Sausage and Lentil Soup is a hearty but healthy soup that pairs perfectly with crusty Italian bread! This easy cozy soup recipe is perfect to simmer on the stove on a lazy Sunday, and is made with wholesome ingredients.
I seriously cannot get enough of the soup recipes this winter. It's funny how I can go months without thinking about soup but now that it's feeling like fall it's all I want to make. I was really craving a hearty but healthy soup, which is what landed me on this Sausage Lentil Soup.
This rustic sausage lentil soup was exactly what I was craving. It's full of vegetables like carrots and kale and gets a bunch of flavor from fresh herbs like basil and parsley and dried Italian seasoning and paprika. Of course, if you need to use all dried herbs, go right ahead! The general rule of thumb is for every tablespoon of fresh herbs a recipe calls for, use a teaspoon of dried.
Looking for more soups with sausage? Check out my Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup or Instant Pot Sausage Gnocchi Soup.
Full of Veggies - this recipe has carrots, celery, and kale, making it hearty and wholesome.
Feeds a Crowd - this recipe is enough to feed a large family, with a side of bread and salad!
Italian Sausage - I actually used Italian chicken sausage from Whole Foods, which I really loved. I have also made it with Italian pork sausage too for a little bit more of a rich flavor!
Onion - white onion or yellow onion both work well.
Carrots - whole carrots are peeled and diced in this cozy soup.
Celery
Fresh Garlic - this adds delicious garlic flavor to the soup.
Fresh Basil and Fresh Parsley - you can use dried, too, which I actually did this time when making it. I typically use fresh herbs in the early fall and dried in the winter. The general rule is that you use 1 teaspoon of dried herbs for every 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs.
Italian Seasoning and Paprika - more dried herbs for more flavor!
Diced Tomatoes and Crushed Tomatoes - diced tomatoes give the soup some flavor and and the crushed tomatoes make the broth a little bit thicker.
Chicken Broth - this is a broth-based soup and I use low-sodium chicken broth so I can control the salt level.
Green Lentils - green lentils add texture, fiber, and flavor to this lentil soup with sausage!
Kale or Spinach - chopped kale or spinach is added at the end for a boost of nutrients, color, and flavor!
Salt and Pepper
This Sausage and Lentil Soup is hearty, full of flavor, and served with some Italian bread, it was such a yummy meal! I really hope you give this recipe a try - you will love it too!
Use Chicken or Turkey Sausage - you can switch it up and use chicken sausage or turkey sausage, if you prefer. I have done this many times with great results.
Swap the Greens - Instead of kale, you can use spinach, Swiss chard, or any other green that you like to cook.
Different Protein - you can use ground turkey, ham, or kielbasa instead of sausage, if you prefer. If you love Kielbasa check out my Kielbasa and Cabbage Soup!
Make it Vegetarian - you can omit the sausage and this soup with be vegetarian and vegan. Or check out my vegetarian Butternut Squash Lentil Soup!
This sausage lentil soup is such an easy soup recipe to make!
Photo 1. Add the sausage to a large soup pot and cook over medium heat until browned, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks.
Photo 2. Dice the carrots, celery, and onion.
Photo 3. Add the carrots, celery, and onion, and give it a stir. The grease from the sausage will coat the vegetables and help them cook. Saute the vegetables over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
Photo 4. Add the fresh minced garlic, spices, and then season with salt and black pepper. Stir to combine and cook a couple more minutes.
Photo 5. Add the diced tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, broth, water, and lentils, and stir to combine.
Photo 6. Bring the lentil sausage soup to a low boil, reduce the heat to medium low, and simmer with the lid on for 35-40 minutes, or until the lentils are softened.
Photo 7. Once the lentils are cooked, add the chopped kale or spinach and cook another few minutes until it's cooked.
Photo 8. Serve topped with fresh chopped parsley. Enjoy!
Storage - store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Gluten Free - this recipe is naturally gluten free.
Italian sausage adds delicious flavor to this lentil soup, along with dried or fresh herbs. I use garlic, basil, parsley, and Italian seasoning to give this soup a ton of flavor.
Yes! Lentils are full of fiber which helps you feel full. In addition, the protein from the sausage ensure this is a super hearty soup.
Yes. You can freeze this soup after it has been cooked in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge and then reheat on the stovetop. Add additional broth as needed/desired.
Yes. To make this soup in the slow cooker, brown the sausage and cook the veggies on the stove and then combine the cooked sausage and vegetables with the rest of the ingredients in a large slow cooker. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours.
Yes, lentils are gluten free so this soup is considered gluten free.
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #greensnchocolate.
This looks really good can't wait to try. How can I get a little more accurate calorie count?
Hi Viv,
I put all of the ingredients into MyFitnessPal.com and it comes out at about 300 calories per serving for 6 servings if you use chicken sausage. Hope that helps!
Taylor
What size can of tomatoes doesn't say
Hi Brenda,
It's a 14 ounce can - I will update the recipe now! 🙂
Can we use can of lentils?
Can we use can instead of dry lentils?
That will work!