Dozens and dozens of reviews from readers just like you. This crockpot lentil soup is so easy – set it, forget it, and Enjoy! Vegan and gluten-free
Crockpots are a busy mom’s best friend. No Joke. If you don’t have kids, you may or may not appreciate what a relief a great crockpot recipe can be. But, when you have little ones, especially if you work, sometimes throwing dinner together is just such a hassle (like every single day lol).
The aroma of a delicious dinner already prepared, a glass of wine, and ten quiet minutes alone are rare and coveted treats for many of us.
Here I am giving you one of them, a nutritious and easy crockpot recipe.
Only you have to promise to take ten minutes alone and have a glass of vino (if you partake) while it’s cooking. 😉
Crockpot Lentil Soup Ingredients:
- Carrots
- Celery
- Yellow Onion
- Garlic
- Shallot
- Brown Lentils
- Vegetable Stock
- Canned Diced Tomatoes
- Dried Spices (Bay Leaf, Dried Thyme, Salt, Pepper, Ground Cumin)
- Swiss Chard
- Red Wine Vinegar
Lentil soup is one of those things that is such a great staple; it is simultaneously hearty, nutritious, and relatively easy to make. I think my mom taught me how to make simple lentil soup when I was in High School. I have made countless variations of her recipe since and finally re-worked it to be crockpot aka slow cooker friendly.
This version is vegan, gluten-free, and freezes great. It’s ridiculously easy.
A little bit of chopping (you can totally bust out your food processor to save time!) and then you add the majority of the ingredients to the slow cooker. About 15 minutes before the cook time is up, add the chopped swiss chard, a few more dried spices, and red wine vinegar for a little acid and balance. That’s it — then, just serve and Enjoy!
Recipe Tips:
- A note about Vegetable Stock – every brand has a unique flavor. For instance, Trader Joe’s Organic Low Sodium (which is what I used here) is on the sweeter side and very “carroty”. My absolute favorite is Pacific Natural Foods Organic Vegetable Broth but I was out of it and keep the Trader Joe’s on hand for sauteing. When it comes to sauteing and you are just using a splash here or there, its’ not as big of a deal. There are many options out there and I recommend taste-testing a few brands before picking one to use when you are using it as a base for soup.
- I used Green Swiss Chard (stems and leaves) but you could easily substitute Spinach, Kale (without stems), or even Escarole.
- I used a 6.5 Quart Slow Cooker for this soup. I think a 5.5 or 6 would also work but I wouldn’t go much smaller. Or you could halve the recipe.
- If you prefer for this lentil soup to cook all day while you are at work, you can set your Crockpot to LOW with a cook time of 8 Hours. Alternately, if you want the soup done quicker, Crockpot to HIGH with a cook time of 4 Hours (what I usually do).
- If you are not Vegan or Vegetarian, many readers (in the comments) have added ground turkey, chicken, or beef with great success. I recommend sauteeing separately and adding in after draining the excess fat.
- This lentil soup stores great. Allow to cool completely and freeze in an air-tight container(s). I recommend defrosting the night before you plan on serving and reheating in a saucepan over low heat until warmed through.
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!
Dozens and dozens of reviews from readers just like you. This crockpot lentil soup is so easy - set it, forget it, and Enjoy! Vegan and gluten-free
- 3 medium carrots chopped (or 4 small or 2 large)
- 2 medium celery stalks chopped
- 1 large yellow onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 large shallot chopped
- 2 cups dry brown lentils rinsed
- 8 cups vegetable stock
- 14 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 medium bunch Swiss Chard cleaned and cut into bite-size pieces
- 1.5 teaspoons red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
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To save time, I used the food processor for chopping. Most of the veggies only need a couple of pulses. Toss in carrots, then celery, onion, garlic and finally shallot. Do not over process the vegetables or they will become watery. Alternately, you can chop everything by hand.
-
Place chopped carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and shallot into crockpot along with lentils, vegetable stock, canned tomatoes, bay leaf and dried thyme.
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Cover with lid and set cooking time (4 Hours on HIGH OR 8 Hours on LOW).
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Next, prep your swiss chard into bite-size pieces (I usually cut it both lengthwise and crosswise to achieve this), put in a covered bowl and place in refrigerator for later.
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When the cooking time is up, add in swiss chard, red wine vinegar, Kosher salt, black pepper, and ground cumin.
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Place the lid back on and let sit covered for fifteen additional minutes before serving. This freezes great and makes 8 huge (1.5 cup) servings. Excellent served with a crusty bread and side salad. Enjoy!
- A note about Vegetable Stock - every brand has a unique flavor. For instance, Trader Joe's Organic Low Sodium (which is what I used here) is on the sweeter side and very "carroty". My absolute favorite is Pacific Natural Foods Organic Vegetable Broth but I was out of it and keep the Trader Joe's on hand for sauteing. When it comes to sauteing and you are just using a splash here or there, its' not as big of a deal. There are many options out there and I recommend taste-testing a few brands before picking one to use when you are using it as a base for soup.
- I used Green Swiss Chard (stems and leaves) but you could easily substitute Spinach, Kale (without stems), or even Escarole.
- I used a 6.5 Quart Slow Cooker for this soup. I think a 5.5 or 6 would also work but I wouldn't go much smaller. Or you could halve the recipe.
- If you prefer for this lentil soup to cook all day while you are at work, you can set your Crockpot to LOW with a cook time of 8 Hours. Alternately, if you want the soup done quicker, Crockpot to HIGH with a cook time of 4 Hours (what I usually do).
- If you are not Vegan or Vegetarian, many readers (in the comments) have added ground turkey, chicken, or beef with great success. I recommend sauteeing separately and adding in after draining the excess fat.
- This lentil soup stores great. Allow to cool completely and freeze in an air-tight container(s). I recommend defrosting the night before you plan on serving and reheating in a saucepan over low heat until warmed through.
Did you make this recipe? Tag @EverydayMaven on Instagram with the hashtag #EveryDayMaven and please give a star rating below.
I plan on making this tomorrow. Looks so healthy & delish. My husband doesn’t eat garlic so I will just use onion instead unless u have another thought.
Hi Erika! Is he OK with shallot? That would be a great sub for the garlic. If not, onion should be fine 🙂
Next Time I will use a bit less vegetable stock, but delicious nonetheless.
Hi Gina, glad you liked it! Another option if you want a thicker, creamier soup is to scoop out 1 to 2 cups of the cooked lentils, stock, and veggies at the end (before you add the greens), puree them, and pour them back in as a natural thickener.
No red wine vinegar on hand.. I’ve got white, balsamic, and lemon juice. Can you advise me on a good substitute acid? Thanks much 🙂
Hi Louise, I would do lemon juice! Hope you love it 🙂
Hello,
I came across your recipe for this lentil soup, it looks delicious in the pictures.
I have not made the soup yet and I do have some questions.
Does the vegetable broth and the canned of diced tomatoes, be NO added salt?
Do you drain the can of tomatoes or do you use the juice in this recipe??
I never have made soup before, this will be my first time.
I do have lots of green lentils which I will be using in this recipe.
Thank you.
Hi Marja!
I like to buy low sodium broth and I always try to buy unsalted canned tomatoes. It’s much easier to adjust the salt on the recipe end. Do not drain the tomatoes – use the tomatoes and the juice. I hope you love it! Green lentils tend to stay a bit firm so note that for final texture. This recipe calls for brown lentils which get nice and tender but still have texture when cooked for this long.
I made this soup last night & it is sooo good!! I added some cubed ham to it. Instead of the swiss chard I used a bag of pre-cut country greens (a mix of collard, mustard, & turnip greens). It made my kitchen smell so good & it paired great with some buttered french bread. I’m definitely keeping this recipe handy!!
Sounds so good Allyson!! So glad you liked it!
I made this for dinner today and it was a hit! My 14 year old daughter is a vegetarian so always looking for new recipes. I added spinach at the end and it really made the beautiful colours pop! The addition of cumin and red wine vinegar rounded out this delicious and healthy soup!
Hi Mo! Love to hear it – so happy that this is working for your family. Thanks for taking the time to leave me a comment and for rating the recipe 🙂
My mom makes this for me when I visit, I spend the weekend eating it for lunch and dinner, no lie it is so good and addicting, a little crusty bread withvegan butter and a glass of red wine, I’m in heaven!!! So good!
That sounds like such a nice homecoming Samantha!! 🙂
A suggestion. The ingredient list says green lentils, but you recommend brown (which makes sense) in the comments. You might want to change it. I used green and had to use the immersion blender for a few seconds to break them down before adding the chard. I increased the heat level (I like spicy) and added Aidell’s chicken/apple sausage with the chard. Very tasty!
Hi LeAnn, That was actually a typo – the recipe does indeed call for brown lentils! I just fixed it. I’m so sorry that you had difficulty with those green lentils – they do have a firmer texture and don’t break down as easily. Gah!! Glad you liked the taste though and I apologize again 🙂
How did you increase heat?
Just made this and it turned out amazing! Such simple ingredients and it is so delicious, the whole family loved it including the toddler
Thank you so much Lindsay!! Nothing better than the toddler LOVING what you made <3
You add the Swiss chard stems there in the last 15 minute; do they soften than time?
Hey Michelle, If they are cut small enough, then yes!