Instant Pot Lentil Soup with Sausage

Name: Instant Pot Lentil Soup with Sausage
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed in a fine-mesh sieve and drained; 2 medium carrots, chopped; 4 celery stalks, chopped; 1/2 onion, chopped; 10 ounces uncooked or pre-cooked Italian or Polish chicken, pork, or beef sausage (about 4 pieces), sliced into 1-inch pieces; 4 cups reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken broth; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 lemon, juiced

by Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition on Nov 10, 2021 (updated: 1/4/22)

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This Instant Pot Lentil Soup with Sausage recipe is such an easy and flavorful meal. Serve the soup for a delicious lunch or dinner. This recipe is done in 40 minutes, with very little hands-on time.

bowl of instant pot lentil soup with sausage

As soon as it starts to get chilly outside, this Instant Pot Lentil Soup with Sausage recipe is a welcome addition to your weekly meal plan. You can double the recipe to make twice as many servings, and it has even more flavor the day after you make it.

This recipe is also:

gluten-free,
full of protein and veggies,
satisfying,
and just so easy to make.

I’m a big fan of cooking lentils in the pressure cooker, especially since it cuts the cooking time in half as compared to the stovetop. This lentil soup recipe is also great because you don’t have to soak the lentils before you cook them.

Contents hide

1 Why You Need This Recipe

2 Key Ingredients

3 Recipe Steps

4 Recipe Tips & Substitutions

5 FAQs

6 Other Healthy Instant Pot Soups You Might Like

7 Instant Pot Lentil Soup with Sausage

Why You Need This Recipe

Lentils are budget-friendly, nutritious and full of fiber. Sausages pair really well with the lentils and add even more protein and flavor to the soup.
While it can be tricky to cook lentils on the stovetop and get the right consistency, making Instant Pot Lentil Soup is super easy.
You can use pork, beef, or even plant-based sausages in this recipe to adapt it to your dietary preferences.

Key Ingredients

Brown lentils are easy to find. Lentils have an earthy, neutral flavor when they are cooked. Just be sure to give them a rinse before adding them to the Instant Pot.

Sausages add protein and flavor to the soup and make it so hearty. You can use pre-cooked or uncooked sausages; I prefer to use Italian flavored pork or beef sausages in this recipes.

Chopped veggies including onion, celery, and carrots add more texture and nutrition.

photo with labeled ingredients for instant pot lentil soup

Recipe Steps

Step One

The first step of this recipe is to get your lentils, vegetables, and sausages ready. Rinse the lentils and chop the veggies and sausages.

As always, please do see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

collage with photos on how to make instant pot lentil stew

Step Two

Combine everything in a 6-quart or 8-quart Instant Pot and lock on the lid. Set the time to 10 minutes.

Step Three

Let the pressure come down naturally for 10 minutes. Then, remove the lid and stir in the pepper and lemon juice.

Step Four

Serve your soup hot.

Recipe Tips & Substitutions

Store any leftovers in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Or, place leftovers in a tightly-sealed container and freeze for up to 2 months.
To ensure this recipe is gluten-free, make sure to read the label on the sausage package.
The total cooking time includes 10 minutes for the pot to come up to pressure and a 10 minute natural release.

FAQs

Can I make this Instant Pot lentil soup recipe vegan?

Yes, you can make this lentil soup vegan by leaving out the sausages, or using a plant-based sausage. You should also need to use vegetable broth, not chicken broth.

Can I use red lentils for this lentil soup recipe?

No, it is best to use green or brown lentils for this soup. If you only have red lentils on hand, then be sure to see my recipe for Instant Pot Red Lentil Dal.

How do you cook lentils in a pressure cooker?

If you just want to cook plain lentils, you can see my recipe for Instant Pot Brown Lentils.

How many carbs are in lentil soup?

It depends, but there will be carbs from both the lentils and the vegetables. In my recipe, there are about 25 grams of carbohydrates per serving.

Other Healthy Instant Pot Soups You Might Like

Or, see my complete list of healthy Instant Pot Soup Recipes!

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

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