This hearty Instant Pot Lentil Soup is easy to make, flavorful, and nutritious. It is packed with nourishing veggies and tender brown lentils. Get cozy with this warming soup on a cold winter day!

Instant Pot Lentil Soup in a white bowl
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The instant pot is changing our lives. I would not say faster, but much less monitored cooking, which is what I really need. Add all ingredients, press some buttons, and forget. Just remember to come back to perfectly cooked dishes 🙂

I love to make hearty soups that can be dinner by themselves without needing any other sides. This lentil soup definitely qualifies as a nourishing dinner.

This is a great soup for detox as well…You know we all will need that right after the Thanksgiving meal or when it is January, and we are ready for all the healthy, cozy soups!

Watch How to Make Easy Instant Pot Lentil Soup

Why You’ll Love this Lentil Soup?

 It is healthy with protein and fiber-rich lentils and vegetables

 Vegan & Gluten free

 Packed with flavor and budget-friendly

 Get done in one pot in less than 30 minutes

 Great for meal prep and can be frozen for later

Easy instant pot lentil soup served in a bowl with parmesan on top

Ingredients

Lentils: I like to use green or brown lentils to make this soup, as they hold their shape well and are not completely mushy after being cooked. If you want to use split lentils, then reduce the pressure cooking time by half.

Onion: Use yellow onions for the best flavor.

Tomato: I add a little tomato to this soup to add some tanginess.

Garlic: Fine chopped or minced garlic adds a whole lot of flavor to this soup.

Carrots & Celery: I added carrots and celery to the soup. However, you can use other veggies such as sweet potatoes, butternut squash, zucchini, or potatoes too.

Spices: Cumin, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper

Broth: I used vegetable broth to make this soup, but feel free to use any broth you have on hand.

Spinach: I like to finish the soup with some greens such as baby spinach or kale leaves.

Lemon Juice: It adds a lot of flavor to the soup!

How to make Instant Pot Lentil Soup?

This soup is very easy to make with just a few ingredients, and just about 10 minutes of active cooking time to saute the aromatics.

  • Start the instant pot in saute mode, heat oil and saute the onions and garlic.
  • Then add the tomatoes and saute them for a few minutes.
  • Once the tomatoes are soft, add the veggies, spices, and broth.
  • You are ready to pressure cook the soup.

Once the pressure cooking is done, top the soup with some baby spinach. Oh…and a dash of lemon juice and a pinch of sugar.

Stir in the spinach until it is wilted. You can let the soup simmer for 2-3 minutes on saute mode if you like.

instant pot lentil soup with spinach being stirred

The easiest and the best soup is ready for you!

quick instant pot brown lentil soup garnished with chili flakes

Stovetop Method

  • Heat a dutch oven on medium heat. Follow the initial steps until adding the lentils and broth. Add a cup of extra broth when cooking on the stovetop.
  • Then bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer the soup for 30 minutes until the lentils are tender.
  • Now add the finishing ingredients of spinach, sugar, and lemon juice.
  • Simmer for 2-3 minutes more until the spinach is wilted.
  • Brown Lentil Soup is ready to serve!

Variations

Add coconut milk: You can make this soup creamier by adding coconut milk at the end along with spinach.

Vary the lentils: You can use green or brown lentils. You can also use red lentils, but reduce the cooking time in half.

Vary the greens: You can use spinach kale leaves or collard greens in this soup.

Add quinoa or brown rice: If you want to make this soup heartier, you can add quinoa or brown rice while cooking the soup.

Double the recipe: You can double the amount of soup in this recipe in a 6-quart instant pot.

How to Serve Lentil Soup?

To the soup with some parmesan, if you are not vegan. I like to add some red chili flakes for some added spice.

Enjoy the soup with some crusty bread to dip in the soup.

Round it out with a salad or roasted broccoli on the side if you like.

This soup is a perfect pack-ahead lunch and trust me, tastes even better the next day..or the day after!

Instant Pot Lentil Soup in a spoon

How to Store?

If there are any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Or you can freeze the soup in small portions for up to 3 months. Let the soup cool down to room temperature before storing it.

I recommend defrosting the soup in the refrigerator overnight, then heat in the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop. If needed, add water to adjust to the right consistency.

Common Questions

Do I have to soak lentils before cooking them?

When cooking brown or green lentils in the instant pot, there is no need to soak them. I like to rinse them under water, drain and use in the recipe.

Why are my lentils still hard after cooking?

Sometimes when the lentils are old, they can take much longer to cook. Don’t worry, just put them to cook for 5-10 minutes more, and most likely they will be tender cooked.

More Instant Pot Soup Recipes

Check out this collection of 20+ Instant Pot Vegetarian Soup recipes for more delicious soups!

4.92 from 62 votes

Easy Instant Pot Lentil Soup

This hearty Instant Pot Lentil Soup is easy to make, flavorful, and nutritious. It is packed with nourishing veggies and tender brown lentils. Get cozy with this warming soup on a cold winter day!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup Brown lentils (Whole Masoor Dal), rinsed, or green lentils
  • 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 cup Onion, diced
  • 1 cup Tomato , diced
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic, minced
  • 2 Carrot, cut into small pieces
  • 2 stalks Celery, cut into small pieces
  • 3 cups Vegetable Broth, or Water
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sugar, optional
  • 2 cups Baby Spinach , packed
  • 2 teaspoon Lemon juice ,
  • Parmesan cheese, for serving, optional

Spices

Instructions 

Instant Pot Method

  • Start the instant pot in SAUTE mode and heat oil in it. 
  • Add onions and garlic. Mix and saute for about 3 minutes. Then add tomatoes and saute for another minute.
  • Add carrots, celery and all the spices. 
  • Add the lentils and broth. Stir it all up. Press Cancel and close the lid with vent in sealing position. 
  • Set the instant pot to pressure cook on high pressure for 18 minutes. When the instant pot beeps, release the pressure naturally. Press Cancel. 
  • Add in spinach, lemon juice and sugar. Add some red chili flakes if you like. Stir it all up. Brown Lentil Soup is ready to enjoy!

Stovetop Method

  • Heat a dutch oven on medium heat. Follow the initial steps until adding the lentils and broth. Add a cup of extra broth when cooking on the stovetop.
  • Then bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer the soup for 30 minutes until the lentils are tender.
  • Now add the finishing ingredients of spinach, sugar, and lemon juice. Simmer for 2-3 minutes more until the spinach is wilted. Brown Lentil Soup is ready to serve!

Video

Notes

Vary the Greens: You can also use kale or collard greens.
Make it smooth: You can use a hand blender if you like. We like it chunky.
Storing: If there are any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Or you can freeze the soup in small portions for up to 3 months. Let the soup cool down to room temperature before storing it.

Nutrition

Serving: 312gCalories: 272kcalCarbohydrates: 40.09gProtein: 13.13gFat: 7.66gSaturated Fat: 1.064gTrans Fat: 0.003gSodium: 1039mgPotassium: 591mgFiber: 7.2gSugar: 5.27gVitamin A: 14900IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 0.8mg

Additional Info

Course: Soup
Cuisine: Indian, Mediterranean
Diet: Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Nut-free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Tried this recipe?Mention @pipingpotcurry or tag #pipingpotcurry!

About Meeta

I strongly believe that each one of us has a chef inside us, we just need to explore the ingredients and create great food. My passion is to share easy, healthy, and wholesome recipes made using Instant Pot & Air Fryer, that are well tested, so you can cook with confidence.

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43 Comments

  1. Delicious recipe Meeta !! Perfect for the super cold weather we have in Chicago these days. I added toasted peanuts for some crunch.

  2. This was fantastic soup! I’ve never been able to make good soups until the Instant Pot. My granddaughter loves lentil soup but I was tired of paying over $4 for a can of organic lentil soup. So when I got the IP I decided to try and replicate the recipe but thank you so much for doing it for me. Absolutely wonderful meal with cheese and homemade bread. Lovely!

    1. Hey Yvonne – So glad you enjoyed the lentil soup. It is so much cheaper to make soups and lentils from dry beans, and the fresh taste is even better. Thank you for sharing back your experience!

  3. Just made it tonight and it was a hit! I took out the spinach and added bell peppers as that’s what I had. Even my picky daughter loved it.

    1. Hey Valerie – Glad you and your daughter enjoyed the soup. It is great to hear when kids enjoy the recipes. Thank you for sharing back your review!

  4. I just made this today as my first Instant Pot meal and it was delicious and easy! My husband said it was really good, especially for vegetables! Lol

    1. Hey Gillian – So glad to hear you chose to make this as your first Instant Pot recipe, and even better that you and your husband enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing back your review!

  5. Hey Meeta,
    How long would I have to cook the Masoor dal with water and at what pressure if I was using the manual mode?

    Thanks,

    1. Hey Kiara – It might depend on what you are cooking the dal for. If you are cooking for a lentil soup, do 10-12 mins at high pressure with NPR for whole brown masoor dal.

  6. This recipe is so easy and so very tasty! My husband’s response was ” who knew lentils could be this good?”
    The second time I made it, I doubled the recipe-and I’m cooking for just the two of us.
    I’m glad I stumbled across your page and look forward to trying your other recipes!

    1. Hey Gayle – So glad to hear you and your husband enjoyed the lentil soup. Thank you for sharing your review and I would love to hear if you try any other recipes on the blog 🙂

  7. This was so delicious! I never post comments, but I had to. Creamy and wonderful. My boys, who are such picky eaters and don’t like vegetables LOVED this soup. They gobbled it all up. Thank you so much for this recipe. We will be making it regularly!

    1. Hey Anna – I am not sure the type of pressure cooker you have. But I would say 2 whistles, then keep it on low flame for 5 minutes and this lentil should be cooked.