Instant Pot Lentil Soup

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Welcome to what I like to call life-changing Instant Pot Lentil Soup, also known as the very best lentil soup. A hearty soup that’s like a hug in a bowl. Yeap, this cozy lentil soup is flavorful, satisfying and full of vegetables. Plus, it’s so easy to make with affordable everyday pantry ingredients.

It is life-changing in that it will totally change the way you look at lentils, and you’ll want to make this vegetarian lentil soup 354676 times this year alone. Even meat-eaters and those who typically turn their noses up at vegan lentil soup will find themselves unable to resist the smell and taste of this absolutely delicious Instant Pot lentil soup recipe.

This nourishing pressure cooker lentil soup is bursting with Mexican flavors and is super versatile. Perfect for quick weeknight suppers, a comforting lunch on the move, cold fall and winter feasts, great for meal prep, and freezer friendly too.

And if you love Instant Pot soup recipes, then you’ve got to try this Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup, Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup, and Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup.

Why Make This Recipe

• Quick and easy – you’ll need minimal prep and only 7 minutes of cooking time.
• Affordable – this lentil soup recipe is made with basic pantry staples like lentils, canned tomatoes, spices, onion, and peppers.
• Perfect for meal prep – enjoy the leftovers all week, or save as a freezer Instant Pot meal.
• Diet-friendly – a healthy recipe that is vegan, gluten-free, and has no added sugar.

Ingredients Notes

• French green lentils – picked through, rinsed, and drained.
• Olive oil – or another light, neutral oil. Can also use a calorie-controlled cooking spray instead.
• Vegetables – onion, peppers, and carrots for color and flavor.
• Tomatoes – canned diced tomatoes, choose plain or fire roasted tomatoes.
• Seasonings – garlic purée, smoked paprika, ground cumin, chili flakes, and a bay leaf (optional).
• Broth – use vegetable broth, or if not vegan, swap for chicken broth.
• Fresh cilantro – adds a lovely brightness.

Ready to learn how to make Instant Pot lentil soup in under 40 minutes? Gather up those ingredients and let me show you…

How To Make Instant Pot Lentil Soup

1. Set the Instant Pot to sauté. Add the oil to the Instant Pot insert and when it’s hot, add the onions, peppers, carrots, and bay leaf (if using – not so much a Mexican flavor, but I like what it adds to the dish), then sauté for 4-5 minutes until the onion is soft.
2. Switch off the heat and stir in the garlic, paprika, cumin, and red pepper flakes.
3. Add the lentils, vegetable stock, tomatoes, and salt, and stir to combine.
4. Place the lid on, turn the valve to the sealing position, and then set to manual pressure / high pressure for 7 minutes.
5. When done, allow for a natural pressure release (NPR) of 15 minutes, then use a quick pressure release for the rest of the steam.
6. Open the lid, stir in the cilantro, adjust seasonings if needed, and then serve and enjoy.

Expert Tips

• Be sure to sort through your dried lentils to check for small debris that may be present. Remove these and then rinse the lentils thoroughly before using.
• if you like a thinner soup, add more vegetable broth to the Instant Pot before cooking.
• To make this a creamy lentil soup, pureé with an immersion blender.
• You can also stir in coconut milk just before serving.
• The cooking time listed does not include the time it takes for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure, or for the pressure to release.

Delicious Variations

• Vary the Spices – You can also make this lentil soup using Creole Seasoning or Italian seasoning, or curry powder.
• Vary the Vegetables – Add other chopped-up vegetables to your taste, like potatoes and celery.
• Add Greens – Greens like baby spinach, kale, mustard greens, and swiss chard are awesome. 
• Add Extra Heat – Feel free to add chipotle or red pepper flakes to your taste.
• Make with Meat – If you wish, you can add meat to this lentil soup instant pot. Ground beef is an easy addition; just add it to Step 1 and brown it alongside the veggies, then add it to the Instant Pot in Step 3.
• Add Zing – A squeeze of lemon juice or lime juice will add the perfect zing.
• Top it Off – Top your lentil soup with some sliced avocado, sour cream (if not vegan), Parmesan cheese or shredded cheese (or a cheese substitute if vegan), and tortilla chips.

Prep Ahead and Storage

• Prep Ahead – You can dice the vegetables and keep in the fridge until needed, and sort through your lentils ahead of time.
• Storage – keep cooled leftover soup in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Freeze – Let the Instant Pot lentil soup cool down, then transfer it into these very handy Ziploc freezer bags. Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags. Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer. Store the soup in the freezer up to 3 months.
• Thaw – Remove the soup from the freezer the night before needed and let it thaw in the fridge. For a faster thaw, you can add the bagged soup into a microwave and thaw according to the microwave’s instructions.
• Reheat – reheat the defrosted green lentil soup using in a microwave, on the stovetop, or in your electric pressure cooker.

FAQs

More Instant Pot Recipes You May Like

• Instant Pot Tomato Soup.
• Instant Pot Cauliflower Soup.
• Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup.
• Instant Pot Potato Soup.
• Instant Pot Corn Chowder.
• Instant Pot Greek Lamb Stew.
• Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup.
• Instant Pot Mexican Rice.

Serving Suggestions

• Instant Pot Couscous.
• Instant Pot Enchilada Rice.
• Air Fryer Tortilla Chips.
• Serve this in Lentil Tacos.
• Make a lentil bowl by serving it on top of Grilled Broccoli or crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower.

Weight Watchers Points

If you replace the olive oil with a calorie-controlled cooking spray, there are 0 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving (yeap, zero).

Thank you for reading my Instant Pot Lentil Soup recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, Crockpot Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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