Sausage Lentil Soup! A cozy, hearty stew made easy in the slow cooker instant pot. Full of flavor and so satisfying!

This post was originally published in December 2017. It was republished in 2023 and continues to be an all-time reader and family favorite recipe!

close up of sausage lentil soup being scooped with ladle


 

If you’re like me and always on the hunt for easy, delicious and satisfying soup recipes, you’ll want to try this one!

I love how hearty and cozy sausage lentil stew is and this recipe doesn’t disappoint. It is full of flavor and perfect for a cold night.

We’ve made this soup for a few years now and it’s always a crowd-pleaser. We most often make it with a side of gluten-free cornbread or gluten-free corn muffins. My kids love this meal!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Easy-to-make
  • Can be made in the instant pot or on the stovetop
  • Hearty and comforting
  • Full of flavor!
sausage lentil soup in bowl topped with parmesan

VIDEO: See how to make it!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here are a few notes on the key ingredients you’ll need to make this soup.

  • Sausage: I like to use mild Italian sausage in this lentil sausage soup. You can also use hot Italian sausage if you prefer! I usually use pork sausage, but chicken sausage will also work.
  • Lentils: I like to use small, French lentils. I think they have the best texture and flavor when cooked, but any kind of lentil (brown lentils, red lentils) will work!
  • Kale: I like to add some chopped kale to this stew when it’s finished cooking for some greens. Sausage and kale go so well together in stews – even people who aren’t crazy about kale will like it.
  • Chicken stock: You can also use chicken broth. I usually use the boxed kind from Costco.
  • Red pepper flakes: 1/2 teaspoon won’t make it too spicy! It just gives the soup even more flavor. You can use more if you prefer!

Gluten-Free?

Just a note about lentils – they are often cross-contaminated with other gluten-containing grains. So be sure to carefully rinse and pick over lentils before cooking with them. I like to use French green lentils as they hold their shape well and aren’t as often cross-contaminated.

You can top this is so parmesan cheese or leave it off like I do to keep things dairy-free. My husband likes to top his with hot sauce.

This recipe makes a big batch of stew which is great because the leftovers are delicious. Add it to your weeknight instant pot dinner rotation! You also might like this gluten-free chicken pot pie, sirloin tip roast or this gluten-free beef stew!

close up of sausage lentil soup in bowl with parmesan

MORE COMFORTING SOUPS

close up of sausage lentil soup being scooped with ladle
5 from 49 votes

Sausage Lentil Soup (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker!)

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 10 servings
Sausage Lentil Soup! One of our family's all-time favorite meals. A cozy, hearty stew made easy in the slow-cooker or instant pot. Full of flavor and so satisfying!
 

Video

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lb Italian sausage
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 2 stalks celery chopped
  • 3-4 carrots peeled and chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 29 oz canned diced tomatoes
  • 5 cups chicken stock (+1-2 more cups for the slow cooker)
  • 1 1/2 cups dry lentils rinsed and picked over (preferably French Green Lentils)
  • 1 cup finely chopped kale optional

Instructions 

FOR THE INSTANT POT:

  • Press the SAUTE button on the instant pot and let preheat for 1-2 minutes. Add the olive oil and Italian sausage. Cook, breaking into small pieces with a spoon, until no longer pink.
  • Add the onion, celery and carrot. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables start to soften. Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and salt.
  • Add the diced tomatoes, chicken stock, and lentils. Stir to combine.
  • Close the instant pot and press MANUAL and set timer for 10 minutes. When the time is up let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick release the rest of the steam.
  • Stir in the chopped kale. Serve topped with parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy!

FOR THE SLOW-COOKER:

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and Italian sausage. Cook, breaking into small pieces with a spoon, until no longer pink.
  • Add the onion, celery and carrot. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables start to soften. Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and salt.
  • Transfer the sausage/vegetable mixture to the slow-cooker. Add the diced tomatoes, 6 cups of chicken stock, and lentils. Stir to combine.
  • Cook on low for 6 hours. Stir in the chopped kale. Serve topped with parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

This recipe makes a larger batch but the leftovers are delicious! This soup also freezes well.
GLUTEN-FREE? Lentils are frequently cross-contaminated with other grains. Be sure to rinse and pick through the lentils before adding them to the soup. I like to use small green French lentils because they are usually very clean.

Nutrition

Calories: 357kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 883mg | Potassium: 778mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3239IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 4mg

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Hi, I’m Erin!

BS Food Science,

MS Nutrition

I believe you can make amazing, gluten-free food with everyday ingredients that everyone will enjoy. I’m here to share my tried-and-true recipes with you!

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I LOVE this recipe! It’s the only way my husband will eat lentils. I use Trader Joe’s garlic & herb chicken sausage, am generous with the garlic, and add a bit of cumin – about the same amount as the red chili flakes. I top it very similarly to chili, with cheese, onion, sour cream, and something crunch like corn chips – whatever we’ve got at home. The leftovers are AMAZING, often better than the first serving. Instant Pot is my favorite way to make it, but I’ve made it on the stove too. Thank you for coming up with this, Erin! Fantastic dish.

  2. 5 stars
    Great recipe, did this in the Instant Pot and my only changes were adding two bay leaves and subbing baby spinach for kale. Otherwise, excellent recipe, my go to recipe going forward.

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