Description
This easy Chicken Lentil Soup is a hearty and nutritious meal featuring tender chicken breast, green lentils, and fresh vegetables all simmered together with fragrant spices and fire-roasted tomatoes. Perfect for a comforting lunch or dinner, this soup combines wholesome ingredients with simple preparation for a flavorful dish that’s both satisfying and healthy.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein & Legumes
- 1.5 lb chicken breast (cut into bite-sized chunks)
- 1.5 cups green lentils
Vegetables
- 3 carrots (cut into 1/2-inch rounds)
- 1 yellow onion (diced into 1/2-inch pieces)
- 2 celery ribs (diced into 1/2-inch pieces)
- 4 garlic cloves (freshly minced)
- 5 oz fresh spinach (added at the end)
Pantry & Spices
- 14 oz fire-roasted diced tomatoes with juice
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 tbsp olive oil (or any neutral oil like canola)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp salt (plus salt to taste)
- Black pepper to taste (freshly ground preferred)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized chunks and season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to ensure flavor throughout. Dice the onion, carrots, and celery into 1/2-inch pieces for even cooking and texture. Mince the garlic and measure out lentils, broth, tomatoes, and spices to have everything ready, streamlining the cooking process.
- Sauté Vegetables and Spices: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery and cook for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and the onion turns translucent. Then add minced garlic, salt, smoked paprika, and cumin, cooking for an additional minute while stirring steadily to bloom the spices without burning the garlic.
- Add Main Ingredients and Simmer: Add seasoned chicken chunks, green lentils, fire-roasted diced tomatoes with their juice, and chicken broth into the pot. Stir to combine and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender and chicken is cooked thoroughly.
- Finish with Spinach and Season: Stir in fresh spinach and cook for 1–2 minutes until wilted. Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper as desired. The spinach adds brightness and nutrition while preserving color and flavor by adding it last.
Notes
- Use fresh, high-quality chicken breast for the best texture and flavor.
- Rinsing lentils before adding can help remove any impurities or dust.
- Adjust the amount of broth depending on your preferred soup thickness.
- Low-sodium broth is recommended to better control the salt content.
- Adding spinach at the end prevents it from overcooking and losing nutrients.
Keywords: chicken lentil soup, easy chicken soup, healthy soup recipe, lentil soup with chicken, one pot soup, comforting dinner, nutritious soup