31 Hearty Lentil Recipes to Keep You Nourished
Lentil recipes aren’t just dinner inspiration; they’re a way to make the most of a well-stocked pantry. (And often fix a meal without a trip to the store.) Lentils can fortify simple soups and add texture to pasta sauces. Mix these quick-cooking legumes with quinoa, cabbage, and a lemony dressing, and you’ve got a tote-anywhere lunch that you’ll actually look forward to. Toss whatever mix of dals you have on hand into your Instant Pot with pearl barley, rice, and lamb to make a comforting haleem, or quickly sauté soaked lentils to make a crunchy topper for your salad or roasted veggies. Below, you’ll find a bunch of our favorite lentil recipes to try with whatever variety you have on hand.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell1/31Lentil and Chicken Soup With Sweet Potatoes and Escarole
Lentil recipes don’t stop at soups, but these little legumes do improve pretty much any pot of broth you’ve got simmering on the stove. For this hearty number, you’ll pair the lentils with store-bought rotisserie chicken (or a simple roast chicken if you’re up for it), sweet potatoes, fresh dill, and lemon.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert3/31Sopa de Lentejas
“So simple and yet so delicious,” writes one reviewer of this recipe excerpted from The Mexican Home Kitchen by Mely Martinez.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton6/31Lentils With Caramelized Onion Aioli and Crispy Chile Oil
Canned Puy, green, or brown lentils meet caramelized onions and garlicky chili crisp in this recipe from Mezcla by Ixta Belfrage. It’s one of the highlights of our comfort-food-focused vegetarian meal plan.
Photo and Food Styling by Anna Stockwell7/31Lentil Bolognese
Here’s the smart meal prep move to make the most of your cook time: Make a big batch of marinated French lentils early in the week so you can easily serve both this simple braised celery dish and the hearty, pantry-sourced pasta shown here.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce10/31A Vegetarian’s Dream Sweet Potato Dinner
Featuring roasted sweet potatoes, crisp mushrooms, and tender lentils over a dill-spiked feta-tahini sauce, this flavor-packed vegetarian (and gluten-free!) dinner created by Anna Stockwell is just what we want to be eating now. The best lentil for this recipe is one that’ll hold its shape and not get mushy—beluga lentils are particularly nice. Drizzle each serving with a little olive oil before you dive in.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich11/31Lentil-Smothered Greens on Fried Bread
You’ll steam spinach, kale, or Swiss chard on top of the lentils to make this quick but deeply satisifying budget-friendly dinner recipe.
John Kernick12/31Veggie Balls
Need another reason to cook lentils? These mushroomy vegetarian meatballs are it. Top with a drizzle of pesto or your favorite tomato sauce.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart13/31Lentil Soup With Coconut
Add fresh cilantro, a little chopped garlic, and a squeeze of lime juice just before serving this coconutty lentil soup that’s scented with whole cloves. This isn’t the moment for firm types of lentils like the French green ones; we love lentils with a softer texture here.
