Instant Pot Lentil Soup
You are going to love how quick and easy this instant pot lentil soup is. It’s hearty, comforting, warming and totally delicious!!
Do you love soup? Do you gleefully anticipate eating it when you order it at a restaurant? Do you squeal just a little bit when you know you are having it that evening for dinner?
Or do you just like it? You think, “Oh good, soup”, but you don’t squeal or anticipate it with bated breath.
I LOVE it. And one thing that makes me super happy is, although Christopher used to like soup, he has now come around and jumped on the soup-loving bandwagon!
Mission complete.
Now, how did I feel about lentil soup?
It was always a hit or miss for me. Years ago, when I made it myself, I’d either cook it too little or cook it too much. Cook it too little and the lentils are not quite done. Cook it too much and the lentils are mushy.
I’d eat lentil soup if someone served it to me but I stopped making it myself.
If you’re not into soup but love lentils, try my IP lentils. So good and they make the perfect taco stuffer and side dish.
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Why I started making it myself again
During the winter, we got the biggest snowfall of the year and although Mr. Landlord always helps us shovel, this one storm, he had hurt his hand and Christopher and I had to shovel by ourselves.
It really was no big deal.
Still, Mrs. Landlord showed her appreciation by making us some lentil soup. Christopher and I ate it for dinner that night and I was delighted because it was so delicious.
Now, since I had my newly acquired instant pot, I decided to try making lentil soup again and boy, am I glad I did!! While Mrs. Landlord’s lentil soup was delicious, mine is spectacular!
Yes, that’s me patting myself on the back.
Helpful tips
- Any color of lentils will work but I like green lentils best in this soup.
- Use two different onions – purple and yellow or Vidalia as it gives it a nice flavor.
- When you press the sauté button, let it heat up until the display says HOT before adding oil and let that heat up for another minute.
- You can make this vegetarian or vegan if you prefer, just leave out the broth and substitute it with either veggie broth or water.
- As the IP comes to pressure, allow for an additional 10 – 15 minutes. It really depends on how full the instant pot is.
- Always protect yourself from the steam by donning an oven mitt when either doing a quick release or opening the lid.
How to make lentil soup
Pre-step
Get your instant pot or pressure cooker.
Step one
Gather the ingredients – purple onion, Vidalia onion, carrots and celery.
Step two
Chop the onions, carrots and celery in smallish chunks. (A)
Step three
Gather the broth, herbs and spices, red pepper flakes, green lentils, tomato paste and bay leaves. (B)
Step four
Turn the IP on, press the sauté button and wait for the display to say HOT. Add olive oil and onions and sauté for 4 minutes.
Step five
Add chopped carrots, celery, garlic paste, herbs and spices, salt and pepper and continue to sauté for 3 minutes.
Step six
Add beef broth, water, tomato paste, bay leaves and lentils.
Step seven
Seal IP, make sure the venting knob is set to sealed. Press the soup/stew button and cook at normal for 20 minutes.
Step eight
When the IP timer dings, either let the IP release the pressure naturally or you can wait 5 minutes, then don an oven mitt and release it quickly by tapping the venting knob.
Transfer soup to a serving dish. I pour use my much loved casserole dish from Burlington Potters and get ready to serve it.
I ladle some soup in our crocks and gather some cute little pita rounds. Have you seen these pita rounds before? They are adorable and fun to dip in the lentil soup!
Delicious!
Let’s look at a different view. A close up!
Other popular soup recipes
I hope you enjoyed this Instant pot lentil soup recipe as much as Christopher and I do.
Please feel free to leave me a comment. Do you love soup as much as I do?
And as always, may all your dishes be delish!
If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!
Instant Pot Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Vidalia onion chopped
- 1 purple onion chopped
- 4 carrots chopped into little chunks
- 2 stalks celery thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper a few shakes is fine
- 3 teaspoons garlic paste or 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 32 ounces beef broth use vegetable broth for vegetarian version
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes or 7 shakes
- 1 1/2 cups lentils rinsed and picked over for rocks, green or which ever you prefer
- 1 teaspoon ground thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
Instructions
Make it!
- Turn your Instant Pot on to sauté, add olive oil.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add onions and sauté for 4 minutes.1 Vidalia onion, 1 purple onion
- Add carrots, celery, garlic, salt and pepper and sauté for 3 minutes.4 carrots, 2 stalks celery, 1 teaspoon salt, 3 teaspoons garlic paste, 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- Add lentils, broth, water, cumin, chili powder, red pepper flakes, thyme, bay leaves and tomato paste.32 ounces beef broth, 2 cups water, 1 teaspoon cumin powder, 1/4 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1 1/2 cups lentils, 1 teaspoon ground thyme, 2 bay leaves, 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- Seal instant pot, make sure the venting knob is sealed and push the soup/broth button – which should be on a 20 minute timer.
- Once the IP beeps, either let it release the pressure naturally or do a quick release by donning an oven mitt before nudging the knob. It takes about 5 minutes to release all the steam.
- Transfer soup into a serving bowl to serve at the table or ladle soup into crocks or bowls.
- Eat
- Smile
- Enjoy
Equipment
See all my favorite tools and gift ideas at my Amazon Store page!Check out Elaine’s Amazon Store!Notes
- Any color of lentils will work but I like green lentils best in this soup.
- Use two different onions – purple and yellow or Vidalia as it gives it a nice flavor.
- When you press the sauté button, let it heat up until the display says HOT before adding oil and let that heat up for another minute.
- You can make this vegetarian or vegan if you prefer, just leave out the broth and substitute it with either veggie broth or water.
- As the IP comes to pressure, allow for an additional 10 – 15 minutes. It really depends on how full the instant pot is.
- Always protect yourself from the steam by donning an oven mitt when either doing a quick release or opening the lid.
Nutrition
From lighting up stages with her BA in theater to food journalist, Elaine Benoit's journey is a testament to passion's transformative power. As the CEO of Dishes Delish, she offers a blend of healthy, comforting recipes and exquisitely crafted cocktails. Beyond the kitchen, Elaine voiced her culinary adventures on her podcast, "Dishing," and co-owns Food Blogger Help, extending her expertise to guide budding food bloggers to success. Whether it's for a heartwarming dish or insights into food blogging, Elaine's diverse experiences make her a beacon in the culinary digital landscape.
I have become a fan recently of lentils because they are so good for you. I love the flavors that you have going on in this soup. Perfect for lunch or dinner 🙂
Thanks so much Ali! I love this soup because of how hearty it is, oh, and delicious!
I love pretty much any kind of soup. This recipe looks delicious and I love that you used your instant pot to make it so quick to get on the table!
Thanks Jill! I agree with you on eating any soup. I can too and do!
Definitely breaking out my Instant Pot for this one!
Thanks Jessica!
This is probably one of my favorite soups ever!!! I can never get tired of it!
I’m with you on that Tina! I could eat it weekly!
Lentil soup is pure comfort food to me. This looks wonderful!
Thank you Sandi! It is for me too!
I have yet to purchase an Instant Pot but with recipes this tasty, I may need to invest in one. This lentil soup looks very hearty, great job!
Once you buy one, you will never look back! 🙂 Thanks Heather.
I’ve been experimenting with lentils recently and have been looking for recipes to use them more. This one is going on my ‘must try’ list. Looks so cozy for cooler days that we still have ahead of us.
Thanks so much Sharon. It is mighty tasty!
I don’t have an Instant Pot…but I do have a pressure cooker. We love lentils, and this soup would be perfect. Although spring arrives this week, it is still cold. Comfort food in a bowl is so delicious.
Thanks Gloria! I eat soup year round. My grandmother used to say that it cools you off in the summer. 🙂
I honestly don’t think I’ve ever had lentil soup. Not sure why. I’m in the soup lover’s category, as well. This looks so good! I’m going to have to break down and buy an Instant Pot!
I don’t think you would regret it Beth! Thanks.
I love my Instant Pot too! I used to make all my soups in the slow cooker and the instant pot does them so much better! I love your bowls too!
Thanks Pam!! I got the bowls at a thrift store and I only bought two, now I wish I got the 6 that were there. I love them.
I used to make Soup with my Soupmaker. And seeing your Instant Pot Lentil Soup it looks tastier. I think I need to invest in Instant pot. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Melve. Now that I’ve been using my instant pot – (it stayed in the box for a while) – I can’t stop using it. 🙂
Soup is one of my favourite meals too and I eat it a lot in the winter. Lentils are brilliant in soup too for thickness and protein. I definitely need to get an Instant Pot soon as I’m always being tempted by Instant Pot recipes!
That’s how I felt too before I bought mine! I’m glad I did! Thanks Corina!
I love lentil soups and I really need to stop dilly dallying and just get myself an Instant Pot! This looks like the absolute perfect soup for winter. I wish it would stop snowing…but until it does, this soup is just the thing!
Thanks Kate. We’re supposed to get a Nor’easter today but so far nothing. I hope it stays that way!
We just love lentil soup. So filling, warming and hearty.
Great recipe for the IP, I am always trying to find new ways to use my kitchen helper 😉
Hehe Claire!! Thanks for the comment! Me too, I love my IP probably more than I should. 😉
This soup looks so rich and satisfying! Yummm. This recipe is another reason that I needed to get an instant pot like yesterday!
Thanks Dominique! I rebelled and refused to get one and then i just so happened to put it in my shopping cart. How it happened, I just don’t know! And then it took me a little time to take it out of the box, but now there is no stopping me. 🙂
I love lentil soup and even if they get a little mushy I still love the soup! This recipe looks so good so I am pinning for later to my soup board. I ate at a Middle Eastern restaurant in our town and had their lentil soup and I had to come home and make it.
Thanks for sharing Elaine!
Thank you Analida!
I love making big batches of soups in the instant pot – so fuss free! I’m going through a big lentil phase right now so will give your recipe a go!
Thanks so much Carrie. I absolutely adore this soup!
I LOVE soup and this one looks delish! I’m like you…I squeal with soup. Any soup – I LOVE soup. Yes, even on hot days! I also love my Instant Pot and so this recipe is a DOUBLE win for me!
Hehe. Yay Amanda!! A kindred spirit!
I’ve never seen those little pita rounds, so they totally caught my eye! Perfect for dipping… Yes, lentil soup is amazing! I wish our south Texas was more conducive to soup eating. We hit 100 degrees in February. Great recipe, and I love pressure cookers!
Thanks Tamara!! I love those pita rounds, perfect for dipping in soup!! Mmm. And yikes 100?
This looks like a wonderful, hearty soup! Perfect for the cold early spring weather we are having here!
Thanks Kathryn. Yes, it’s perfect for the cold weather! And the warm weather. 😉
I use my Instant Pot at least once a week to try new recipes! I love lentils and what a great idea to make soup with it!) Definitely should try it 😉
Thank you Veronika!! I love trying new things in my IP too!
Hi. At what point are the lentils added? I don’t see them in the directions. Also, is there any prep required for the lentils? Are they put in dry or do they need to be soaked first? Thanks! Looking forward to trying this recipe!
Jen, oops. Even with hubby and I looking at the post, we miss things. No need to do any prep with the lentils other than rinse them and pick them over for lentil duds or rocks. You add the lentils with the broth, herbs and spices. I’ve updated the recipe card. Thank you so much for pointing it out to me. Enjoy!
Wow! The instant pot. It’s RIDICULOUS that a soup this smooth and tasty could be prepared in such a short amount of time. Feels like a new era in cooking. And, as you know, I was never a big fan of soups. All that may have to change…
It has changed. It has!! 😉