Easy Prep Crockpot Kielbasa Lentil Soup

Try this kielbasa lentil soup for an easy prep meal you can throw in the crockpot and forget about. Perfect for either lunch or dinner.

Who doesn’t love a good crockpot meal!? I am always on the lookout for simple crockpot recipes. The ability to throw ingredients into one pot and have it ready to eat in a few hours with minimal work is a dream for moms everywhere!

I made this recipe several times for dinner and the kids and I loved it. However, my husband did not. He just is not a fan of any soup recipe. So, I exclusively make this kielbasa lentil soup for lunches for the kids and I now. It is so easy to throw the ingredients together in the morning while I am putting breakfast together too. I love being able to fully focus on our homeschool day and not be thinking in the back of my mind what to make for lunch. That is the power of an easy crockpot meal like this kielbasa lentil soup for lunch or for dinner.

How to Make Crockpot Kielbasa Lentil Soup

Prepping

The first step to making this kielbasa lentil soup for the crockpot is to chop all of the ingredients. Since I make this recipe mostly for lunch, I really like to prep all of the ingredients the night before. That way in the morning I can get it set up in the crockpot right away with no prep.

I do a fine dice of the white onion because I am not a fan of large chunks. Everything else (kielbasa, carrots and celery) I do about 1/4″ thick slices. Within the cooking time frame, this gets all of the veggies cooked soft enough.

Note: When I prep the ingredients the night before, I put the kielbasa and onion in a bag together, and the carrots and celery in another bag together. They are separated because they get cooked separately for just a little bit.

Cooking

When you are ready to start your soup, grab a skillet and heat it over medium heat. Add the kielbasa and onion to the skillet with 2 garlic cloves and stir to mix. Cook until the onions begin to soften, and then add the carrots and celery. Add salt and pepper to taste, and then stir to mix. I never measure the seasoning, just adding a good layer over the veggies. The chicken broth that you add shortly will also add more flavor. Continue cooking all of the veggies and kielbasa for about 5 minutes to soften.

While you are cooking everything up in the skillet, pull your crockpot out and pour in the brown lentils. Then, add the contents of the skillet. Finally, add the chicken broth, more salt and pepper if needed, and stir to mix. I always add the chicken broth at the very end. If you add it first and then add everything else, the broth will splash out everywhere.

Now it’s time to let your crockpot do the rest of the work! Turn it on HIGH for 3 hours, and your kielbasa lentil soup is ready to enjoy.

For the kids, I serve it as is with some buttered sourdough bread on the side. For myself, I like to add a layer of raw spinach on the bottom of my bowl before serving the soup over top. The heat from the chicken broth softens and wilts the spinach the perfect amount. Plus, the spinach adds more nutrients and a beautiful pop of color to your bowl.

Crockpot Kielbasa Lentil Soup Ingredients:

• 1 package of kielbasa sausage
• 1 1/2 cups of brown lentils
• 3 stalks of celery
• 5-6 whole carrots
• 1/2 white onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 6 cups chicken broth
• Salt & Pepper
• Spinach

Crockpot Kielbasa Lentil Soup Instructions:

1. Prep and chop the kielbasa, white onion, carrots and celery.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat, then add the kielbasa, white onion and garlic.
3. Once the onion begins to soften, add the celery and carrots.
4. Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste. You can always add more when you add it to the crockpot if needed.
5. Add the brown lentils to the crockpot.
6. Dump the contents of the skillet into the crockpot.
7. Pour 6 cups of chicken broth into the crockpot.
8. Add more salt and pepper if needed and stir to mix.
9. Set the crockpot to HIGH for 3 hours.
10. Serve in a bowl over a layer of raw spinach.

Recipe Variations

• If you are not a fan of kielbasa, try out a different type of sausage, or even some ham or bacon.
• Add more or less vegetables depending on your preference. I always go heavier on the celery and carrots because my kids and I love them.
• Try a different type of lentil, or even another bean altogether! Keep in mind that the cook time will need to be longer if you choose larger beans.
• Leave the spinach out if you or your kids are not fans. The soup still tastes delicious!

How to Store

I am always a fan of having leftovers to make other meals simple, and this soup is no exception. Just pour it into a glass storage container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Pour in a pot to reheat over the stove and enjoy the same great flavor for round two.

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• 6 quart crockpot

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