s a good one to start in the morning.

There’s no need to brown anything or dirty another pan, which is my favorite thing about a slow cooker recipe like this.

Near the end, I stir in the kale and cook it just until it’s as tender as I like it. Then I taste the soup and add a little more salt and black pepper if it needs it.

Grab the recipe card below for every amount and the cook time, then get your crock pot out.

My Best Tips

• Rinse the lentils: It only takes a minute, and it’s your chance to catch any small stones.
• Cut the potatoes evenly: Pieces about the same size will all be tender at the same time.
• Add a splash of acid: A little red wine vinegar or lemon juice at the end wakes up all of the flavors.

Substitutions & Variations

Diced ham: If you’d like to add meat, diced cooked ham is an easy and tasty addition. Stir it in near the end so it warms through.

Swap the vegetables: Like most veggie soups, this one is easy to change up. Leave out what you don’t like, or add sweet potato or more carrots.

Chicken broth: Use chicken broth in place of the vegetable stock if you don’t need the soup to be vegan.

More seasoning: A bay leaf, a little ground cumin or some dried thyme are all nice here, and fresh parsley or a little Parmesan cheese is good on top. I haven’t tested exact amounts, so start small.

How to Store Leftovers

Refrigerator: Keep leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Freezer: Freeze the soup for up to 3 months, then thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.

Reheating: The lentils keep soaking up broth, so add a splash of stock when you warm it up.

Crock Pot Vegetable Lentil Soup FAQs

Do you need to soak lentils for Crock Pot soup?

No, you don’t need to soak lentils. Just rinse them, pick out any stones and add them to the crock pot.

Can I use red lentils in this soup?

You can, but they cook faster and break down. Your soup will be thicker and softer, so brown or green lentils are a better fit for a long cook.

Why is my lentil soup too thick?

Lentils soak up a lot of liquid. Stir in a little more stock or water until it’s the way you like it, then taste it again for salt.

What do you eat with lentil soup?

Crusty bread or a simple salad is all you need. A slice of Easy Buttermilk Cornbread is good with it too.

Be sure to pin this one, and while you’re here, pop over to my Crock Pot White Chicken Chili recipe. You’re going to love that one too!

More Soup Recipes

• Navy Bean and Ham Soup
• Crock Pot 15 Bean Soup
• Crock Pot Cheesy Potato Soup
• Instant Pot Chicken Taco Soup
• Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
• Italian Wedding Soup
• Cheesy Lentil Chowder