16 Lentil Recipes Perfect For The Winter

If you don’t eat lentils very often, you really need to give them a second look. Not only are they highly nutritious, but their delicious and incredibly versatile. They fit in with most cuisines and add a soft and chewy texture to anything you add them to. These sixteen lentil recipes are a great way to get inspired to add more lentils to your life.

1. Sweet Potato Chowder

A closeup of a white bowl filled with curried sweet potato chowder.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Dive into comfort with this creamy sweet potato chowder. Infused with a hint of curry, it’s the perfect blend of warmth and flavor for those cozy nights.

2. Curried Lentils

An overhead view of a crock filled with curried lentils.
Photo Credit: Bartosz Luczak/Shutterstock.

Embrace simplicity with these aromatic curried lentils. A one-pot wonder, this recipe marries bold spices with hearty lentils for a satisfying and easy-to-make dinner.

3. Instant Pot Lentils And Rice

A closeup of a white bowl filled with Instant Pot Lentils and Rice.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Whether you’re a busy professional, a parent on the go, or simply looking for a delicious comfort food fix, this Instant Pot lentils and rice will become your new favorite. Dust off your Instant Pot and get dinner on the table fast tonight.

4. Red Lentil Lemon Rice

A white bowl filled with red lentil lemon rice.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Red lentil lemon rice is a delicious side dish for just about any main course. Plant-based people can even enjoy it as a main meal. It pairs well with anything from fish or chicken to seitan or beans.

5. Red Lentil Wraps

Finished red lentil wraps folded and sitting on a cutting board.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Anything inside a wrap can often be comfort food, especially if it includes melted cheese. These red lentil wraps are a protein-rich way to get comfort food and a good dose of nutrition to boot.

6. Slow Cooker Curry Lentil Soup

A white bowl filled with slow cooker curry lentil soup sits on a gray surface.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Slow cooker curry lentil soup is a delicious curry that cooks itself. Toss a few simple ingredients into your slow cooker first thing in the morning, and come home to a dinner that’s ready to go.

7. Lentil Dal

An overhead view of a bowl with lentil dal served over rice.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This traditional Indian dish, also known as lentil dal or Dhal, is a soul-satisfying lentil stew that comforts you with heady spices and a creamy texture that will have you coming back for seconds.

8. Instant Pot Lentil Tortilla Stew

A closeup of a white crock filled with Lentil Tortilla Stew and garnished with chopped tomatoes, tortilla pieces and fresh cilantro.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This Instant Pot lentil tortilla stew combines hearty lentils, vibrant vegetables, and a burst of Mexican-inspired flavors. It’s a flavorful stew that is prepared effortlessly in the Instant Pot and is the perfect balance of comfort and flavor in each spoonful.

9. Easy Lentil Loaf 

A side view of lentil loaf sliced on a cutting board and garnished with fresh greens.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

If you want a delicious and satisfying plant-based alternative to traditional meatloaf, you just found it. This tasty, easy lentil loaf combines the wholesome goodness of lentils, flavorful herbs, and hearty vegetables in a loaf that’s both nutritious and comforting. Serve with some mashed potatoes for the ultimate comfort meal.

10. German Lentil Soup

A spoon lifts some german lentil soup out of a white bowl.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

When you think about food in Germany, you are most likely to think about beer and sausages. But what a lot of people don’t know is that Germans also love their lentils. This German lentil soup recipe is a favorite passed down from my German Oma. It’s quick, simple, and nutritious.

11. Lentil Sloppy Joes

Two lentil sloppy joes sit on a parchment-lined baking pan.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Few things beat a good Sloppy Joe for dinner. But this version might just top the original. These lentil sloppy joes are an amazing step up from the meat-based version. They have tons of flavor and are every bit as messy as the original. Don’t forget the napkins!

12. Garam Masala Red Lentil Stew

A white crock is filled with red lentil stew. Cut socca flatbread pieces lay to the right of the bowl.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Indian flavors are a heady experience, and this garam masala red lentil stew is no exception. Serve with a side of naan or other flatbread for a very filling meal.

13. Carrot And Ginger Red Lentil Soup

An overhead view of a white bowl filled with Carrot Ginger Lentil Soup.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This carrot and ginger red lentil soup is simple to make, gluten-free, and a powerhouse of nutrition and flavor. Serve with crackers or a green salad.

14. Instant Pot Lentil Curry

A blue bowl holds lentil curry and is garnished with fresh, chopped greens.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

If you love curry, you’ll enjoy the combination of curry and lentils in this Instant Pot lentil curry. It cooks up fast in your Instant Pot, gives you enough for leftovers the next day, and serves up great with some flatbread and a salad.

15. Vegan Lentil Soup

A closeup of a white bowl filled with vegan lentil soup.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

If you are eating plant-based, this vegan lentil soup is a wonderfully simple way to enjoy a bowl of lentils. It’s comforting, hearty, and definitely filling.

16. Italian Lentil Soup – Zuppa Di Lenticchie

Two glass crocks filled with Italian lentil soup sit on a white tabletop.
Photo Credit: XOXO Bella.

Italian lentil soup – Zuppa Di Lenticchie is a tummy-warming, comforting soup full of good-for-you ingredients. It’s perfect for a chilly evening.

Interested In Starting A Vegan Diet? Here’s How To Do It With Ease

Starting a plant-based diet doesn’t have to be overwhelming. This simple guide walks you through some key points and helps you effortlessly get started on this new way of eating.

Carrots and a red bell pepper arranged on a wooden surface to spell the word, vegan.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

If you’re curious about starting a vegan eating plan but don’t know where to start, this handy getting-started guide will help you make the transition seamlessly.

A Vegan Breakfast Can Be Easy! And It All Starts With Your Waffle Maker

A stack of vegan chocolate waffles with chocolate chips on top.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Need a decadent idea for breakfast? These Vegan Waffles are to die for. Make a big batch, freeze them, and then pop a couple into the toaster in the morning on your way out the door. It’s kinda like having brownies for breakfast!

While You’re At It, Prep Breakfast For The Week, Too. It Only Takes 5 Minutes!

An overhead view of a small canning jar filled with overnight oats with raisins.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Prepping overnight oats the night before is a fantastic way to ensure that your morning runs smoothly. These delicious oatmeal recipes are prepped in just 5 minutes. In fact, you can even make homemade oatmeal packets with these recipes, so all you have to do is grab a packet and get it in the fridge.

This originally appeared on The Gracious Pantry.

Author: Tiffany McCauley

Title: Food and Travel Journalist

Expertise: Food, cooking, travel

Bio:

Tiffany McCauley is a nationally syndicated journalist and an award-winning cookbook author and food blogger. She has been featured on MSN, Huffington Post, Country Living Magazine, HealthLine, Redbook, and many more. Her food specialty is healthy comfort food recipes.

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