Easy Sausage Lentil Soup
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This hearty Sausage Lentil Soup is a favorite, healthy, one-pot soup recipe that will warm you up on chilly days, guaranteed. Incredibly flavorful, packed with good-for-you veggies, and easy to make when you’re craving a healthy bowl of lentil soup.

Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email, and we’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get delicious new recipes from us every Friday!
What to Love About Sausage Lentil Soup
- It’s my go-to soup recipe when craving a hearty and flavorful bowl of soup.
- I can’t stop at one serving– seconds are guaranteed.
- Leftovers make delightfully delicious lunches throughout the week!
If you love big flavors but want to skip the sausage, try my Curry Lentil Soup recipe.
Lentil Soup Ingredients
The ingredients are simple, flavorful, and delicious. Here’s what you need:
- Olive oil for sauteing: I prefer extra-virgin olive oil.
- Dry Lentils: You can use most lentils for this soup recipe: brown, green, red, or yellow. I’m using green lentils here.
- Sausage: Use your favorite bulk sausage; I’m using Sweet Italian Sausage.
- Vegetables and Aromatics: Carrots, celery, and garlic with baby spinach leaves added at the end of cooking.
- Chicken Broth or vegetable broth
- Flavorings: Dried thyme, ground cumin, and tomato paste

How to Make Sausage Lentil Soup
To make this soup, heat olive oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven and add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Saute until softened, about 4 minutes.
Add the sausage to the pot and cook until browned, then pour in the broth, water, and spices. Bring to a boil, then reduce to maintain a simmer, cover, and cook for 40 to 45 minutes or until the lentils are soft.
Toss in the baby spinach leaves during the last few minutes of cooking.
This nice, long simmer will fill your kitchen with the most deliciously cozy aroma. And if you’re so lucky to have leftovers, the soup is even better the next day.
Sausage Variation
Any bulk sausage is delicious in this soup. I always prefer Sweet Italian Sausage, but if you want a spicer option, choose medium or hot Italian sausage. Or, you can compromise (like we do in my family) and spice it up individually with red pepper flakes sprinkled over the top!

More Soup Recipes to Try

Easy Sausage Lentil Soup Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 3 carrots chopped
- 3 celery stalks chopped
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 4 cups water
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups dry lentils green or brown, rinsed
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2-3 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
Garnish:
- Parmesan or mozzarella cheese
- crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery; saute for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften. Add the sausage and brown, breaking it up into bite-size pieces as it cooks. Then add the garlic, and saute another minute.
- Into the soup pot, add the water, broth, dry lentils, thyme, cumin, and tomato paste; season with salt and pepper as needed. Bring the soup to a boil; reduce the heat to a simmer and cover. Cook the soup for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the lentils are soft. Taste to adjust the seasoning and add the spinach leaves. Stir until the spinach has wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Ladle into bowls for serving. Garnish with Parmesan or mozzarella cheese and red pepper flakes to spice it up if desired.
Notes
- Sausage: While I love Sweet Italian Sausage, spice it up with mild or hot sausage if you prefer.
- Lentils: Both green and red lentils work equally well in this soup.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
SAVE THIS AND PIN IT FOR LATER!
If you are not already, you can follow me on Pinterest and keep up with me on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. If you make this recipe, I would love it if you would tag me in your photos and leave a star rating below!
To be notified of new recipes, subscribe to my e-mail list. It’s free, and you’ll also receive a free e-book of our reader’s favorite recipes.
