These lentil recipes have you covered for meatless Mondays and every day in between.
From soups and stews to vegan meatballs, the possibilities are endless!
Lentils come in an array of hues and sizes, each with a unique flavor and texture profile.
- Brown Lentils have a mild, earthy flavor and hold their shape moderately well. They’re ideal in soups, stews, and plant-based burgers.
- Green Lentils are firm and slightly peppery. They hold shape well, making them ideal for salads and stews.
- Red Lentils cook quickly, breaking down into a creamy consistency. They’re perfect for thickening soups and stews, and making traditional Indian dals.
- Yellow Lentils are soft and creamy with a mild sweetness when cooked. They’re a common ingredient in South Asian dishes like soups and curries.
No matter the lentil, you’re guaranteed to whip up flavorful and nourishing dishes with these lentil recipes.
20+ Must-Make Lentil Recipes
1. Lentil Sausage Soup
Sausage lentil soup is a real treat: spicy sausage, earthy lentils, and fresh veggies in a tangy broth.
It’s hearty, nutritious, and just plain good. Plus, lentils bring that extra health kick with protein and iron.
Perfect for those days when you need a bit of warmth and flavor in your life.
2. Easy Vegan Meatloaf with Lentils and Chickpeas
I’m forever amazed by what you can do with a can of chickpeas. Have you ever made chickpea blondies? You should!
But we’re here to talk about lentils, and this recipe is so satisfying.
The combination of chickpeas, lentils, and flax seeds creates a dense and almost meaty texture.
It’s best to blend the lentils and chickpeas in a food processor to smooth them out, but if you like more texture, feel free to hand mash!
3. Vegan Lentil Tacos
I’m always on the lookout for new taco combinations, and this one didn’t disappoint.
As much as I love beans, sometimes I want something different.
I like to mash mine just a little, but still keep the texture.
Make up a big batch and let people DIY. They go great with chicken, shrimp, or spiced sweet potatoes.
4. Hearty Lentil Stew
Although this recipe is packed full of vegetables and is great for a chilly meatless Monday, lentils are such a fabulous way to bulk out a stew.
Always rise your lentils and add them dry to your stew. They will cook along with everything else, soaking up all that flavor as they do.
5. Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
I didn’t miss the meat in this recipe at all!
Between the lentils and the mushrooms, it has such a great texture, and the flavor is out of this world.
Lentils can be high in carbs, so if you’re looking to cut down, try this mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes.
6. Easy Lentil Meatballs
With just 10 ingredients and 20 minutes to cook, you can have these gluten-free vegan meatballs on the table super fast.
Once the onion and lentils are cooked, all you have to do is blitz it all together and form the meatballs.
Serve with a spicy marinara and polenta.
7. Creamy Red Lentil Carrot Soup
Creamy red lentil carrot soup is a star in weeknight dinner recipes.
In just 30 minutes, it brings together the sweetness of carrots and the smoothness of red lentils.
A touch of curry adds a subtle warmth, making it an easy, comforting pick.
It’s ideal for those evenings when you crave something simple yet deeply satisfying.
8. Lentil Salad
If you’re looking for a nice way to up the protein in your salads, this one’s for you.
This recipe uses peppers, cucumber, tomatoes, and carrots, but you can add any veggies you like.
Drizzle with some lemon and olive oil for a super healthy side.
9. Lentil Burgers
Just like they make excellent meatballs, lentils can blitz down to make an amazing burger patty.
They freeze well, so you can prep a few at once and keep them ready to go whenever you might need a last-minute dinner.
10. Lentil Bolognese
Lentil bolognese is a plant-based twist on a classic. It blends lentils with veggies and tomatoes for a rich sauce.
It’s hearty, packed with protein, and full of robust flavor.
Served over pasta, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s both nourishing and satisfying.
A perfect pick for those who love a flavorful, meat-free meal.
11. Lentil Tabouli Salad
Lentil tabouli salad is a fresh take on a weeknight dinner recipe.
It’s a medley of lentils, tomatoes, lemon, and herbs.
Its unique blend of cinnamon and allspice adds an unexpected yet delightful Lebanese twist.
It’s vegan, gluten-free, and stays great for days, making it perfect for a quick, flavorful meal.
12. Coconut Red Lentil Dahl
Coconut milk, onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, curry powder, and coriander are Indian staples that will bring your lentils to life.
This can be served as an excellent vegetarian option with rice, or as a flavorful rice substitute for a chicken curry dish.
13. Lentil Chili
As soon as the weather starts to turn, I get out my crockpot and make up a big batch of chili.
Granted, mine is full of beef, but this lentil recipe might just be good enough to convert me.
Full of lentils, onion, tomatoes and bell pepper, you can really go all out with this. I would add in roasted sweet potato, corn, and even jalapenos.
14. Creamy Lentil Hummus
If you’re craving something creamy for your next party, check out this lentil hummus recipe.
It has the same amazing flavors of garlic, lemon, and tahini. But instead of chickpeas, you’ll use lentils.
Brown lentils will give you that signature hummus color, but use whatever you like best!
15. Sweet Potato Lentil Curry with Crispy Sesame Chickpeas
Here’s an easy dinner recipe with a Thai twist.
This dish combines sweet potatoes, red lentils, and coconut milk with Thai curry paste.
It’s a perfect blend of spicy, tangy, and sweet, creating a satisfying, healthy meal.
16. Braised Lentils with Beets
As far as colorful sides go, this is the winner.
Beets can have a super earthy flavor, and they’re not for everyone. But if you like that, these lentils make the best side for chicken, fish, or red wine braised beef.
17. Vegan Sloppy Joes
Sloppy joes really take you back, don’t they?
This recipe has all that great messy flavor, with no meat in sight.
They have an almost pulled pork flavor to them and would be another wonderful recipe to try that liquid smoke.
18. Hearty Spaghetti with Lentils & Marinara Sauce
The resemblance to ground meat makes their substitution way easier to achieve here.
You eat with your eyes after all, and this looks just like grandma used to make.
If you like your sauce to coat the pasta, I would add a little extra marinara, since the lentils will soak it all up.
19. Tuscan Lentil & Kale Soup
Using fire roasted tomatoes truly makes this soup something special.
If you’re not a huge fan of kale, you can easily substitute for spinach and still have a fantastic and warm soup.
20. Spicy Red Lentil Curry
Unlike the last curry recipe, this curry is tomato based and spicy.
It works as a stand-alone, but I would serve it with coconut rice or curry roasted sweet potatoes.
You’ll also need to serve with plenty of flatbread to wipe your plate completely clean.
21. Lentil Stuffed Buns
These make the best to-go snacks. Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch or something to bring to a BBQ, they travel well and will be an instant hit.
They have a recipe for a great whole wheat bun, but you can use store-bought biscuit dough to save on time.
22. Red Lentil Lasagne
It might not be vegan, but it will be a welcome ground beef alternative.
Layers of lentil with carrots, celery, garlic, and red bell pepper, with pasta sheets and a creamy cottage cheese and cheddar top, this recipe is a lighter version of the classic.
23. Lentil Mushroom Ragu Recipe
The combination of mushrooms, walnuts, red lentils and tomatoes make up a vegan pasta sauce that will dress up pasta, polenta and even those lentil meatballs from number six!
There might be a lot of ingredients, but it comes together in one pot in under 10 minutes.
After just 25 minutes of cooking, you’ll have a hard time not scooping it out on some fresh bread.
23 Best Lentil Recipes
4
servings15
minutes40
minutes385
kcalLooking for the best lentil recipes? Try this lentil and potato curry for a satisfying and soul-warming plant-based meal!
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
2 teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup dry lentils, rinsed and drained
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced into small cubes
3 cups vegetable broth
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes
3 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger. Sauté until the onion is translucent and the mixture is fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in the curry powder, cumin, turmeric, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until the spices are well combined and fragrant.
- Add the lentils, potatoes, broth, and tomatoes; bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for about 20-25 minutes, or until the lentils and potatoes are tender.
- Stir in the fresh spinach and continue to simmer the stew until the spinach has wilted, about 3-5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish with cilantro and lemon wedges.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- If the stew is thicker than you like, add a bit more vegetable broth or water to reach your desired consistency.
Nutrition
- Calories: 385kcal
- Carbohydrates: 57g
- Protein: 20g
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 608mg
- Potassium: 1529mg
- Fiber: 21g
- Sugar: 7g
- Calcium: 100mg
- Iron: 7mg
