The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
This Instant Pot Lentil Soup is hearty, healthy, and easy to make. Plus, it makes a great one-pot meal for a cold winter night.
It costs around $8.78 to make this soup. The soup makes ten servings for about $0.87 per serving.
Whip up a quick batch of 1-Hour French Bread and a Caesar Salad Kit Hack without Anchovies for a complete meal.
When the long winter months do not seem to end, the only thing that helps is a warm bowl of soup. But rotating through the same soup recipes can get boring. That’s where this Instant Pot Lentil Soup comes into play. It is satisfying, nutritious, and delicious!
With a little prep work,, the Instant Pot does the rest of the work, making this a convenient weeknight meal. You do not even need to soak the lentils first! The soup is full of fresh veggies and lentils. Score for another healthy meatless recipe that is also budget-friendly!
And the best part is that it makes for excellent leftovers, and is freezer friendly too! So this Instant Pot Lentil Soup recipe is a win, any way you look at it!
Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil – $0.03
- 1 medium red onion – $1.18
- 2 medium carrots – $0.28
- 3 stalks of celery – $0.54
- 2 cups green lentils – $2.78
- 28 oz can diced tomatoes – $0.98
- 8 cups chicken broth – $2.64
- 1 teaspoon salt – $0.01
- ½ teaspoon black pepper – $0.02
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley – $0.32
The recipe cost is calculated by the amounts needed for the recipe. To learn more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained. The pricing for this recipe was updated in February 2023.
How To Make Instant Pot Lentil Soup
***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.
- First, add oil to the Instant Pot and push the saute button.
- Then, add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until the onion is soft, and then cancel the saute mode.
- Next, add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, salt, and pepper and close the lid.
- Select manual and cook on high pressure for fifteen minutes.
- Finally, serve the soup in a bowl and garnish it with fresh parsley.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- You can use any lentil in this recipe, but we prefer green lentils because they hold their shape well and have a nice firm texture.
- You can also use dried parsley if you don’t have fresh parsley. Just add it to the soup when you add the salt and pepper.
- For a vegetarian version of this soup, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- This soup is also great with a dollop of plain yogurt or sour cream.
Storage Tips
SERVE: Serve with fresh chopped parsley. You can keep the soup out for no longer than two hours before it needs to be covered and stored in the refrigerator.
STORE: Place the soup in an airtight container and store it for up to four days.
FREEZE: This soup freezes well, so make a big batch and save some for later. Just let it cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to three months.
THAW: Thaw the soup in the refrigerator overnight.
Recipe FAQs
Making Lentil Soup in the Instant Pot is the best way to keep the lentils from getting mushy. The Instant Pot does the work for you and cooks them perfectly every time!
Lentil Soup is a healthy soup. See the nutritional value at the bottom of the recipe card for complete information on this recipe.
Get Kids Involved
Ages 2-3: Work on counting skills with your little one as they help you count the number of cups of chicken broth you pour into the Instant Pot.
Ages 4-5: Your child can assist by pre-measuring some of the ingredients in preparation for pouring them into the Instant Pot. They can also pour the ingredients into the Instant pot.
Ages 6-8: Have them pre-measure all of the ingredients for you.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe unsupervised while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Budget Tips
Lentils are an excellent option for budget-friendly meals. Try our Instant Pot Lentils and Instant Pot Lentil Bolognese for additional cost-effective recipes using lentils.
More Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Stuffed Peper Soup
- Instant Pot French Dip
- Instant Pot Olive Garden Pasta e Fajole Soup Copycat
- Instant Pot Potato Soup
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- Instant Pot Refried Beans – a healthy recipe!
- Instant Pot Quinoa
- Instant Pot Spaghetti
- Instant Pot Apple Butter
Instant Pot Lentil Soup
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Liquid measuring cup
- Wooden mixing spoon
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 medium red onion diced
- 2 medium carrots diced
- 3 stalks of celery diced
- 2 cups green lentils
- 28 oz can diced tomatoes
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
COOK VEGGIES:
- Add oil to the instant pot, and select saute mode.
- Once the oil is hot, add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook until the onion is translucent. Cancel saute mode.
COOK SOUP:
- Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, salt, and pepper.
- Close the lid, and make sure the valve is in sealing mode. Select manual and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
- Allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes.
- Move the valve to vent, open the lid carefully, and stir the soup.
SERVE:
- Serve hot in a bowl and sprinkle with fresh parsley.
Notes
- If you want a creamier soup, you can always add milk or cream when reheating it.
- Be sure not to boil the soup once the dairy has been added.
- If you want a thinner soup, add more chicken broth when reheating it.
Anjali says
This was such a delicious weeknight meal for our family! We used vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and it still tasted great!
TAYLER ROSS says
I made this lentil soup for dinner last night and it was delicious! So flavorful and hearty!
Holley says
This is a super easy recipe that’s flavorful and hearty! My new go-to soup!!!
Lily says
I make some variation of lentil soup every single week, and this lentil soup recipe was PERFECT! I served it with some freshly baked bread and some lemon wedges. I also liked the tips for getting my daughter involved with me in the kitchen. I spend so much time there, I was thinking it would be a great way we can do something together!