These healthy Lentil Recipes are perfect for vegans, vegetarians, and anyone looking to add a little plant-based deliciousness to their plate!
Healthy Lentil Recipes for Vegans and Vegetarians
I am LOVING lentils this time of year!
They’re crazy easy to make from scratch (dried lentils cook up so fast there’s no need for a can!) and instantly make any dish you add them to healthier. Lentils are an excellent source of folate and fiber, and also a great plant-based source of iron and protein for a vegan or vegetarian diet.
They’re a delicious swap for meat in comfort food dishes like chilis, soups, and stews, and make the most baller tacos pretty much ever!
I could go on and on confessing my love to lentils but let’s dive right into the recipes, shall we?
This delicious lentil and potato side dish doubles as a vegan/vegetarian main course. Simply break out your slow cooker and let dinner make itself!
★★★★★ “Made this wanting to try something a little different then what I usually make. It was sooo good im back to make some more. I can’t believe how easy it was, and was so happy to find that it was easally made vegan.” – Jenna
This Vegetarian Lentil Tortilla Soup is my all-time FAVORITE! It can be made in an Instant Pot pressure cooker, slow cooker, or on the stove, for an easy and crazy tasty soup everyone will love.
With over 400 ★★★★★ reviews, I’d say this one is for sure a must-try!
★★★★★ “I make a double batch all the time in the crockpot because everyone in my family loves this soup!! Vegetarians, meat eaters, everyone LOVES it!! One of my favorite!! 🙂 😋 😋” – Miranda B.
This salad is full of flavor with a pretty simple ingredient list. No need for a mile long list of things to measure and chop!
★★★★★ “Exactly what I was looking for! Added avocado but kept the rest the same. Delicious salad!” – Barbara
These gluten-free Vegetarian Lentil Tacos are perfect for vegans, vegetarians, or anyone looking to cut back on meat. Meatless Monday and Taco Tuesday just got even better with these tasty plant based tacos!
★★★★★ “Excellent! My meat eating husband said “you should make this more often”. Easy and delicious!” – Lisa
I’ve been making stuffed pepper soup on repeat lately. This vegetarian stuffed pepper soup is a twist on the classic, boasting a hearty helping of fiber and protein from creamy red lentils.
★★★★★ “I’ve made this soup so many times, for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, and it’s been a hit every time! Super forgiving and flexible recipe. One of my favorites for this time of year!” – Karlyn
This deliciously easy vegan red lentil chili is sure to impress! With stove-top, Instant Pot, and slow cooker versions all in this post, you can whip it up any way you choose with minimal effort. Load it up with all your favorite chili toppings and get ready for a comfort food faceplant of epic proportions!
★★★★★ “I’ve been using this recipe for years now! Like I’m talking since it was published in 2016. It’s a family favorite! I’ve also won a chili cook off with this recipe! It’s so delicious and hearty and the perfect quick healthy meal for everyone! ♡” – Amanda
As written the recipe is gluten-free and grain-free and can be made either vegetarian or vegan depending on whether or not you want to add parmesan cheese on top.
If you’re one of my omnivore friends you can totally use chicken broth if needed – though it’s equally amazing with vegetable broth as the base!
★★★★★ “I made this recipe couple of times. It is my favorite soup.” – Shelley
Chipotle Lentil Burrito Bowls turn this tasty vegetarian dish into an instant taco night party! They’re packed with protein, have literally half the fat of their meaty counterparts, and are totally delicious! Let’s get our burrito bowl on!
★★★★★ “The lentils totally make these burrito bowls! Have made several times, always turns out great.” – Karlyn
What started out as a fun kitchen experiment with a bag of dried lentils turned into the kind of bowl-licking deliciousness that you literally do a happy dance over. I absolutely adore this healthy lentil minestrone and cannot wait for you to try it!
OMG ALSO! Have y’all tried lentil pasta yet? I make a crazy delicious vegetarian one-pot enchilada pasta dish using lentil chickpea pasta that completely rocks my world!
★★★★★ “Thank you for sharing this recipe. My family and neighbors love it. It has great flavor and texture, and is filling – just right for a cold, winter day.” – Kathy
★★★★★ “I’ve been on a lentil kick recently much to my husband’s chagrin. But he approved of this meal! Yay!!! This one will be made again. I used it to meal prep and my freezer is happy.” – Alesha
★★★★★ “Amazing! I did not expect meatless chili to be this good! It’s been added to our permanent menu” – Kristin
more healthy lentil recipes to try
Whether you are using red lentils, brown lentils, or green lentils, there’s a recipe here that can use them all! Canned or dried lentils are interchangable in most of these recipes too, so dive into that pantry of yours, grab those lonely lentils, and put them to good use!
Looking for a few more healthy lentil recipes? Check out these rockstar lentil dishes from my friends:
we love lentils!
- Lentil Sloppy Joes from HelloVeggie
- Instant Pot Lentil Shepherd’s Pie from Instant Pot Eats
- Chipotle Lentil Fajita Bowls from my foodie friend Jane of Janery
If you get a chance to try any of these healthy lentil recipes, let me know!
You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Questions & Reviews
great recipes and also nice that they’re all lentil based since they’re especially good for the slow carb diet I’m on, so thank you!