• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Savory Lotus

simple clean eats + healthy treats

  • About
  • Recipes
  • Healthy Living
  • Resources
  • Safe Skincare
    • BEAUTYCOUNTER
    • PRIMALLY PURE
  • MEAL PLANS

By Katja Heino 12 Comments
Savory Lotus may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this post.

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Lentil Soup (with slow cooker option)

Jump to Recipe
butternut squash lentil soup on white bowl with spoon

Hearty, filling and cozy, this Instant Pot Butternut Squash Lentil Soup is everything I love about soup season. Gluten free with a vegan option.

Last week, I woke up and there was ice on my car windshield. It’s only the first week of October, people. I’m not ready for this yet.

But seriously, as soon as the weather turns brisk, I’m bundling myself up. I don’t mess around with cold weather. Sweater, scarf, and my puffy jacket. I mean, I saw a dad at school drop off wearing shorts and flip flops in 35 degree weather. What is up with that? ?I would be a walking popsicle.

And in my mind, the only antidote to chilly weather is hot, cozy soup in a warm bowl to wrap my hands around. Raise your hand if you agree. ?

I’ve shared a lentil soup recipe before. My Thai Red Curry Lentil Soup is one of my favs because it’s packed with amazing flavors. Today’s recipe is a bit more traditional and is loaded with hearty winter squash and seasoned with a bit of Herbes de Provence.

two white bowls with butternut squash lentil soup
butternut squash lentil soup on a large white bowl
close up of butternut squash lentil soup in white bowl with spoon

There are so many things that I love about this soup:

lentils… I don’t eat very many legumes, but I love lentils. They are hearty and filling, budget-friendly, and super versatile. I use green lentils for this recipe as they hold their shape a bit better than red lentils.

butternut squash… the sweetness of the winter squash pairs perfectly with the savory flavors in this soup. Butternut squash is loaded with antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin C, manganese, folate, and so much more. It’s a great way to get some healthy carbohydrates into your diet.

broth… any good soup starts with a good quality broth. You can keep this soup vegan by using a simple vegetable broth, or give it an extra nutrient boost with homemade bone broth. My fav store-bough broth is Kettle and Fire.

Herbes de Provence… is a French dried herb blend of savory, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and sometimes lavender. It gives a nice rustic feel to recipes. I love it with a hearty lentil soup.

meal prep… this recipe makes a lot of soup – about 3 and 1/2 quarts. That’s a lot of lunches throughout the week. You can also easily portion it out and freeze some for later.

one pot… I love one pot meals, and this soup is so easy to throw together in the Instant Pot. THIS is the Instant Pot that I have. After prepping the veggies, it’s all mostly hands off time with you wait for the IP to come to pressure and them the 18 minute cook time. I’ve also included a slow cooker option in the recipe directions.

cutting board with winter squash and knife
glass jar of herbes de provence
four images on how to make butternut squash lentil soup
Instant Pot with 18 minutes on times

My family loves it when I make this soup. It’s deeply savory and mildly sweet. It’s filling, yet light. It goes well with a fresh green salad and my grain free flatbread.

I hope this soup will find it’s way to your table this Fall. It’s the perfect soup to make on a cold night when you need to be warmed to the bone. It’s also great to make as part of a meal train for new parents or sick friends. Let me know if you get a chance to try it. ?

DID YOU MAKE THIS AND LOVE IT? I WANT TO SEE YOUR CREATIONS. SHARE THE LOVE ON INSTAGRAM AND TAG @savorylotus AND USE THE HASHTAG #savorylotus FOR A CHANCE TO BE FEATURED. FOLLOW SAVORY LOTUS ON PINTEREST AND FACEBOOK TO KEEP UP WITH LATEST CONTENT AND UPDATES.

two white bowls with butternut squash lentil soup on white counter
two white bowls on white counter with lentil soup
Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon facebook facebook icon print print icon squares squares icon

Instant Pot Butternut Squash Lentil Soup

★★★★★ 4.7 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Katja Heino
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 18 minutes (plus time for IP to come to pressure)
  • Total Time: 33 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
Print
Pin

Description

Hearty winter squash and savory lentils flavored with Herbes de Provence make this easy Instant Pot soup comforting, filling and cozy. Perfect for a chilly evening meal. Gluten free with a vegan option. 


Scale

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp butter, ghee, or avocado oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 5 cups butternut squash, peeled and chopped
  • 2 cup carrots, chopped
  • 2 cups green lentils, rinsed and drained (like this)
  • 8 cups broth (vegetable, homemade bone broth, or Kettle and Fire)
  • 2 tsp Herbes de Provence (like this)
  • 3 packed cups of kale, de-stemmed and chopped
  • 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • OPTIONAL: 1-2 tbsp lemon juice 

Instructions

  1. Turn Instant Pot to SAUTE and melt fat of choice.  Saute onions until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.  Add in garlic and cook another 30 seconds.  Turn off IP.
  2. Add in butternut squash, carrots, lentils, broth, and Herbes de Provence.  Lock lid on IP and turn the vent valve to “sealing.” Cook on HIGH pressure for 18 minutes then quick release the pressure. Turn off IP. 
  3. Remove 3-4 cups of soup, puree in blender, and add back to pot and stir to combine.  Add in chopped kale and parsley, and close lid to let kale wilt and soften for a bit. Then salt and pepper to taste. For an added optional burst of flavor, add in a bit of fresh lemon juice.  Enjoy!

Notes

Slow Cooker Method: Place all ingredients (except for kale, parsley, salt and pepper, and lemon) into slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 5-6 hours or low for 7-8 hours. Follow the same blending instructions and then add kale, parsley, salt and pepper, and optional lemon.

For faster cook time, feel free to skip step one and simply add onions and garlic into IP with the rest of the ingredients.  

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @savorylotus on Instagram and hashtag it #savorylotus

CLICK HERE to PIN THIS!

white bowl wit butternut squash lentil soup with a silver spoon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Posts you might also like

Filed Under: Main Course, Soups Tagged With: butternut squash, lenyil soup, soup, vegan

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. DeAnn says

    January 8, 2020 at 6:47 pm

    Made this soup tonight! It was so yummy. I did it on the stove top so had to keep an eye on it since I don’t have an instant pot. Perfect for a cold winter evening!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katja Heino says

      January 15, 2020 at 3:01 pm

      Yay! Glad you enjoyed it. I love a good hearty soup in the winter. I could eat soup all day, every day. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Ondrea says

    January 18, 2020 at 4:08 pm

    Made this tonight. Pretty good. Tastes like something is missing though and I can’t quite put my finger on what. Added the lemon juice which helped. Definitely hearty and good for a cold, snowy night.

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Katja Heino says

      January 27, 2020 at 3:39 pm

      Try adding a bit more salt. Salt is great at rounding our flavors. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Alisa says

    January 19, 2020 at 1:18 pm

    This was my first instant pot recipe and it was so good! Didn’t have vegetable broth so used water + a spice combination found online to sub. Delicious! A 30 min soup that tasted like it had been cooking on the stove all day

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Katja Heino says

      January 27, 2020 at 3:38 pm

      I am so glad you liked it. Isn’t the IP so fun?

      Reply
  4. Victoria C Newman says

    March 25, 2020 at 10:24 am

    Can I add Spinach instead of kale?

    Reply
    • Katja Heino says

      March 26, 2020 at 10:53 am

      Yes, you can use whatever greens you like. Enjoy! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Donna says

    April 23, 2020 at 4:00 pm

    Delicious I didn’t have herb so I added marjaron, thyme and rosemary . Didn’t have kale so stirred frozen chopped spinach thank you we give it a 10

    Reply
    • Katja Heino says

      April 28, 2020 at 1:07 pm

      Yay! Glad you liked it. This soup is pretty versatile. You can add whatever veggies you like. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Julie Wentworth says

    October 9, 2020 at 10:05 am

    This looks so good!!
    If i wanted to add chicken at what point would I add it to the recipe?

    Reply
    • Katja Heino says

      October 27, 2020 at 2:27 pm

      It depends on if the chicken is cooked or not. If it’s leftover cooked chicken, I would just add it at the very end. If it’s raw, uncooked chicken, you could add it to the pot before you cook it. I haven’t tried it so can’t say how it will turn out. 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi I’m Katja!

And this is how we do healthy in our family. Just REAL food. Simple. Easy. Gluten free. More about Savory Lotus

Follow Me on Instagram

creating recipes is my favorite part of what i do creating recipes is my favorite part of what i do • testing out a nordic nut + seed bread 🍞🍞• no flour • no yeast • no kneading • no proofing • and just 10 minutes to prep • like a dense European/Scandinavian style loaf 🇫🇮🇫🇮 • perfect for open faced sandos • testing mine with goat cheese + sprouts • turned out so dang good • recipe coming soon ❤️
veggie loaded turkey meatballs 🥕🥦🌿 • th veggie loaded turkey meatballs 🥕🥦🌿 • the ultimate make ahead meal prep recipe • life just got a little bit easier • meatballs may not be the most glamorous things you make in your kitchen, but they sure can be a lifesaver when life gets busy • make a big batch, freeze ’em, and simply reheat and eat when it’s time to get dinner on the table 🙌

recipe link in bio —> https://www.savorylotus.com/loaded-veggie-turkey-meatballs/
weekend dinner inspiration • NEW POST: LEMON HER weekend dinner inspiration • NEW POST: LEMON HERB SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN 🍋🌿 • spatchcock chicken is hands down the quickest + easiest way to cook a whole chicken • if you’ve never tried it, it’s a real game changer • the chicken comes out super moist on the inside and crispy on the outside • always a crowd pleaser 🙌 especially when you add the extra lemon herb pan sauce 

recipe link in bio:
https://www.savorylotus.com/lemon-herb-spatchcock-chicken/
how do you start your day? 💪🏃‍♀️🧘🏽‍♀️🚴🏽‍♂️☕️

mindset mindset mindset 🧠🧠• having a morning routine allows us to set an intention for the day rather then just letting the day run away from us • it helps determine our mind set and the tone for the rest of the day ✨✨

things like meditation, journaling, yoga, exercise, and other self-care practices can help us start the day feeling calm and inspired 🧘🏻 • consciously selecting the thoughts we have, the foods we eat , and the news/social media/images we see matters • a solid morning routine can reduce stress, boost energy, increase mental clarity, and leave us feeling 🤩

creating a morning routine looks different for us all • routine comes easier for some than others • we all have different priorities, time limits, physical needs/abilities, and health concerns there • are no rules • find what works for you 

i know that i feel better when i stick to my morning routine • i know that i feel better when i don’t engage with my phone or social media the first hour or two after waking up • i know i feel better when i consciously select what i bring into my head space first thing in the morning, including the thoughts that i have 

my morning routine currently looks like this:  10 minutes of quiet meditation, some form of elimination pathways opening like Gua Sha, coffee e nema, an epsom salts bath, or a sauna, yoga/workout, and a big green juice 🥬🥒🍏

👉👉 do you have a morning routine?  i’d love to hear how you start your day • leave me a comment below ⤵️⤵️
Load More... Follow Me!

Follow Me on Pinterest

Don't Miss These!

  • Everyday Gluten Free Bread (dairy free + egg free)
  • dry heels, cracked heels, how to heal, DIY Easy Home Remedy for Dry Cracked Heels
  • Simple Coconut Flour Cake (gluten free, grain free, nut free, paleo) | savorylotus.com Simple Coconut Flour Cake (gluten and grain free, paleo)
  • Simple Gluten Free Sourdough Bread

Clean Swaps

Clean Swaps

My Cookbook!

My Cookbook!

Footer

Get More Recipes on Pinterest

Visit Savory Lotus' profile on Pinterest.

Get More Recipes on Facebook

The Savory Lotus on Facebook

Stay Connected

Copyright © 2021 Savory Lotus    ·    Affiliate Disclosure     Disclaimer     Privacy Policy     Terms of Service