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    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Soup Recipes » Instant Pot Lentil Stew (Vegan)

    Published: September 30, 2019 / Updated: December 28, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Instant Pot Lentil Stew (Vegan)

    290 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    Instant Pot Lentil Soup with title text
    Instant Pot Lentil Soup with title text
    Instant Pot Lentil Soup with title text
    Instant Pot Lentil Soup with title text
    Instant Pot Lentil Soup with title text

    Instant Pot Lentil Stew is a fast, easy, hearty vegan dish packed with vitamins and minerals. A great recipe for soup weather and ready to eat in just 30 minutes!

    one bowl of Instant Pot Lentil Soup with spoonful of lentils.

    Bring on cozy comfort food season. The hearty dishes that soothe the soul and warm us up. Bring on soups and stews, chilis and pastas.

    Truth be told, I could eat this kind of food all year long. In fact, I made this Instant Pot Lentil Soup recipe a couple of times over the summer to recipe test it for the blog.

    But now that there's a chill in the air, this soup is tasting better than ever.

    Jump to:
    • 🌟 Why you'll love this recipe
    • 🍅 Ingredient notes
    • ✅ Step-by-step instructions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
    • 🍽 Serving ideas
    • More soup recipes
    • Instant Pot Lentil Stew

    🌟 Why you'll love this recipe

    two bowls of Instant Pot Lentil Soup with two spoons on a marble table.

    So many reasons to love this lentil soup recipe! Here are a few:

    • It uses pantry staples and other basic ingredients you can easily find at your local grocery store.
    • It's a dairy-free and vegan soup.
    • Full of lentils, this soup is low fat, high fiber, and packed with magnesium, which has been reported to reduce inflammation.
    • It's a great hearty meal all on its own.
    • It's done in just 30 minutes in your electric pressure cooker!

    🍅 Ingredient notes

    spoonful of lentil soup with bowl of soup in the background.

    This delicious soup recipe is full of healthy ingredients. Here are a few you'll need:

    Lentils - They're packed with protein and fiber, which can aid in the digestive process.

    Celery and carrots - for some added texture. These fresh veggies are also good sources of vitamins.

    Garlic - Garlic is full of nutrients, and research shows it can help reduce high blood pressure and maintain healthy cholesterol levels. This recipe calls for 3 garlic cloves, but feel free to adjust to your taste preferences.

    Vegetable broth - As this is a vegan recipe, I use vegetable broth, but you can use chicken broth if you prefer.

    ✅ Step-by-step instructions

    Here's how to make this easy instant pot lentil stew recipe:

    celery, carrots, onions, tomatoes, and lentils in instant pot
    broth for lentil stew in instant pot
    Instant Pot set to pressure cook on HI for 15 minutes.

    1. Add onions, carrots, celery, garlic, lentils, and tomatoes to your Instant Pot, then season with kosher salt and black pepper.

    2. Add vegetable broth and combine.

    3. Set instant pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK on High pressure for 15 minutes.

    4. When the pressure cooking is done, quick release to release any remaining pressure. This may take a couple of minutes. Remove lid and stir in spinach. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve!

    👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

    bowl of lentil soup topped with chopped parsley in a large white bowl.
    What is the difference between green lentils and red lentils?

    Green lentils are packed with great vitamins and minerals. According to the USDA, a half cup of dried green lentils provides 24g protein, 10g fiber, 80mg calcium, and 4mg iron.
     
    I use green lentils for this recipe because they tend to hold up and retain their shape during the cooking process to give this stew a hearty texture.
     
    Red lentils, on the other hand, can get mushy when cooked for a while. You could substitute brown lentils if you wish, as they cook similarly to green ones.

    Can lentil soup be frozen?

    Yes! You can keep this instant pot soup in an airtight container in your freezer for up to 3 months. It's a great way to meal prep or simply save leftover soup for later.

    How do I store lentil stew?

    This vegan lentil stew is great warmed up the next day. In fact, it should keep for up to 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Simply warm soup up in the microwave or in a small sauce pan on the stove top for a few minutes.

    🍽 Serving ideas

    While eating bowlfuls of this hearty stew on its own makes for a satisfyingly full, one-pot meal, it also goes great with side dishes like Air Fryer Corn Ribs, Air Fryer Broccoli, or Homemade French Bread.

    More soup recipes

    • Easy Homemade Ramen
    • bowl of sausage tortellini soup with spoon on side
      Sausage Tortellini Soup Recipe
    • closeup of Ninja Foodi African Peanut Stew
      Pressure Cooker Vegan African Peanut Stew Recipe (Instant Pot,Ninja Foodi, Slow Cooker)
    • bowl of Easy One-Pot Lasagna Soup
      One Pot Lasagna Soup (Dairy-Free)

    Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

    instant pot lentil soup in a bowl.

    Instant Pot Lentil Stew

    5 from 18 votes
    Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
    Total Time: 30 minutes mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    This hearty vegan/vegetarian lentil stew comes together quickly thanks to your pressure cooker.
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 328kcal
    PRINT PIN RATE 🤍 SAVESaved!

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup chopped yellow or white onion
    • 1 cup chopped carrots (1-2 carrots)
    • ½ cup chopped celery (about 2 stalks)
    • 3 garlic cloves, minced
    • 1 ½ cup green lentils
    • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
    • 1 tsp dried basil
    • 2 tsp dried thyme
    • 1 tsp dried oregano
    • kosher salt
    • pepper
    • 4 cups vegetable broth (2 14.5 oz cans)
    • 4 cups baby spinach
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions

    INSTANT POT INSTRUCTIONS

    • Add onions, carrots, celery, garlic, lentils, and tomatoes to your Instant Pot.
    • Season ingredients with basil, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper.
    • Add broth and stir to combine.
    • Set instant pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK on High for 15 minutes. Once the pressure cooker is done, quick release. Remove lid and stir in spinach.

    STOVETOP INSTRUCTIONS

    • Add all ingredients to a dutch oven and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to simmer, then cover. Cook for about 25-30 minutes.

    Notes

    Broth substitution: If you don't have vegetable broth on hand and are not vegetarian, you can always use chicken broth instead.
    Storage: This lentil soup can remain refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
    Which size Instant Pot should I use for this recipe? I make this in my 8-quart Instant Pot Duo, but you could also make this in a 6-quart pressure cooker.  Do not attempt to make this in a 3-quart pressure cooker.
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 328kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1013mg | Potassium: 1268mg | Fiber: 26g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 8895IU | Vitamin C: 27mg | Calcium: 154mg | Iron: 9mg

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Ally says

        January 30, 2025 at 5:08 pm

        5 stars
        I made this for lunch today-- totally delicious and very strongly seasoned in a good way.
        As I was going back to leave this comment, I realized that I had totally forgotten to add a can of tomatoes! If anyone has trouble with tomatoes, I would recommend trying this without them because it's really good and thick made without them.
        I also used the vegetable base from Better Than Bouillon (which does have tomato).
        Pinned this one... will probably add the tomatoes next time I make it.

        Reply
      2. Teri Windorski says

        January 04, 2024 at 3:36 pm

        I just received a 3 quart instant pot as a gift and want to make vegan lentil stew. Would I just halve the above recipe? Thank you.

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          January 13, 2024 at 7:06 pm

          5 stars
          Hi Teri! I have never used a 3-quart Instant Pot -- all of my recipes are made for 6-quart or 8-quart pressure cookers. Since I have not halved this recipe for a smaller unit, I can't tell you for sure whether it would work or not in your 3-quart Instant Pot. The main concern would be the liquid amount. If you do try it please let us know how it goes and any tweaks you made. Thanks!

      3. Victoria says

        March 25, 2020 at 6:12 pm

        5 stars
        I made this yesterday, and it was so tasty delicious! This recipe is a keeper. My husband who doesn’t really enjoy lentils all that much enjoyed it, and would love to have this again.

        Reply
      4. Kristina says

        October 01, 2019 at 11:48 am

        5 stars
        I LOVE easy instant pot recipes this time of year, especially when most everything is already in my pantry! your photos are stunning - this sounds SO good.

        Reply
      5. Erin says

        October 01, 2019 at 11:37 am

        5 stars
        I'm obsessed with making soup in the Instant Pot, and I've been using it like crazy during this chilly week we're having. This lentil soup looks so delicious - Can't wait to try it!

        Reply
      6. Catherine says

        September 30, 2019 at 3:23 pm

        5 stars
        I've been making and eating a lot of lentil soup lately, which I love because it's so healthy and vegetarian. But I need to try out different recipes of lentil soup to mix things up at dinner. Thanks for this one - it looks delish. (And I know I can't even believe it about the snow here in Oregon! Brr!)

        Reply
      7. Amanda says

        September 30, 2019 at 2:18 pm

        5 stars
        LOVE easy Instant Pot recipes and it's great that the ingredients are so simple.

        Reply
      8. Edyta says

        September 30, 2019 at 10:58 am

        5 stars
        I love my Instant Pot and finding amazing, healthy recipes to use it for. This soup will be made in my house often this winter season :)

        Reply
      9. kim says

        September 30, 2019 at 10:54 am

        5 stars
        This dish was such a hit with my whole family! Great recipe that I'll be making again for sure!

        Reply
      10. Becca says

        September 30, 2019 at 10:26 am

        5 stars
        This is delicious! I love all those veggies throughout.Yyummy and healthy too :)

        Reply
      11. Raia says

        September 30, 2019 at 10:23 am

        5 stars
        This is totally going on my regular menu. I love everything made in the Instant Pot and I'm always on the lookout for more yummy ways to use lentils!

        Reply
      12. Jessica says

        September 30, 2019 at 10:18 am

        5 stars
        I've been looking for a new soup recipe to try this fall, and this is it! It's so delicious!

        Reply
      5 from 18 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! If you're looking for easy, fast, delicious family-friendly recipes, wine pairings, and travel tips, you've come to the right place! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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