Winter has been so strange here in California this year. We finally got some cold weather the past few weeks, so I felt like making a hot soup. This Instant Pot Lentil Soup is perfect for an easy lunch or comforting dinner, and it’s full of vegetables and flavor.
Instant Pot-cooking can make meal preparation in general so easy and fast. I also learned that if you pressure cook lentils or beans, you get the added benefit of having the lectins greatly reduced as compared with regular stove-top cooking. Learn more about that in this article.
Not having to pre-soak the lentils means that you can make this Instant Pot Lentil Soup in 30 minutes or less. If you want to top the soup with bacon (highly recommend), then you need to get that started first, since you’ll need to pre-heat your oven. I usually cook my bacon in the oven set at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes. Be sure to buy a brand of bacon where the animals are humanely raised, and preferably processed without nitrates.
You’ll also need a few veggies to cook with the lentils, including a carrot, celery, zucchini, and about 1/2 of an onion (not pictured).
You should rinse your lentils before you add them to the pot, and then just chop your veggies and toss them in. As with any Instant Pot recipe, you need at least 1 cup of liquid. I used 2 1/2 cups of bone broth since I was making a soup.
Items recommended for this Instant Pot Lentil Soup recipe (some affiliate links included):
- 6-quart Instant Pot
- Organic green lentils
- Beef, chicken, or turkey bone broth. This is a good brand. If you want to make the soup vegan, use vegetable broth instead, and leave off the bacon.
Lock on the lid to your pot, and cook for 15 minutes. You can either do the quick-release or natural release at the end of the cooking time. Your bacon should be finished and cooling, and ready to put on top of the soup. Lunch is served!
Here’s the printable recipe:
Print
Instant Pot Lentil Soup {Gluten-Free)
Prep Time: 10 minutes- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4
Category: Soup
Method: Pressure Cooker
Cuisine: Healthy
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
A quick and easy lentil soup full of vegetables and flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 cup lentils, rinsed
- 2 medium carrots, chopped
- 1 medium zucchini, chopped
- 1 head of celery, chopped
- 2 1/2 cups bone broth (turkey, chicken, of beef), or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon each dried oregano and thyme
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 lb. bacon, cooked separately (optional, for topping)
- dairy-free yogurt and fresh chives (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Combine the lentils, chopped carrots, chopped zucchini, chopped celery, bone broth, dried oregano, and dried thyme in the pot of a 6- or 8-quart pressure cooker.
- Lock on the lid and set to cook for 15 minutes.
- Once the soup is done cooking, release the pressure using the quick-release, or let it come down naturally.
- Top each serving of soup with 2 pieces of crumbled bacon, and a spoonful of dairy-free yogurt. Finally, sprinkle the top with chopped fresh chives, if desired.
- Serve hot!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
READ NEXT: PRESSURE COOKER MASHED SWEET POTATOES
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By ‘cold weather’ do you mean that the temps finally dropped below 70 degrees? I sure do miss California winters.
Guilty, ha ha! Well, it was in the low 40s when I went to the gym this morning. I was SO COLD!!!!!!! I think it’s supposed to warm back up soon. 🙂
Oh I’m so loving soups and stews in this chilly weather right now.
I still haven’t broke down and got an Instant Pot – I really need to do that.
What a lovely way to enjoy lentils =)
Everything is better with bacon added in! I’m going to have to give this a shot as soon as I pick up an Instant Pot.
Instant pot recipes are my favorite and this soup looks so comforting and nutritious.
I love that lentils are so quick and easy to cook. Add to that the Instant Pot, and this soup is a real winner!
So yummy and cozy for a soup! Lentils bring such heartiness in a soup, allowing us to eat a ton of vegetables without missing the meat.
Looks so cozy and comforting! Love all the addition of veggies.
My family grows lentils…so they have been a regular in our meals since I was a kiddo!! This sou looks lovely!
Sounds comforting! I love how easy the Instant Pot makes beans and lentils!
Pure comfort!! I absolutely LOVE lentil soup!
I am a big fan of lentils! What a beautiful meal!
You get cold weather in California?? I know that may be a silly question…but coming from a Canadian we HAVE cold. As for soup….well I can eat it in most weather….except for in the high 80’s. This sounds delicious. I have a regular stove top pressure cooker. I will have to give this a try. We certainly have a few more weeks of cold weather here (unfortunately).
Ha ha, great question, Gloria. We had a hard freeze warning last week, so it does get cold here…sometimes! And, then we have to complain about it!!! 🙂
This looks like a perfect lentil veg soup. And you have reminded me again just how badly I want and Instant Pot!
I am a sucker for soup!!!
I think it just reminds me of being a child and big bowls of soup and homemade bread at my grans house.
My gran called it fridge soup as she would empty her fridge of scraps of veg. (There was nearly always lettuce in it!!!)
It never looked the prettiest but it was always delicious.
I have to say yours looks delicious, so I bet it tastes amazing!!! And the idea of sprinkling over crunchy bacon….heaven!!!
We’ve had a weird Winter too. This soup looks so hearty! Perfect for a chilly evening!
★★★★★
Ooh I’d definitely sprinkle the bacon over this one. Looks SO good, a hug in a bowl!
This looks delicious and very comforting – perfect for cooler weather, but honestly, I welcome a cozy meal like this nearly any time of year! Pinning for an idea once I finally get my Instant Pot in a few months!
I love how simple this recipe is. Home cooking in the Insta-Pot and having a big bowl of delicious soup, sounds great to me!
Mmmm, love that bone broth and bacon! Lovely!
I LOVE lentil soup, especially with a great piece of bread! This looks absolutely amazing, and I love that you used the Instant Pot for it to make it so much faster since lentils can take a while to cook. Yum!
This looks like a really hearty lentil soup! I can relate to the cold weather as we have had one of the snowiest winters I can remember. Great recipe! Can’t wait to try it!
I love a hearty, satisfying lentil soup, and this recipe looks like it fits the bill perfectly! I’m going to have to make this in my Instant Pot tomorrow when we get (what I hope will be) the last of this year’s snow!
★★★★★
I’ve never cooked with lentils, but I really need to change that cause I know they are so nutritious. I’m going to need to give this soup a try
I got my Instant Pot a few months ago and love to try new recipes) Soup with lentils sounds really good, cannot wait to try it!)
Ok, I’m so happy to learn about the lectin reduction using the Instant Pot – I really do love lentils but don’t eat them too much, so I’m super excited to learn that! This soup is on my to-make list! Thanks!
★★★★★
We must have gotten your weather up here in Oregon because it was 65F and sunny today! Don’t worry, I hear we’re heading for cooler, wetter weather soon. Good thing I’ll have this hearty looking soup to keep me warm!
I love my Instant Pot (notice the capitals – that’s how much, it’s like a person to me) Your lentil soup looks so delicious!!! Love the chunkiness of it! Perfect year round, as I love soup!!
Hey Carrie,
Pure comfort!! I absolutely LOVE lentil soup!
I have a question for you. Can you please write the post using Indian foods.
Thanks in advance will be waiting for your post.