Our Best Lentil Recipes

ck-Warm Bacon-Dijon Lentil Salad with Goat Cheese Crostini Image

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Want to add a real MVP to your pantry? Pick of a bag of lentils. Good for your body and great for your wallet, lentils are packed with nutrients including protein, magnesium, folate, iron, and fiber—we weren't kidding when we called them a valueable player. Use them as a meat replacement in the form of patties or atop a salad, a base for soups and stews, or even just a side dish. Since they're easy to cook and even easier to eat, you can't lose with these legumes on your team.

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Lentil Cakes with Mint Yogurt

Greg DuPree

Lentil Cakes with Mint Yogurt Recipe

Precooked lentils are a convenience item we love, saving nearly 30 minutes of simmering. Look for plain, steamed lentils (such as Melissa's), in the grain aisle. The food processor not only combines the patty ingredients; it coarsely chops the lentils so the finished cakes will hold their shape in the pan. While we love fat-free and reduced-fat Greek yogurt, go ahead and use full-fat here for a richer mouth feel and less tang in the sauce.

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Crispy Polenta with Warm Lentils and Kale

Photo: Christopher Testani; Styling: Alma Melendez

Crispy Polenta with Warm Lentils and Kale Recipe

For a meatless main dish, serve crispy polenta with warm lentils and cooked kale.

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Fall Vegetable and Lentil Salad

Jennifer Causey

Fall Vegetable and Lentil Salad Recipe

We love firm French green lentils, but you can also use standard brown lentils. You're not likely to find a whole butternut squash that's only 1 pound; just buy the smallest one you can find, and use 1 pound of it.

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Salmon and Lentil Bowl with Kefir Dressing

Caitlin Bensel

Salmon and Lentil Bowl with Kefir Dressing Recipe

Savory lentils, a creamy fresh herb dressing, sweet fennel, and salty smoked salmon come together in just a few minutes to create a satisfying yet light main dish salad. Look for ready-to-eat steamed lentils with other prepared foods in the refrigerated produce section. Plain kefir—pourable, probiotic-rich cultured milk—adds a super-tangy element to the dressing with fewer calories than sour cream. To make the salad ahead, assemble all the components and hold the dressing separately; drizzle over the top just before serving.

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Lentil Shepherd's Pie

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Lentil Shepherd's Pie Recipe

The bulgur releases just enough starch to bind the lentil- and mushroom-packed filling together. The skin of the potato contains about half the total fiber; we love the rustic edge and earthiness it adds to our creamy tater topper.

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Zucchini Stuffed with Lamb and Lentils

Caitlin Bensel

Zucchini Stuffed with Lamb and Lentils Recipe

If you think lamb’s too gamey, these retro-inspired zucchini boats will win you over. The addition of ground beef and creamy lentils combined with fragrant cinnamon and allspice make this taste exotic and comforting at the same time. If you’re still on the fence, ground sirloin is an equally tasty substitute. Though you might be tempted to drain the pan before stirring in the lentils, don’t—the juices add rich flavor to the finished dish. A drizzle of the yogurt sauce ties it all together; serve with whole wheat couscous for a little extra fiber.

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Herby Lentil-and-Sausage Soup

Jennifer Causey

Herby Lentil-and-Sausage Soup Recipe

Dried brown lentils hold their shape after being cooked, so this soup is a good one to make ahead. The spinach will lose its vibrant color, though, so either add it when reheating the soup or make your peace with the darker color. Here's a supersimple soup tip: Simmering with whole thyme sprigs infuses flavor without your having to strip those little leaves off the stems; simply remove the sprigs before serving.

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Sweet Potato-and-Red Lentil Curry

Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower.

Sweet Potato-and-Red Lentil Curry Recipe

This fragrant, Indian-style stew hits all the right notes with aromatic garam masala, fresh ginger, and concentrated red curry paste. The coconut milk mellows and loosens the potato and lentil mixture just enough so that it can be spooned over rice.

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Roast Chicken with Lentils and Yogurt

Victor Protasio

Roast Chicken with Lentils and Yogurt Recipe

Skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs take a while to cook through. Starting on the stove top and moving to the oven is the most foolproof way to get perfectly crisp skin and meat that’s cooked all the way through. This dish is filling and hearty, and with the chicken, lentils, veggies, and yogurt it truly is a complete meal, but if you’d like to add some green, a little arugula on top would be tasty.

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Roasted Fall Vegetables with Lentils and Spices

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Emma Star Jensen

Roasted Fall Vegetables with Lentils and Spices Recipe

This vegetarian dish is fragrant with garam masala, an Indian spice blend that typically includes black pepper and a mix of sweet and savory spices.

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Curried Lentil-and-Vegetable Stew

Photography: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Curried Lentil-and-Vegetable Stew Recipe

Cooking Indian dishes at home doesn't have to take hours. Unsalted ketchup is a secret ingredient that adds just the right balance of tomato sweetness and vinegar tang. Serve with lime wedges and toasted naan bread.

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Summery Lentil Soup

Jennifer Causey

Summery Lentil Soup Recipe

This veggie-packed soup serves double duty: Eat 3 cups for dinner tonight, and save the remaining 2 cups for breakfast the next day. If you’d like a little heat, you can add a pinch of crushed red pepper.

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Black Garlic and Lentil Soup

Photo: Eric Wolfinger

Black Garlic and Lentil Soup Recipe

For Bar Tartine in San Francisco, chef Nick Balla created this smoky, earthy soup as a tribute to his Hungarian-America father. Dried chiles, paprika sausage, hot paprika, and black garlic--regular garlic roasted for days until it turns sweet and jet black, with a licorice-like flavor--give the soup a rounded spiciness.

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A Sindhi Breakfast, Just Like Mama Used to Make

Photos by Pooja Makhijani

A Sindhi Breakfast, Just Like Mama Used to Make Recipe

Pakwan dal brings me back home, no matter where I am

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Lentil Bolognese

Photo: Travis Rathbone

Lentil Bolognese Recipe

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Lentil and Swiss Chard Soup with Lemon

Photo: John Kernick

Lentil and Swiss Chard Soup with Lemon Recipe

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Lentils with Salmon

Photo: Alexandra Grablewski; Styling: Gerri Williams

Lentils with Salmon Recipe

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Sloppy Lentils in Pita

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Sloppy Lentils in Pita Recipe

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Lentil Stew with Oranges

Photo: James Baigrie

Lentil Stew with Oranges Recipe

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Roast Chicken Thighs with Lentil Stew

Con Poulos

Roast Chicken Thighs with Lentil Stew Recipe
José Andrés seasons his crisp chicken and rich lentil stew with smoky Spanish paprika called pimentón.

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Seared Salmon with Orange-Lentil Salad

Photo: Christopher Testani; Styling: Alma Melendez

Seared Salmon with Orange-Lentil Salad Recipe

Serve seared salmon over an Orange-Lentil salad for a flavorful fish dish.

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Warm Lentil-and-Potato Salad

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Warm Lentil-and-Potato Salad Recipe
French green lentils add flavorful texture. They remain firm after cooking, while traditional brown lentils turn soft.

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Curried Lentils with Paneer

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Karen Shinto

Curried Lentils with Paneer Recipe
From Sunset reader Emiko Prigmore, Shoreline, WA

Packaged cooked lentils can be a real time-saver and are becoming more available. If you can't find them in your area, use regular lentils cooked according to the package directions.

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Mushroom Lentil Burgers

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Mushroom Lentil Burgers Recipe
Make homemade veggie burgers in a snap with precooked lentils. We like the black beluga variety from Archer Farms, with no added salt. Brown lentils can be substituted but tend to be more moisture-dense and may require additional breadcrumbs to help bind the burgers.

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Curried Lentil Soup with Yogurt and Cilantro

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Curried Lentil Soup with Yogurt and Cilantro Recipe
Look for packaged precooked lentils without salt or fat added. We like Target's Archer Farms brand beluga lentils.

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Lentil Tapenade Crostini

Lentil Tapenade Crostini Recipe

Precooked lentils are a healthy cook's ally, adding instant fiber and protein to any dish while saving nearly 30 minutes of stovetop simmering. Here we pulse the lentils in a food processor as part of a rustic tapenade for crostini.

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Spiced Lentils with Mushrooms and Greens

Photo: Tina Rupp

Spiced Lentils with Mushrooms and Greens Recipe
"I love lentils: They're packed with protein, very filling and a good source of iron," says Jill Donenfeld. Eat these stewy lentils as a light lunch or serve alongside Donenfeld's roasted cauliflower with raisins.

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Asparagus, Orange, and Lentil Salad

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Asparagus, Orange, and Lentil Salad Recipe
Pink lentils add pretty color and texture to this salad. Cook them al dente (like pasta) so they remain firm when tossed with the dressing.

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Turkish Carrots and Lentils (Zeytinyagli Havuç)

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Turkish Carrots and Lentils (Zeytinyagli Havuç) Recipe
Slightly sweet and spicy, ground Aleppo pepper brightens the sauce, while carrots and yogurt lighten earthy lentils. Serve with a simple romaine salad for a weeknight dinner.

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Lentil-Tahini Burgers with Pickled Cabbage

Lentil-Tahini Burgers with Pickled Cabbage Recipe

Look for steamed, vacuum-packed lentils in the grain aisle for the best texture in the burgers, or cook, drain, and refrigerate your own the night before.

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Barbecue Baked Lentils

Barbecue Baked Lentils Recipe
Use all your favorite baked bean ingredients–onion, ketchup, maple syrup, and mustard–but use lentils instead of kidney or pinto beans. The earthiness of the lentils is a good match for the smokiness of grilled meats.

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Black Lentil and Couscous Salad

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Black Lentil and Couscous Salad Recipe
This zesty side is modeled after tabbouleh, the Middle Eastern salad of bulgur wheat, tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, lemon juice, and olive oil. Here, we use couscous instead of bulgur and add black lentils for color and texture. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

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Lentil "Pâté" with Apples

Photo: Travis Rathbone; Styling: Megan Hedgpeth

Lentil "Pâté" with Apples Recipe

Lentils and pistachios contrast the crisp tang of apple for an explosive burst of unique flavor. Make-Ahead: Using a food processor, prep the pâté for easy next-day assembly.

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Trout with Lentils

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro

Trout with Lentils Recipe
Serve this dish warm or as a chilled salad over a bed of greens. If you purchase smoked trout, the recipe will come together even faster.

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Warm Bacon-Dijon Lentil Salad with Goat Cheese Crostini

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Warm Bacon-Dijon Lentil Salad with Goat Cheese Crostini Recipe

Convenience products are better and more wholesome than ever, and they can be found all over the supermarket, from the center aisles to the olive bar and bakery. Used wisely, they can virtually cut out prep while delivering mains that feel made from scratch. Precooked, vacuum-packed lentils provide an instant protein and fiber boost to this French-inspired salad (find them in the rice and beans aisle). They reheat in the warm mustard-sherry vinaigrette that will dress the arugula. A crusty whole-grain baguette is another convenience product we love. Toast for crostini here, and make French toast or fresh breadcrumbs with the rest.

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Our Best Lentil Recipes

1 of 36

Lentil Cakes with Mint Yogurt

2 of 36

Crispy Polenta with Warm Lentils and Kale

3 of 36

Fall Vegetable and Lentil Salad

4 of 36

Salmon and Lentil Bowl with Kefir Dressing

5 of 36

Lentil Shepherd's Pie

6 of 36

Zucchini Stuffed with Lamb and Lentils

7 of 36

Herby Lentil-and-Sausage Soup

8 of 36

Sweet Potato-and-Red Lentil Curry

9 of 36

Roast Chicken with Lentils and Yogurt

10 of 36

Roasted Fall Vegetables with Lentils and Spices

11 of 36

Curried Lentil-and-Vegetable Stew

12 of 36

Summery Lentil Soup

13 of 36

Black Garlic and Lentil Soup

14 of 36

A Sindhi Breakfast, Just Like Mama Used to Make

15 of 36

Lentil Bolognese

16 of 36

Lentil and Swiss Chard Soup with Lemon

17 of 36

Lentils with Salmon

18 of 36

Sloppy Lentils in Pita

19 of 36

Lentil Stew with Oranges

20 of 36

Roast Chicken Thighs with Lentil Stew

21 of 36

Seared Salmon with Orange-Lentil Salad

22 of 36

Warm Lentil-and-Potato Salad

23 of 36

Curried Lentils with Paneer

24 of 36

Mushroom Lentil Burgers

25 of 36

Curried Lentil Soup with Yogurt and Cilantro

26 of 36

Lentil Tapenade Crostini

27 of 36

Spiced Lentils with Mushrooms and Greens

28 of 36

Asparagus, Orange, and Lentil Salad

29 of 36

Turkish Carrots and Lentils (Zeytinyagli Havuç)

30 of 36

Lentil-Tahini Burgers with Pickled Cabbage

31 of 36

Barbecue Baked Lentils

32 of 36

Black Lentil and Couscous Salad

33 of 36

Lentil "Pâté" with Apples

34 of 36

Trout with Lentils

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Warm Bacon-Dijon Lentil Salad with Goat Cheese Crostini

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