This easy chicken lentil soup is comfort food in a bowl. Made in one pot, it’s packed with tender lentils, juicy bone-in chicken, and tender sautéed veggies.
Looking for a healthy meal that’s also super filling? This chicken lentil soup is exactly what the doctor ordered. You’ll love how the lentils naturally thicken the soup and complement the juicy chicken. Add on some fresh dill right before serving and it’s game over…
Kitchen Tool Recommendations
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s cover off on a couple of our favorite kitchen tools for making this soup.
- Staub Cast-Iron Dutch Oven – This Dutch oven is our go-to for soup-making. It holds an even heat and can make a double or triple batch if you’re wanting to meal prep.
- Knife – We’ve used this knife for over 10 years and it’s the best for everything from chopping veggies to trimming chicken.
- Cutting Board – This cutting board is big enough to chop several vegetables at a time and so easy to clean.
Preparing this Easy Chicken Lentil Soup
This simple chicken soup recipe only requires a handful of basic ingredients and a large soup pot.
- Sauté the Veggies: In a large pot, saute the chopped onions and carrots in a bit of olive oil.
- Add the Rest of the Ingredients: Next, add in the chicken, lentils, bay leaves, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer the Soup: Add in the water and bring it to a boil on the stovetop. Drop the heat down to low or medium heat and simmer the soup for 40 minutes.
- Add in the Dill: Finally, stir the chopped dill (or cilantro if you prefer) in and remove it from heat. Ladle up a bowl and enjoy!
Set It & Forget It: Cook this soup in a slow cooker over high heat for 4-5 hours or throw all the ingredients into an Instant Pot pressure cooker and switch on the soup setting.
5 Tips for The Best Chicken Lentil Soup
A couple foolproof tips will help you get the most out of this tasty chicken lentil soup.
- Chop your veggies into evenly-sized pieces. To ensure that your veggies cook evenly, chop them into similar-sized pieces before tossing them into the pot.
- Use bone-in chicken. Bone-in meat is full of collagen and marrow that will make your broth taste so mouth-watering. We like to use chicken drumsticks or skinless chicken thighs!
- Opt for fresh herbs. Opt for fresh dill over dried dill. The flavor and color it adds are unparalleled!
- Substitute broth for water. Up the depth of flavor by substituting broth for water. You can use homemade chicken broth or Better than Bouillon.
- Add in more veggies. Spruce up the soup with more veggies – celery, spinach, and kale are all great options.
Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Hack: Put that leftover rotisserie chicken you have to good work by using it in this soup. Simply shred it with two forks and pop the shredded chicken in with 5-10 minutes of cooking left!
What to Serve with Chicken Lentil Soup
While this chicken lentil soup is filling enough to be eaten as a meal all by itself, you can pair it with a salad and some crusty bread for a cafe-style meal. Our favorites are a homemade caesar salad or a berry spinach salad and a fresh baked baguette or focaccia.
Storing & Freezing Best Practices
- Refrigerating – Store your lentil soup in an airtight container in the fridge. When stored properly, it should keep for up to a week. The kicker? The soup tastes better the longer it marinates in itself. That means leftovers just keep tasting better and better.
- Freezing – You can totally freeze your lentil soup in an airtight container for up to 3 months, but keep in mind that lentils will get mushy when defrosted and reheated. If you don’t mind a texture that is more similar to split pea soup, go for it!
FAQ
Do lentils need to be soaked for chicken lentil soup?
The great thing about lentils is that they do not need to be soaked. If you really want to expedite the process, you totally can soak them but it’s not necessary like it is with most raw legumes.
Is chicken lentil soup good for you?
Yes, chicken lentil soup is good for you. It’s high in fiber and protein and will keep you full for hours. Whenever I want to lighten my diet up, I add a hefty amount of lentils to my meals.
What color lentils are best for chicken lentil soup?
Red or yellow lentils work best for chicken lentil soup. They cook down really quickly and add a pop of color.
More Soup Recipes
- Split Pea Soup (My Grandmother’s Recipe) – Grandma’s classic split pea soup
- Cabbage Soup Recipe – Light cabbage soup
- Minestrone Soup (Olive Garden Copycat) – Veggies, beans, & pasta in tomato broth
- Classic Borscht Recipe – Bone-in beef and beet soup
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large carrot chopped
- 1 large onion chopped
- 2 tbsp oil for sauteing
- 1 lb bone-in chicken
- 1 lb lentils
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tsp cumin
- 10 cups water
- 1 tbsp salt adjsut to taste
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh dill diced
Instructions
- Preheat a heavy pot with oil. Add the chopped onions and carrots and sauté them until they soften and the onions turn translucent.
- Add in the chicken, lentils, bay leaves, cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Add in the water and bring it to a boil. Drop the heat down low and simmer the soup for 40 minutes (note: you may need to add more water during the simmering process depending on how thick you like your soup).
- Add the dill and remove it from heat. Enjoy!
I dont love cumin or dill so I added thyme, rosemary, chili flakes, and a couple other spices. It was so delicious ♡ thanks for sharing!
Hi Brittany- thanks for trying this recipe! I'm glad you modified the seasonings to your taste and enjoyed the outcome 😀
I really like this recipe..im making it again today for the second time..tasty and filling.
Just curious how much is one serving for the nutrition info? Thanks!
Hi Kimberly- it's roughly 1 to 1.5 cups. Enjoy!
I’m assuming you take the chicken out at the end and take the meat off of the bones then add back in?
Hi Emily - You can if you'd like to! We often leave it whole, as it easily falls off the bone.
I love your recipes! Thank you for doing this blog! I can’t believe how delicious this soup is!!! First time making a soup with lentils and WOW! I have a potato obsession to I added one diced Yukon potato and I’m fully satisfied. Thank you 😊
That's so sweet, Olga! I really appreciate the support and kind words. Most of all, I'm so glad you enjoyed the soup and had the wise idea to add in some potatoes. I mean, when are potatoes ever not welcome?! Thank you, thank you!
I love this recipe. I make it frequently
Becky, I am so glad to hear that, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback!
Hello, I do have one question. How much ounces or grams does each serving has?
Hey there! About 8 ounces per serving is standard for soup. But if you're eating it as a meal on it's own, feel free to double that. Hope you enjoy!
I make soups without meat. It is healthier. The usual ingredients: potatoe, celery, carrots, peas, onion, garlic, olive oil, vegetable broth. Substitute the condiments with jalapeños, olives, and sea weeds. Thank you for sharing the recipes
Sounds delicious!
Love this recipe! I was hesitant at first because I never made anything with lentils and wasnt sure if I would like it. I was very surprised! Such a flavorful and yummy soup! My fave part is how easy it is to make ! Thank you for an awesome recipe.
I'm so glad you gave it a try even though it was out of your comfort zone, thank you for your feedback!
Awesome nutritious family meal 🙂 full of folate ( great during pregnancy ) and fiber that will keep you full. It is oh so savory!
I added bacon pieces to mine and some pearl barley 🙂
Everyone loved it!
Roxie, it's perfect for pregnancy so full of great nutrients. I love the addition of bacon, you can never go wrong with it. I am so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe.
This is not only full of flavor but such a budget friendly dish too. I think we all might be fighting over the leftovers tomorrow for lunch.
Yes, it makes for an inexpensive and hearty meal! I am glad you enjoyed the recipe.
This one is a perfect winter warmer! I am keeping it on a weekly rotation!
Yes, it's such a hearty and delicious soup.
So perfect for the cooler weather right now! Thanks for the easy step by step photos also. Hearty and yummy!
I am glad you enjoyed the recipe. It really is so easy.