I absolutely love making cozy vegetable soups for dinner — they’re a quick and easy way to enjoy nourishing ingredients without a ton of effort. This easy stovetop lentil soup is loaded with chopped veggies, brown lentils, dried herbs and a dash of balsamic vinegar. It’s purposefully chunky, and packed with nutrition. A hearty soup that's freezer-friendly and reheats wonderfully!
Let's be real...healthy from-scratch soup recipes are kind of my jam.
Hello, vegetable soup with potatoes and creamy French lentil soup sister recipes! The fam's all here.
I originally published this beaut in 2015 but I've been making it regularly ever since. There's just something about a thick, veggie-packed, homey soup with a hunk of crusty bread for dipping.
Ahhh, a true hug for the soul. I'll take seven bowls, please!
Ingredients
- Mirepoix: Onion, carrot and celery form the flavor base.
- Garlic: What's a soup without aromatic fresh garlic?
- Brown lentils: Brown lentils are ideal here because they lend the perfect soft but not mushy texture to the soup (like my Instant Pot Lentil Soup with brown lentils!). They're also packed with plant protein and filling fiber. We don't want to use red lentils here because they're too soft.
- Italian seasoning and bay leaves: Dried herbs season this soup to perfection.
- Vegetable broth: For a liquid base concentrated with flavor. I use Better Than Bouillon.
- Potatoes: You need just one potato here to add fun texture and body. I tested this recipe with Russet, which are ideal for soups because they hold their texture.
- Canned tomatoes: Another layer of savory flavor, texture, and the antioxidant lycopene!
- Tomato paste: This adds extra umami and concentrated flavor.
- Spinach: The key to healthy lentil soup is adding all the veggies! I also love the bright pop of green and silky texture spinach lends.
- Balsamic vinegar: Delicious brightness and really interesting flavor.
Substitutions
- Balsamic: Try a splash of lemon juice instead to brighten the soup.
- Potato: Try sweet potato if you prefer.
- Veggies: Make this your own! You could use veggies you have on hand like cauliflower, mushrooms, bell pepper, or kale.
How to make (step by step)
Sauté onion, celery and carrots. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the salt, Italian seasoning, and bay leaves.
Add green beans, broth, water, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, potato, and lentils.
Stir, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer on low (covered) for 40-45 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
Stir in spinach and balsamic vinegar.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy with crusty bread!
Storage
Soup will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. It also freezes beautifully!
Please let me know how this lentil vegetable soup recipe turns out for you by leaving a star rating and/or comment! I hope you adore it as much as I do.
Chunky Brown Lentil Vegetable Soup
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 mins
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
I absolutely love making cozy vegetable soups for dinner — they’re a quick and easy way to enjoy nourishing ingredients without a ton of effort. This easy stovetop lentil soup is loaded with chopped veggies, brown lentils, dried herbs and a dash of balsamic vinegar. It’s purposefully chunky, and packed with nutrition. A hearty soup that's freezer-friendly and reheats wonderfully!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
- 1 ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup trimmed and chopped green beans (I used frozen)
- 4 cups vegetable broth (I use Better Than Bouillon)
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 15oz can diced tomatoes (not drained)
- 1 medium Russet potato, diced
- 1 cup brown or green lentils
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Heat oil over medium heat in a large pot or dutch oven.
- Once oil is hot, add onion, celery, carrots, and a dash of salt. Cook for 7 minutes, stirring often.
- Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the salt, Italian seasoning, and bay leaves and cook for another minute.
- Add green beans, broth, water, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, potato, and lentils. Stir, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer on low (covered) for 40-45 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
- Remove from heat. Stir in spinach and balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste and enjoy with crusty bread or cornbread!
Jen says
I make this soup all the time... by far the best lentil soup ever. There always no leftovers every time I make this soup!
Alexis Joseph, MS, RD says
Yayyy best comment, thank you!
Vaughn says
This is one of my all time favorite recipes. It's so yummy and versatile, but the ingredients are simple enough that it can be made no matter where you live. When I was living abroad in Norway and New Zealand, this recipe always made me feel homey.
Alexis Joseph says
I'm so glad to hear it Vaughn, thank you!
Dea Varner says
This is our favorite lentil soup!! It never disappoints and the broth is soo flavorful!! The Hubs normally doesn't eat leftovers but he's already dished himself up a serving to take for his lunch tomorrow lol!!! Am hoping there will be leftovers for me!!! I wanted to give it 5 stars but it wasn't letting me!! I think it's worth 10 stars!!!!
Dea Varner says
This is our favorite lentil soup!! It never disappoints and the broth is soo flavorful!! The Hubs normally doesn't eat leftovers but he's already dished himself up a serving to take for his lunch tomorrow lol!!! Am hoping there will be leftovers for me!!! I wanted to give it 5 stars but it wasn't letting me!! I think it's worth 10 stars!!!!
dan says
Love the vegetarian soup
Mary says
I really enjoyed this soup! I actually just put all the Ingredients in a crockpot for the day with some extra vegetable broth and turned out fantastic!
Alexis says
Sounds so delish! Thanks for trying 🙂
2016新作の展示，新品種類がそろっています！当社の商品は絶対の自信が御座います。★信用第一、良い品質、低価格は(*^-^*)★当店の承諾に→誠実 信用★送料無料（日本全国)※ご注文の方 says
2016新作の展示，新品種類がそろっています！当社の商品は絶対の自信が御座います。★信用第一、良い品質、低価格は(*^-^*)★当店の承諾に→誠実 信用★送料無料（日本全国)※ご注文の方は、ご連絡下さい。期待!!※以上 宜しくお願い致します。 https://www.okakaku.com/brand-1-copy-7-cheap-0-max0-attr0.html
Meechum says
I also added frozen sweet peas (my wife's favorite) and I used kale instead of spinach. A very comforting, hearty soup for a rainy day here in SF.
Alexis says
Amazing! I'm so glad to hear that, Jami!
Jami says
I fixed this for dinner tonight, the whole family loved it. Thank you for sharing!
Alexis says
Amazing! I'm so glad to hear that, Jami!
Emily Pensky says
Alexis this soup is DELICIOUS! It was perfect timing, too...I was just thinking the day you posted it that I was craving something with lentils, and there it was! Thanks for always posting the best recipes!! You can come to my house and eat some with me, sans all the salt! Lol. I love how human and down to earth you always are....
Monique @ burpees to bubbly says
HA! I don't mean to laugh, but I can totally picture that situation. That's happened to me with crushed red pepper and another time with cinnamon- both of which you can KIND OF scoop out.... unlike salt! Photos are still gorgeous though!
Monique @ burpees to bubbly says
HA! I don't mean to laugh, but I can totally picture that situation. That's happened to me with crushed red pepper and another time with cinnamon- both of which you can KIND OF scoop out.... unlike salt! Photos are still gorgeous though!
She Rocks Fitness says
When that happens to you all at once, the best thing to do is LAUGH...Blame it on mercury retrograde! 😉 Looks delicious as always and thanks for sharing it...eating with my eyes! XOXO
She Rocks Fitness says
When that happens to you all at once, the best thing to do is LAUGH...Blame it on mercury retrograde! 😉 Looks delicious as always and thanks for sharing it...eating with my eyes! XOXO
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets says
That totally stinks and yet I can relate a little too well.
One time, my cat climbed into my cupboard and broke a brand new bottle of Costco sized olive oil. It spilled onto my counters and floors and I mopped up olive oil for hours that night and hours the next. Also, if I'm recalling it correctly, there was a lot of hysterical laughter and podcasts to accompany me. For the next week, whenever I stepped on the floor boards, olive oil would ooze out of the floor joints.
Love the veggie soup. I've got a similar version coming next week. Great minds think alike, eh?!
Libby says
This looks so good! I will definitely have to give it a try this fall/winter
Libby says
This looks so good! I will definitely have to give it a try this fall/winter
courtney says
haha love your honesty!
Kelly @ Eat the Gains says
Lol. That happened to me the other day with pumpkin pie spice. I thought it had shaker thing on top but nope, just one big opening. Dumped like half the container in. I also forgot baking soda and powder in those muffins, so they were quite the experiment. Def need to try this soup once the temperatures are out of the mid 90s here in Austin.
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
😆 I'm laughing -with- you, not at you 😛 If it makes you feel any better, I once dumped cumin into my oatmeal instead of cinnamon. I usually try to make the best of kitchen mishaps, but I couldn't save that one. Eek.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
So maybe that's why I don't cook with salt 😉
Katie Jansen says
I can't wait to make this but more importantly your soup bowls are adorable!! Where are they from??
CakePants says
This soup looks fantastic! I've been looking for a good lentil and veggie soup, so I'll have to give this a try! My mom always told me to pour salt or spices into my hand first and then into the pot - she says that it isn't good for them to get too close to the heat and steam from the pot. I don't always follow her rule (oops!), but after hearing your cautionary tale, I'm realizing that pouring into your hand makes sense for a variety of reasons. That's so sad about the ruined soup!
Dietitian Jess says
That happened to me the other day but it was garlic powder- I love garlic but I also like to taste my food. These pictures are gorgeous- sorry you didn't get to enjoy it 🙁
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says
i am so in love with this bowl full of comfort and deliciousness!