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Rustic bowl of healthy slow cooker lentil soup with carrots, spinach, and lemon.

Recipe: Healthy Slow Cooker Lentil Soup


  • Author: Emma Skillet
  • Total Time: 6–6½ hours
  • Yield: 6 Servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

Cozy vegan Lentil Soup with carrots, celery, tomatoes, and spinach—high-protein, fiber-rich, and bright with lemon, all made in the slow cooker.


Ingredients

Scale
  • Dried lentils brown or green 1½ cups rinsed
  • Carrots chopped 2 cups
  • Celery chopped 2 cups
  • Large onion chopped 1
  • Garlic cloves minced 3
  • Low-sodium vegetable broth 4 cups
  • Diced tomatoes canned 1 cup
  • Fresh spinach 2 cups
  • Dried thyme 1 tsp
  • Ground cumin 1 tsp
  • Smoked paprika ½ tsp
  • Kosher salt ½ tsp plus more to taste
  • Black pepper ¼ tsp
  • Fresh lemon juice 1 tbsp optional finish
  • Olive oil for sautéing optional

Instructions

  1. Optional depth step: sauté onion, garlic, carrots, and celery in a splash of olive oil until softened.
  2. Add onion, garlic, carrots, celery, lentils, broth, tomatoes, thyme, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker.
  3. Cook on Low 6 hours or High 3–4 hours until lentils are tender.
  4. Stir in spinach to wilt; add lemon juice if using, taste, and adjust seasoning.
  5. Ladle into bowls and serve hot.

Notes

  • For a creamier body, blend 1–2 cups of the soup and stir back in.
  • Like it spicier? Add chili flakes or a pinch of cayenne with the spices.
  • Freezes well up to 2 months; thin with hot broth when reheating if needed.
  • Prep Time: 10 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 6 hours on Low or 3–4 hours on High
  • Category: Vegan
  • Method: Slow Cook
  • Cuisine: Comfort

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Serving
  • Calories: 260g
  • Fat: 3g
  • Carbohydrates: 44g
  • Fiber: 14g
  • Protein: 16g

Keywords: Lentil Soup