Wondering what to do with leftover lentils? This Easy Bacon and Lentil Soup recipe is your answer! Lentils and veggies soak in all that savory bacon flavor to create a delicious healthy meal your whole family will love! Perfect for meal prep plus there is only one pot to wash.
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Comforting soups like this bacon and lentil soup are my go-to over the colder winter months. Soups that are rich in pulses are a great way of packing heart healthy proteins into our diets, keeping us fuller for longer.
I always have cans of lentils in my cupboard at home, ready to make a quick weeknight dinner. And making soup is one of my favourite recipes to use the leftover bacon that I always seem to have in the fridge!! Goes without saying that bacon pieces add a richness and flavor to any dish.
I've made this hearty lentil soup on the stove top however I've given instructions for electric pressure cooker bacon and lentil soup and slow cooker bacon and lentil soup within this post.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Bacon Lentil Soup
- Bacon and Lentil Soup Ingredients
- How to Make Easy Lentil Bacon Soup - Step-By-Step
- Crockpot/Slow Cooker Method
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Variations & Substitutions for Bacon Lentil Soup
- Tips & Tricks For Making Bacon and Lentil Soup
- Pin This Easy Bacon Lentil Soup Recipe For Later
- What Do You Think?!
- More Easy Soup Recipe Ideas
- Printable Recipe
- Easy Bacon Lentil Soup
- Reader Comments & Ratings
Why You'll Love This Bacon Lentil Soup
- It is a great lunch or light dinner option served with a side of crusty bread.
- If you're meal planning, make a large batch and you have nutritious meals for days.
- Heat up the leftover soup and pour in a thermos for a quick and easy lunch on the go.
- Lentil and bacon soup freezes really well, so make a double batch of soup, enjoying some now and freezing the rest for later.
- If you enjoy hearty and filling bowls of soup, try these great tasting recipes:
Bacon and Lentil Soup Ingredients
Find the full list and quantities in the recipe card below.
Bacon - I like to use a dry cure bacon, you can use regular or smoked if you like a smoky flavor, whichever flavor you prefer.
Lentils - I've used dried brown lentils, but this recipe would work just as well with green lentils. You can also use canned lentils for convenience.
Vegetables - use any variety of veggies that you enjoy eating. I've added onion, carrots, celery and garlic which make a great flavorful base for any soup. I then add kale to the soup towards the end to wilt through.
Seasonings - for flavor I like to add fresh thyme sprigs to the soup, which I also season with sea salt and black pepper..
How to Make Easy Lentil Bacon Soup - Step-By-Step
Find the full printable recipe below.
Stovetop Method
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over a medium heat.
Sauté the bacon in olive oil until the fat starts to render. Stir occasionally for around 10 minutes. Set the bacon aside leaving the fat in the pan.
Sauté the chopped onions, carrots and celery in the same pan and bacon fat for around 5 minutes until it's starting to soften. Remember to scrape up all the bits from the bottom of the pan. This is where the flavour is.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute then add the lentils, vegetable broth and thyme sprigs. Season well with sea salt and black pepper.
Bring the soup to a boil then turn down the heat and simmer for around 30 minutes or until the veggies and lentils are tender but not mushy.
When the soup is cooked, taste and season again then stir through the kale until it's just wilted but still bright green.
Serve and garnish with fresh mint leaves and a swirl of (dairy-free) sour cream or yogurt if desired. If you like heat add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes too.
Instant Pot/Electric Pressure Cooker Method
Use the sauté function on the pressure cooker to follow all the instructions until the lentils and vegetable broth are added.
Pressure cook on high for 15 minutes then allow it to release naturally. Stir in the kale as before and serve with the garnishes.
Crockpot/Slow Cooker Method
I recommend sautéing the bacon and then vegetables in a pan first, then adding to the slow cooker, along with the remaining ingredients, except for the kale and garnishes.
If you have a crockpot with a sear setting, you can do this stage directly in the pot.
Cover with a lid and cook on low for 7 hours. Stir in the kale as before and serve with the garnishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use other types of lentils?
French green lentils are a great substitute for brown lentils. Or you could use dried red lentils, or yellow or green split peas. However remember that split peas have a longer cook time so make sure you allow for that.
How to make a vegetarian lentil soup
To make a vegetarian lentil soup leave out the bacon and if you wish and add more vegetables to the soup. Also swap the Greek yogurt for a drizzle of coconut milk.
For another delicious vegetarian lentil soup option try my Carrot & Lentil Soup with Coconut.
Variations & Substitutions for Bacon Lentil Soup
- Swap the regular bacon for turkey bacon.
- Swap out the lentils for some canned beans (try navy or cannellini beans) which would also work well with the flavors in this soup.
- I love adding leafy greens, like kale, to soups. You could also add chard, collard greens or a handful of spinach.
- Add in other veggies to the soup; try zucchini, bell peppers or corn.
- Add a bay leaf to the pot for extra flavor.
Tips & Tricks For Making Bacon and Lentil Soup
Don't be too heavy handed when seasoning the soup as the bacon does add salt. Instead taste the soup to check for seasoning and add more if required.
I'm a huge fan of shortcuts when making soup, so use use ready cut pancetta pieces instead of bacon if it helps!
You can also save time with the veggies and use ready cut soup veggies if in a rush, along with some ready trimmed and cut kale or baby kale.
Soup is a great make ahead dish and tastes even better the next day. Cook the soup in advance, cool, then place in an airtight container and store for up to 3 days in fridge.
If the soup is too thick, add a splash of vegetable broth or water to loosen it.
How To Serve Lentil and Bacon Soup
Soup is a great one pot meal, I like to serve it topped with a spoon of thick Greek yogurt and garnished with some freshly chopped mint leaves. Add a piece of baguette, toasted sourdough, or warm focaccia to the side.
How To Reheat Bacon Lentil Soup?
Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use within 3-4 days.
To re-heat. place the soup in a saucepan and place over medium heat to warm up to piping hot.
How to Freeze Bacon Lentil Soup?
Bacon lentil soup freezes really well. Once cooked and cooled, place the soup in a sealed container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When ready to enjoy, remove the soup from the freezer and defrost in the refrigerator.
Pin This Easy Bacon Lentil Soup Recipe For Later
What Do You Think?!
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More Easy Soup Recipe Ideas
Printable Recipe
Easy Bacon Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 6 strips Bacon - chopped into small pieces
- 1 small Onion - chopped
- 2 medium Carrots - around 4oz/100g each, peeled and diced small
- 2 ribs Celery - sliced
- 2 cloves Garlic - minced
- 1 cup Brown Lentils - rinsed and drained
- 5 cups Vegetable Broth
- 2 sprigs Thyme
- 3 cups Kale - leaves removed from stem and shredded
- Sea Salt and Black Pepper - to taste
OPTIONAL GARNISH
- Fresh Mint Leaves
- Greek Yogurt - or sour cream, dairy-free if required
- Red pepper Flakes
Instructions
Stovetop Method
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan or Dutch oven over a medium heat.
- Sauté the bacon until the fat starts to render (or come out) - around 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Sauté the chopped onions, carrots and celery in the same pan with the bacon for around 5 minutes until it's starting to soften. Remember to scrape up all the bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add the lentils, vegetable broth and sprigs of thyme. Season well with sea salt and black pepper.
- Bring the soup to a boil then turn down the heat and simmer for around 30 minutes or until the veggies and lentils are tender but not mushy.
- When the soup is cooked, taste and season again then stir through the kale until it's just wilted but still bright green.
- Serve and garnish with fresh mint leaves, a swirl of (dairy-free) sour cream or yogurt and red pepper flakes, if desired.
Instant Pot/Electric Pressure Cooker Method
- Use the sauté setting on the pressure cooker to follow all the instructions until the lentils and vegetable broth are added.
- Pressure cook on high for 15 minutes then allow it to release naturally.
- Stir in the kale as before and serve with the garnishes.
Crockpot/Slow Cooker Method
- I recommend sautéing the bacon and then vegetables in a pan first, then adding to the slow cooker, along with the remaining ingredients, except for the kale and garnishes. If you have a crockpot with a sear setting, you can do this stage directly in the pot.
- Cover with a lid and cook on low for 7 hours.
- Stir in the kale as before and serve with the garnishes.
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