If you love hearty, comforting soups, this hearty lentil and bacon soup recipe is for you! Full of smoky bacon, red lentils, brown lentils, and warm spices, it's made with simple ingredients.
It's a great soup for chilly days for the whole family, served with a splash of olive oil and crusty bread.
If you love cosy, nourishing meals, this hearty bacon lentil soup is one of those simple recipes that always hits the spot.
I love how it makes the most of lentils - a pantry staple that's hearty, affordable, and great for gut diversity. I always keep several varieties on hand, and that little bit of smoky bacon makes it all the more satisfying.
Aside from some vegetable preparation, this is an incredibly simple recipe to make on cold days. Just throw everything into one pot and let it simmer for a comforting soup that warms you from the inside out.
You might also enjoy my Turkey Lentil Soup with coconut milk recipe.
✔️ Why You'll Love This Recipe
Here's why this hearty bacon lentil soup is a delicious meal:
- Full of warming spices for a mild earthy flavour
- Perfect for healthy eating or a low calorie diet
- Naturally creamy from red lentils - no blending needed
- Smoky bacon makes it satisfying for meat eaters
- Packed with protein and fibre from lentils for lasting energy
- Freezes well for longer storage
- Good soup for batch cooking
🛒 Ingredient Notes
Please see the printable recipe card with exact ingredient quantities, daily values and full instructions at the bottom of this post.
Smoky bacon - Adds deep, savoury flavour and crispy bacon bits for garnish.
Olive oil - Softens the vegetables and carries flavour.
Red onion - Sweet, aromatic base rich in antioxidants.
Carrots - Add sweetness, texture, and colour.
Celery - Builds an aromatic depth and texture.
Garlic - Adds warmth and enhances the savoury flavour.
Potato - Creates natural creaminess as it cooks and texture.
Chopped tomatoes & tomato paste - for sweet acidity.
Spices (ground cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, thyme & chilli) - To add build depth and subtle heat.
Bay leaf - Infuses an earthy aroma in the pot.
Black pepper & a big pinch of salt - To enhance and balance all flavours.
Red split lentils - Naturally thickens the soup while adding protein and fibre.
French green lentils - Keeps their shape for a hearty soup with texture.
Chicken broth or stock - Forms a rich, soothing base. Or use ham stock cubes
Lemon juice - Adds acidity to lift the taste and enhance the flavours
Fresh parsley - Adds a fresh, herby finish.
📋 Instructions
Here's my step-by-step guide to making my hearty lentil and bacon recipe:
1. Cook the smoky bacon:
Heat a large soup pot over medium heat.
Add the diced smoky bacon and fry until the edges are crispy or you can grill them.
Then, scoop out ¼ of the bacon and reserve it for a garnish later.
2. Build the base:
Now add the olive oil, garlic, onion, carrots, celery, and potato.
Stir and cook over medium heat, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any of the flavoursome brown bits and until the vegetables soften.
3. Add aromatics and spices:
Stir in all of the herbs and spices and optional chilli flakes. Cook for about a minute until fragrant.
Then add the tomatoes, tomato paste, lentils, chicken stock and the bay leaf and bring to a boil briefly.
Simmer the soup:
Reduce the heat to a simmer, then cover and cook for 40 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Then remove the lid and simmer and stir for a final 10 minutes while it thickens, and stir in the lemon juice and garnish with fresh parsley and a little bit of bacon you kept back.
Top tip: If you find the texture of the soup too thick, add a little water if desired and serve.
👩🍳 Substitutions
Depending on your dietary needs, here are a few simple swaps you can make:
- Chicken stock - Use vegetable stock if you prefer a vegetarian base
- Bacon - add shredded ham hock and swap chicken stock for ham stock cube
- Red lentils - If a creamy red lentil soup isn't your thing, swap for green, brown or black lentils for more texture and higher antioxidants
⚖️ Variations
Here are some different ways you can enhance and truly personalise this recipe:
- Extra creamy - Partially blend a portion with an immersion blender if desired
- Slow cooker version - When slow cooking, fry the smoky bacon first, then add all ingredients to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
- Instant Pot version - For a quicker cooking time, sauté the smoky bacon and vegetables on medium heat, then add all ingredients and pressure cook on high for 15 minutes with a 10-minute natural release.
- Add vegetables - Spinach or kale in the last 5 minutes for extra nutrition.
Another version you might like is my spiced carrot and lentil soup.
🔪 Equipment
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- Large soup pot or large saucepan
- Immersion blender (optional)
- Wooden spoon
- Airtight container for storage
- Sharp knife
- Chopping board
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups or jug
❄️ Storage
Storing - Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezing - Store in freezer safe soup containers for up to 3 months. Note: you can line them with freezer bags and remove the soup filled bag once frozen to reuse the container again.
Reheating - If you want to eat the next day, defrost in the fridge if required and microwave safe containers until piping hot, or on the hob or stove. You might need to add a little hot water to thin out.
💡Pro Tips
- For best results, scrape the bottom of the pan while cooking to avoid burning and to release all the bacon flavours.
- Save crispy bacon bits for garnish as they add extra texture.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Here are a handful of side ideas you can enjoy with a bowl or cup of soup on a cold day!
Bread - the easiest way to enjoy hot soup is with pita bread pizzas, crusty bread or whatever you fancy!
Scones - Up your soup game by dippiin in homemade cheese scones (cheesy biscuits) or oat flour scones
Soup and sandwich combo - why not enjoy with leftover turkey sandwiches using this coronation chicken sandwich recipe and make it a tradition for dipping?
❓ FAQ
Yes - lentil and bacon soup is packed with plant-based protein, fibre, and minerals from the lentils, which help support digestion and keep you full for longer.
Lentil and bacon soup is naturally gluten free as long as your stock cubes or broth are certified gluten free.
This soup has a mild earthy flavour from the lentils, balanced by the smoky, savoury taste of bacon and the subtle sweetness of carrots and onions.
➕ More Lentil Recipes
Looking for more great recipes with lentils? Try these:
🍽️Pairing
Here are some delicious recipes which are a great way to enjoy make great side ideas for eating with all of our homemade soup recipes:
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📖 Recipe
Easy Hearty Lentil Bacon Soup {Stove Top Recipe}
Equipment
- Saucepan or large pot
Ingredients
- 300 g Streaky smoky bacon diced (reserve some for crispy bacon bits garnish)
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 Onion finely chopped
- 2 Carrots Peeled & diced
- 2 stalks Celery
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 medium Potato peeled and diced
- 1 tablespoon Tomato puree
- 400 g Tinned chopped tomatoes
- ½ teaspoon Ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon Dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Pinch Chilli flakes (optional)
- 1 Bay leaf
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
- Pinch Salt
- ½ cup Red lentils (100g)
- ½ cup Brown or green lentils (100g)
- 1.4 litres Chicken stock (6 cups) or vegetable stock / ham stock cube
- ½ Lemon juice
Garnish
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the diced smoky bacon and fry until the edges are crispy or you can grill them.Then, scoop out ¼ of the bacon and reserve it for a garnish later.300 g Streaky smoky bacon
- Now add the olive oil, garlic, onion, carrots, celery, and potato.Stir and cook over medium heat, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any of the flavoursome brown bits and until the vegetables soften.1 Onion, 2 Carrots, 2 stalks Celery, 4 cloves Garlic, 1 medium Potato, 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- Stir in all of the herbs and spices and optional chilli flakes. Cook for about a minute until fragrant.Then add the tomatoes, tomato paste, lentils, chicken stock and the bay leaf and bring to a boil briefly.1 tablespoon Tomato puree, 400 g Tinned chopped tomatoes, ½ teaspoon Ground cumin, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon Dried oregano, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, Pinch Chilli flakes, 1 Bay leaf, ½ teaspoon Black pepper, Pinch Salt, ½ cup Red lentils, ½ cup Brown or green lentils, 1.4 litres Chicken stock
- Reduce the heat to a simmer, then cover and cook for 40 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.Then remove the lid and simmer and stir for a final 10 minutes while it thickens, and stir in the lemon juice and garnish with fresh parsley and a little bit of bacon you kept back.½ Lemon, Fresh parsley
Disclaimer
*This is an unofficial page and has no affiliation or endorsement from Slimming World. Slimming World's website can be found at https://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/. Any syn values are personal estimates and not verified by Slimming World.
Notes
Other Cooking Methods:
- Slow cooker option: Cook the smoky bacon first, then add all ingredients to a slow cooker and cook on low heat for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
-
Instant Pot option: Sauté the smoky bacon and vegetables on medium heat, then add all ingredients and pressure cook on high for 15 minutes with a 10-minute natural release.
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