Crock Pot Lentil Soup with Sausage – A Lentil Soup with Tomatoes and Sausage

Crock Pot Lentil Soup with Sausage is a hearty lentil soup with tomatoes and sausage. Using the slow cooker is an easy way to prepare lentil soup for a heart healthy dinner.

Recently, I was lucky enough to travel to Florida with my family. While we were there, I tried some lentil soup that was amazing. The ingredients didn’t seem to be anything too fussy, so I thought I would try to recreate it at home.

Using Pork Sausage in Soup and More

For my hearty lentil soup, I decided to use ground pork sausage as the protein. I love using pork sausage because it’s so flavorful that I typically don’t have to use too many other seasonings in my dish. Plus, I always have bulk sausage in my freezer from a pig that we get butchered each year.

I honestly use ground pork sausage so often that I gathered all the pork sausage recipes together in one spot for you to see. Check out our post with most of our recipes featuring pork sausage.

Ingredient List for Sausage Lentil Soup

• Ground Pork Sausage, browned and crumbled
• Bell Peppers, diced
• Onion, diced
• Beef Broth
• Green Lentils, rinsed and drained
• Diced Tomatoes, do not drain
• Salt, to taste

Lentil Soup with Tomatoes and Sausage

Canned, diced tomatoes are used in this hearty lentil soup recipe with sausage. Here are some things to keep in mind.

1. Keep the canned, diced tomatoes undrained. You’ll want the juices for the soup.
2. Do not add the tomatoes until the last 30 minutes of cooking. High acid foods, like tomatoes, will affect the cooking of the sausage lentil soup. For the same reason, do not add the salt until the end either.
3. Any type of canned, diced tomatoes can be used. If you’re feeling like an Italian spin, use the ones with garlic and basil. Looking for some spice? In that case, use a can or two of Rotel. Or, just use plain, diced tomatoes if that’s what you have on hand.

How to make Slow Cooker Lentil Soup with Sausage

Step By Step Instructions

1. Brown ground pork sausage in a skillet; crumble.
2. Remove cooked sausage with a slotted spoon and add to the crock pot insert.
3. Cook diced peppers and onion in the remaining grease in the skillet until soft.
4. Transfer cooked peppers and onions to the crock pot insert.
5. Add beef broth and rinsed lentils.
6. Cover and cook on low for 2 to 4 hours or high for 6 to 7 hours or until the lentils are cooked and tender in texture.
7. Add one can of diced tomatoes with the juice, stir.
8. Cook for an additional 30 minutes. Salt to taste and serve in a bowl.

Crock Pot Lentil Soup with Sausage Storage Instructions

Let leftover lentil sausage soup cool before transferring to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

For the full ingredient amounts and recipe steps for slow cooker lentil soup, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Recipe FAQs

• Use your favorite type of pork sausage. Breakfast sausage, Italian Sausage, Hot, Mild, pretty much any type works. You could also use bulk pork sausage or sausage links. If you use links, remove the casings before browning.
• Chicken broth can be used instead of beef broth.
• Green lentils work best since they hold up to longer cooking times.
• Be sure to rinse and drain the lentils well before adding to the crock pot.
• Substitute your favorite vegetables for the onions and peppers, if desired. Diced carrots, celery, or green beans would be great additions to this crock pot lentil soup with sausage.
• The cooking time of lentils will vary depending on how old the lentils are. Older lentils will take longer to cook.
• Do not add salt until the very end of cooking because it could affect the cooking process and time.
• The acid in the diced tomatoes will also affect the cooking which is why they are added the last 30 minutes of cooking.
• Substitute other types of diced tomatoes for plain, if desired. Fire-roasted, diced tomatoes with garlic and Italian seasonings and Rotel all work great.
• Check out our Amazon Store for some of our favorite pantry essentials and other items.

Should I be eating lentils?

Yes, there is a whole list of reasons you should be eating lentils.

1. Lentils are are high in fiber which is good for digestion.
2. Are you eating a high protein diet? Lentils are high in protein making them a perfect fit.
3. If you are always hungry, consider eating lentils to help stabilize your blood sugar. Being high in complex carbohydrates mean that eating lentils will help regulate your blood sugar and help prevent diabetes.
4. Lentils contain folic acid and magnesium meaning they are a hearty healthy ingredient.

Are lentils bland?

Lentils are bland on their own which is why you want to pair them with other flavorful ingredients. The lentils will absorb the flavors of the other ingredients.

What meat goes with lentils?

Lentils are fairly bland on their own with a little earthy flavor. When using lentils for a soup or stew, it is best to use a flavorful meat to season the lentils.

Sausage is often paired with lentils. Ground sausage is already seasoned in a variety of flavors that will enhance the flavor of lentils. Italian sausage, hot sausage, breakfast sausage, smoked sausage, etc. are all great options to go with lentils. Diced smoked ham is also a great salty addition to lentils.

Recipe Variations

• Use any color or bell pepper. Red peppers are the prettiest with the lentils but any will work.
• Add a variety of dried herbs such as oregano, parsley, bay leaves, basil, etc.
• Love greens? Add kale or spinach to the soup. Kale can be added early in the cooking process, but spinach doesn’t need to be added until the last half hour or so.
• If desired, garnish with grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

Healthy Soup Recipes

Low Calorie Cabbage Soup

Keto Zuppa Toscana Recipe

Hamburger Vegetable Soup with V8 Juice