17 Lentil Recipes You'll Fall In Love With

Tiny but mighty, lentils are a powerhouse of a legume that shine just as bright in the background of a dish as they do at the forefront. There are several types of lentils out there, often distinguishable by their color and more specifically by the ways that you might cook with them. Loaded with protein, fiber, folate, and B vitamins, lentils are a great resource for bulking up dishes like soup, stew, and salads with plenty of plant-based goodness.

You can get as creative as you'd like with lentils (think nachos and meatballs) or keep things as simple as possible — that's the beauty of such a versatile legume. If you're new to cooking with lentils or just need some fresh ways to incorporate them into your diet, our best lentil recipes just might make you fall completely in love with them. Also, regardless of which lentils you keep stocked in your pantry, be they red, green, or black, there's a recipe that will showcase them effortlessly, or at the very least incorporate them for a simple nutritional boost. Read on to see our favorite lentil recipes.

Much like pasta e fagioli pairs pasta with beans, this pasta e lenticchie recipe pairs ziti or rigatoni with — you guessed it — lentils. As it turns out, the two ingredients make for quite the dynamic duo, with the pasta making up the bulk of the dish and the lentils adding some texture. Other ingredients include onion, garlic, carrots, tomato paste, thyme, and red pepper flakes, all of which contribute to a ragu-like sauce. 

This recipe does require some quality time in the kitchen, though most of it is spent allowing the lentils to cook. Once all is said and done, you'll have a hearty pasta dish that yields four servings, so you can feed the whole family or reserve all of it for yourself. Top off your plate of pasta e lenticchie with a sprinkling of Parmesan and dive right in.

Recipe: Pasta e Lenticchie (Pasta with Lentils)

If you're looking for a quick, easy, and nutritious lunch or dinner option, then this red lentil soup with lemon recipe will get the job done each and every time. You'll need some lentils, of course, along with other soup basics like olive oil, garlic, onion, and chicken broth. The lentils are the star of the show here, lending their distinct texture to a soup that's thick, chunky, and super comforting.

Believe it or not, this soup comes together in less than 30 minutes, so it really is ideal for those days when your pantry is running low on supplies and you're running even lower on time. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice and lemon zest also adds a nice touch of acidity and brightness to this simple soup.

Recipe: Red Lentil Soup with Lemon

Brown lentils make up the bulk of this lentil soup recipe, but they certainly don't stand alone — onion, carrots, celery, parsley, and tarragon all contribute to this soup, with that latter ingredient adding a subtly bittersweet undertone. Though it does take about an hour to make the soup, most of it is spent waiting for the lentils to simmer, so it's a passive task that you can mostly leave to the stovetop to take care of.

We'd be remiss to not highlight the herbed yogurt that you'll dollop on top of your bowl of lentil soup; it adds a delightful creaminess to the soup, not to mention an extra hit of herbaceousness. Whipping up the yogurt sauce involves combining Greek yogurt, tarragon, parsley, and lemon zest — a task so simple that you'll be surprised just how much it elevates the soup.

Recipe: Lentil Soup with Herbed Yogurt

There's no denying the comfort factor that a cheesy baked ziti with meaty bolognese provides, but as this recipe proves, you can achieve all that comforting goodness in plant-based form. While this recipe isn't vegan due to the inclusion of ricotta and mozzarella cheese, it is completely vegetarian — instead of making a beef-loaded bolognese, you'll make a lentil-loaded one. 

Before you can dive into making the bolognese, you'll have to boil the lentils and pasta first. Then comes the fun part, which is building the sauce, which features mushrooms, fire-roasted tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and of course, lentils. Finally, you'll assemble the pasta dish itself and bake it, resulting in an ultra-cheesy creation that makes for the perfect weeknight dinner. Contrast all of that cheesy goodness with a simple side salad and your dinner is complete.

Recipe: Cheesy Lentil Bolognese Baked Ziti

If you're looking for a way to switch up the flavor profile of your lentil side dish, this Korean BBQ-inspired lentil recipe is just the solution. Asian pear, soy sauce, ginger powder, and sesame oil contribute to the savory and subtly sweet flavor profile of these lentils — a welcome change from so many recipes that call for using cumin, cayenne, or chili powder. 

This is an ideal recipe to make when you're low on pantry ingredients but you want a nourishing side dish to round out your dinner spread. These lentils are vegan and work well alongside other vegan staples like tofu and rice, though they also complement bulgogi beef, grilled chicken, and fish all the same. You could even make these lentils part of a bigger home Korean BBQ spread if you're looking to get extra creative.

Recipe: Korean BBQ-Inspired Lentils

Roasted carrots make for a great dinner side dish, but they're certainly not the most exciting thing you could bring to the table. Fortunately, this recipe will ensure that your roasted carrots are never boring again — between the lentil hummus and creamy yogurt sauce on the side, these carrots are bursting with flavor and just might be the star of the whole show.

The most time-consuming component of this recipe is the carrot prep itself, so before you do anything else, you'll get them roasting in the oven. Then you can turn your attention to the lentil hummus, which is very similar to your classic hummus recipe, but you swap out chickpeas in favor of red lentils. The yogurt sauce is the easiest component, requiring nothing more intensive than a bit of stirring. To assemble, you'll spread a layer of hummus out on the plate first, layer the carrots on top, then serve the lemony sauce on the side.

Recipe: Roasted Carrots Over Lentil Hummus and Lemon Yogurt

Hand pies are the grab-and-go snacks that your potluck, party, or family gathering will inevitably benefit from. This recipe showcases a savory mushroom and lentil filling, with carrots, onion, leeks, and an assortment of spices helping to round out the flavors. As for the hand pie crust, you don't need to worry about whipping up dough from scratch — puff pastry sheets will get the job done just fine.

Not only do these hand pies make for a great party appetizer or after-school snack, but they're also pretty easy to make. You'll start by making the mushroom-lentil filling, then you'll cut up the puff pastry sheets and load individual squares with the savory mixture. Give them a fold and pop them in the oven until golden brown, and your transportable treats are good to go.

Recipe: Savory Mushroom and Lentil Hand Pies

Mint doesn't always get the love it deserves, often going overlooked in favor of other herbs like basil, cilantro, or parsley. Well, this lentil fattoush salad recipe is here to give mint its turn in the spotlight — not only will you find fresh mint in the romaine-based salad itself, but you'll also use the herb to make a refreshing dressing.

Since this recipe calls for using precooked black lentils, you won't have to worry about doing any cooking with this recipe. Instead, it's a matter of chopping and assembling, starting with the romaine and ending with sliced radishes, a sprinkling of lentils, tomatoes, and that minty dressing.

Recipe: Lentil Fattoush Salad With Mint Dressing