Slow Cooker Lentils

Written by
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Diana Rattray
Updated 06/06/21
Slow cooker lentils garnished with cheese in a bowl

The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 3 hrs
Total: 3 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
309 Calories
9g Fat
41g Carbs
19g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 309
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 11%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 22mg 7%
Sodium 350mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 41g 15%
Dietary Fiber 7g 25%
Protein 19g
Calcium 230mg 18%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Lentils are inexpensive, versatile, and packed with protein and fiber. They make for an easy main meal or aside dish, and with their earthy taste, they pair well with lots of different flavor profiles and kinds of vegetables. It's hard to run out of ways to cook lentils.

These tasty lentils are full of flavor and are slow cooked with garlic, tomatoes, carrots, and celery, and then topped with shredded cheddar cheese. Using the slow cooker takes the guesswork out of cooking lentils, and also fills your house with a delicious smell. Eat them as is garnished with shredded cheese and herbs such as parsley, or maybe even a dollop of sour cream. Slow cooker lentils are also always great when paired with cooked white or brown rice.

You can adapt this recipe based on your own dietary concerns. For example, it's easily made vegetarian by using veggie stock instead of chicken; eliminate the cheddar cheese (or use a vegan substitute), and it's also a dairy-free meal.

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound lentils, rinsed and picked over
  • 2 cups onions, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups canned diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 2 large carrots, sliced
  • 1/2 cup celery, sliced
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, plus more for garnish
  • 1 dried bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground marjoram
  • 1/8 teaspoon leaf sage, crumbled
  • 1/8 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
  • 8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded, plus more for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Slow Cooker Lentils ingredients

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  2. Place all ingredients, except the cheese, in the slow cooker and cook on the HIGH setting for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the lentils are tender.

    Place all ingredients, except the cheese, in the slow cooker

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  3. Stir in the cheese until it is melted.

    Stir the cheese into the slow cooker until it is melted

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

  4. Serve hot, topped with more cheese or fresh chopped parsley, if desired. Taste, and season with salt and pepper, as needed

    Slow cooker lentils in a bowl

    The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

Tip

For this recipe, you'll want to make sure you're using regular lentils or green lentils. Red lentils will work, but they won't hold their texture and will release their starches into the dish very quickly.

Variations

Feel free to change the profile of this dish to suit your liking.

  • Use more or less of one kind of dried herb, or change the herbs completely. Rosemary works especially well with lentils.
  • Add a diced potato if you like; sweet potatoes are especially good with lentils.
  • Use curry powder, turmeric, ginger, and/or garlic for a more Southeast Asian palette.
  • Add a Parmesan rind to the slow cooker to boost the flavor.
  • Before serving, remove the lid and add some chopped spinach or kale to the slow cooker. Put the lid back on and let the greens gently wilt, and then serve.

How to Store and Freeze Slow Cooker Lentils

These cooked lentils should keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, this dish will freeze well—up to six months—in an air-tight container. Defrost in the microwave, in the refrigerator, or right on the stovetop.