Instant Pot Lentil Soup Your Way

Delight your senses and nourish your body with a bowl of homemade Instant Pot Lentil Soup. This recipe delivers a rich, flavorful, and incredibly healthy medley of brown lentils, vibrant carrots, crisp celery, aromatic spices, and savory bacon. Crafted for convenience in your pressure cooker, this hearty soup is wonderfully satisfying without feeling heavy, making it a beloved staple in many kitchens. Whether you’re seeking a comforting weeknight meal or an impressive dish for guests, this easy-to-make lentil soup promises delicious results every time.

Instant Pot Lentil Soup: A Timeless Recipe Reimagined

This cherished lentil soup recipe holds a special place in my heart, tracing its origins back to when I was just 16 years old. During that formative period, I had the privilege of working at the Deutsches Altersheim, a German nursing home, where I juggled roles as a prep cook, dishwasher, and server. It was there that I met some truly wonderful ladies who profoundly influenced my culinary journey, teaching me the deep joy and satisfaction that comes from cooking for others.

While I had already learned the basics from my Nana and mom, this experience was different. It wasn’t just about preparing food; it was about nurturing and caring through the meals we made. One cook, Chrystal, generously shared her lentil soup recipe with me. Although the original handwritten copy was eventually lost, the essence of the recipe, its unique blend of flavors, and the steps to create it remained etched in my memory, a testament to how often I made it and how truly delicious it was.

Over the years, as my cooking evolved, so did my methods. Recognizing the incredible efficiency and flavor-enhancing capabilities of modern kitchen appliances, I’ve adapted Chrystal’s classic recipe for the Instant Pot®. This adaptation allows me to share this truly remarkable and easy-to-make soup with an even wider audience, making it accessible for today’s busy home cooks.

Versatility at Its Best: Bacon or Vegetarian Lentil Soup

One of the many beauties of this Instant Pot Lentil Soup is its incredible versatility. While the recipe includes a generous portion of smoky bacon, adding a wonderful depth of flavor and a touch of savory richness, it’s also incredibly simple to transform into a delicious vegetarian lentil soup. If you prefer a meatless option, simply omit the bacon entirely and opt for vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. The robust combination of vegetables and spices ensures that the vegetarian version is just as satisfying and bursting with flavor.

For those who enjoy other protein variations, feel free to get creative. You could easily add some cut-up chicken pieces during the sauté stage or alongside the lentils for a different take on this hearty soup. The Instant Pot handles these additions beautifully, ensuring they cook perfectly within the soup, absorbing all the wonderful aromas and tastes.

The Magic of the Instant Pot for Soups

The Instant Pot truly shines when it comes to preparing soups, especially those featuring ingredients like beans and lentils. The pressure cooking method significantly reduces cooking time while intensifying flavors and creating wonderfully creamy textures that would typically require hours on the stovetop. Lentils, often known for taking a while to soften, become perfectly tender and velvety in mere minutes under pressure, making this Instant Pot Lentil Soup a quick and easy solution for a nutritious meal.

The sealed environment of the pressure cooker locks in moisture and infuses the entire pot with the rich flavors of the spices, vegetables, and broth, resulting in a more cohesive and deeply satisfying soup. If you’re a fan of the convenience and incredible results of pressure cooking, you might also love my Instant Pot Split Pea Soup, which has quickly become a Top 10 favorite recipe on my blog for its similar ease and comforting taste!

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More Than Just a Meal: The Joy of Culinary Giving

Beyond the simple act of cooking, preparing and sharing food with others is a profound experience. It’s an honor, a way of expressing care and connection, and truly a gift from the heart. That invaluable lesson, learned long ago at the Deutsches Altersheim, continues to inspire every recipe I create and share. This Instant Pot Lentil Soup embodies that spirit – a simple, wholesome meal made with love, perfect for bringing warmth and happiness to your table.

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5 from 3 votes

Instant Pot Lentil Soup

By
Sandy Clifton

Instant Pot Lentil Soup is a rich, healthy, and delicious medley of brown lentils, carrots, celery, spices, and bacon. This pressure cooker lentil soup is hearty without being heavy.

Prep:

20 mins

Cook:

14 mins

15 mins (Natural Release)

Total:

49 mins

Servings:

6 – 8

Print Recipe

Ingredients

• ½ lb Thick Sliced Smoky Bacon (about 6 slices cut in ½” pieces)
• 1 large Onion, diced
• 4 Carrots, diced
• 3 Stalks of Celery, diced
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 5 cloves Garlic, pressed or finely minced
• 1 28 oz can Crushed Tomatoes in Puree
• ¼ tsp Dried Oregano
• ¾ tsp Coriander Powder
• ¾ tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Sweet Paprika
• 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
• 1 tsp Kosher Salt
• ½ tsp Pepper
• 1 4 inch sprig Fresh Rosemary
• 3 sprigs Fresh Thyme, or ½ tsp dried
• 1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
• 1 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
• 5 cups Chicken Broth, low sodium (use veggie broth for vegetarian)
• 1 ½ cups Brown Lentils, picked over and rinsed

Instructions

• Preparation is Key: Before you begin cooking, ensure all your ingredients are prepped. Chop your vegetables, open cans, and measure out spices. This “mise en place” approach will make the cooking process much smoother and enjoyable!
• Cook the Bacon: Turn on your Instant Pot’s Sauté function. Add the diced bacon and cook until it’s rendered its fat and is cooked through, but not yet crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Discard all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat from the pot. (If making vegetarian, skip this step and add 2 Tbsp olive oil instead.)
• Sauté Aromatics: Add the diced onions, carrots, celery, and bay leaf to the pot with the remaining bacon fat (or olive oil). Sauté until the vegetables are just beginning to soften, stirring occasionally. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pot to deglaze and release any flavorful brown bits.
• Add Garlic: Stir in the pressed or minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
• Build Flavor Base: Add the crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, coriander powder, cumin, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, kosher salt, pepper, fresh rosemary sprig, fresh thyme sprigs, balsamic vinegar, and fresh lemon juice to the pot. Pour in the chicken broth (or vegetable broth for a vegetarian option). Stir everything well to combine thoroughly.
• Incorporate Lentils: Add the picked-over and rinsed brown lentils to the pot. Give it another good stir to ensure the lentils are submerged in the liquid.
• Seal and Set: Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and turn the Steam Release Knob to the Sealing position.
• Cancel Sauté: Press the Cancel button to turn off the Sauté function.
• Pressure Cook: Select the Pressure Cook (or Manual) button, or use the dial on an Ultra model. Set the cooking time to 4 minutes on HIGH pressure using the + or – buttons or the dial.
• Natural Release & Quick Release: Once the cook cycle finishes, allow the pot to naturally release pressure for 13 minutes. After 13 minutes, carefully quick release any remaining pressure by turning the knob to Venting (or pressing the button on Ultra models).
• Open and Season: When the float valve (pin) in the lid drops, it is safe to open the lid. Carefully remove the lid, stir the soup, and taste. Adjust salt and pepper as needed. Remove and discard the bay leaf, rosemary sprig, and thyme sprigs.
• Final Stir: Stir the cooked bacon back into the soup.
• Serve: Ladle the hearty lentil soup into bowls. Serve as is, or garnish with a dollop of sour cream, fresh cilantro, a sprinkle of extra smoked paprika, or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice – whatever you prefer!

Nutrition

Calories:
292
kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course:
Soup

Cuisine:
American

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