Lentil soup is a staple food found all across Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. There is a variety of ingredients you can add to make it. Read more here for the history.
As the weather gets colder, I gravitate to soups. This kielbasa and lentil soup is very rich in flavor and serving size for a large family. Follow along and see how I made this delicious lentil soup.
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What is in the kielbasa and lentil soup recipe?
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
2 large celery chopped
2 large carrots chopped
1 small onion chopped
3 cloves of garlic minced
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
2 cups or 1 lb bag of dried lentils
4 cups of chicken broth
2 - 16 oz can of diced tomatoes
12 oz of kielbasa - sliced
1 cup of frozen chopped spinach
1 tablespoon of dried Italian herbs

How to make this kielbasa and lentil soup recipe?
Prep all the veggies (onion, celery, carrots) chopped and set aside.
Mince the garlic and set it aside.
Measure out the rest of the ingredients. Set aside.
Preheat the InstantPot on the Saute setting.
Add olive oil to the hot InstantPot.
Add the onion, celery, carrots, garlic, Italian herbs, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes in the InstantPot. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until tender.
Add the sliced kielbasa into the InstantPot. Stir until combined.

Now, add the rinsed lentils.
Then, add the chicken broth (measured out) and stir.
Add the diced tomatoes and stir.
Now, it is time to add the chopped frozen spinach and stir in.
Change the settings to soup and stew. Make sure the venting is closed. It takes about 2 hours from pressurizing to venting.
Can I freeze this dish?
Yes, you can freeze this Kielbasa and Lentil Soup Recipe! After you finish cooking it let it cook for a bit. Place it in a 1-gallon freezer bag and lay flat on a baking sheet until frozen. Then, place it standing up in the freezer to save space. Let defrost in the freezer and place in a saucepan to reheat when ready to eat.
Here is the finished dish. It makes a good amount and is great for a family. We liked it for lunch the next day, too.

Supplies used for this recipe.
I used an InstantPot so I could sauté the onions, carrots, and celery.
You can use a crockpot if you want. Visit our other recipe, SLOW COOKER SAUSAGE AND LENTIL STEW WITH HERBED POLENTA, for another variation.
Substitutions in this recipe.
If you feel you just don't want kielbasa, you can make this recipe without it.
When to make an Instant Pot recipe?
Since InstantPots tend to take time to depressurize, it is more convenient to do it on a day when you will be around and do not want to eat too late at night. I prefer making InstantPot meals on a Sunday. So, Monday and usually Monday night, I don’t have to cook. It’s a great way to start the week.
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon and at no additional cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase.
Visit our other soup posts. Some are in InstantPots and others are in a slow cooker.
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DELICIOUS INSTANT POT KETO STYLE TURKEY SOUP RECIPE
INSTANT POT TURKEY SAUSAGE AND SPINACH SOUP RECIPE
KETO STUFFED PEPPERS SOUP RECIPE
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
- 2 large celery chopped
- 2 large carrots chopped
- 1 small onion chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups or 1 lb bag of Lentils dried
- 4 cups of chicken broth
- 2 - 16 oz can of diced tomatoes
- 12 oz of kielbasa - sliced
- 1 cup of frozen chopped spinach
- 1 tablespoon of dried Italian herbs
Instructions
- Prep all the veggies (onion, celery, carrots) chopped and set aside.
- Mince the garlic and set it aside.
- Measure out the rest of the ingredients. Set aside.
- Preheat the InstantPot on the Saute setting.
- Add olive oil to the hot InstantPot.
- Add the onion, celery, carrots, garlic, Italian herbs, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes in the InstantPot. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until tender.
- Add the sliced kielbasa into the InstantPot. Stir until combined.
- Add the rinsed lentils.
- Add the chicken broth and stir.
- Add the diced tomatoes and stir.
- Add the chopped frozen spinach and stir in.
- Change the settings to soup and stew. Make sure the venting is closed. It takes about 2 hours from pressurizing to vented.


