Healthy Crockpot Balsamic Italian Lentil Soup

January 14, 2024 by · Leave a Comment

Healthy Crockpot Balsamic Italian Lentil Soup - This healthy crockpot soup is the perfect solution for those busy weeknights when you want something quick and easy for dinner, but also want to enjoy a guilt-free meal. Balsamic vinegar and honey give this soup a tangy and slightly sweet flavor, which pairs perfectly with the earthiness of the lentils, Italian seasoning, and fresh vegetables it contains. And, since this soup is slow-cooked, the vegetables and lentils retain their texture and don't turn into mush like they sometimes do when cooked on a stovetop.

This healthy crockpot soup is the perfect solution for those busy weeknights when you want something quick and easy for dinner, but also want to enjoy a guilt-free meal. Balsamic vinegar and honey give this soup a tangy and slightly sweet flavor, which pairs perfectly with the earthiness of the lentils, Italian seasoning, and fresh vegetables it contains. And, since this soup is slow-cooked, the vegetables and lentils retain their texture and don’t turn into mush like they sometimes do when cooked on a stovetop.

At one point in time, Crockpot Monday used to be a thing around here. Just a crockpot, Monday, dinner, and hopefully a whole lotta yummy, uncomplicated, and time-saving scrumptious food. But somehow, life got even too complicated for a crockpot. Or, perhaps using a crockpot with a cat in the house just became too annoying. With Brenna, it was because she would jump up on the counter and lick the actual crockpot lid. With McKenna, it’s because I fear that she’ll just chew her way through the cord and burn the whole dang house down. As far as our household goes, cats and crockpots don’t mix. At least, not without a lot of supervision. But every once and awhile, I throw caution to the wind, dig the crockpot out of the garage, and say, “What the heck?” Thankfully, this time the house survived and we got to enjoy a healthy bowl of lentil soup. Next time, who knows? We might not be so lucky.

Healthy Crockpot Balsamic Italian Lentil Soup - This healthy crockpot soup is the perfect solution for those busy weeknights when you want something quick and easy for dinner, but also want to enjoy a guilt-free meal. Balsamic vinegar and honey give this soup a tangy and slightly sweet flavor, which pairs perfectly with the earthiness of the lentils, Italian seasoning, and fresh vegetables it contains. And, since this soup is slow-cooked, the vegetables and lentils retain their texture and don't turn into mush like they sometimes do when cooked on a stovetop.

Ingredients:

  • 3 Celery Stalks, Sliced
  • 2 Carrots, Peeled & Sliced
  • 2 Red Potatoes, Cut into Small Cubes
  • 1 Small Sweet Yellow Onion, Peeled & Finely Diced
  • 1 Cup Red Lentils, Rinsed & Drained
  • 1 (32-oz.) Carton Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
  • 1/4 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon Honey
  • 3 Teaspoons Homemade Italian Herb Seasoning Mix (No-Salt)
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Finely Ground Sea Salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Finely Ground Black Pepper
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

Healthy Crockpot Balsamic Italian Lentil Soup - This healthy crockpot soup is the perfect solution for those busy weeknights when you want something quick and easy for dinner, but also want to enjoy a guilt-free meal. Balsamic vinegar and honey give this soup a tangy and slightly sweet flavor, which pairs perfectly with the earthiness of the lentils, Italian seasoning, and fresh vegetables it contains. And, since this soup is slow-cooked, the vegetables and lentils retain their texture and don't turn into mush like they sometimes do when cooked on a stovetop.

Directions:

  1. Place all of the ingredients in a crockpot.
  2. Stir well to combine.
  3. Cook for 4 hours on high heat or 8 hours on low heat.

Healthy Crockpot Balsamic Italian Lentil Soup - This healthy crockpot soup is the perfect solution for those busy weeknights when you want something quick and easy for dinner, but also want to enjoy a guilt-free meal. Balsamic vinegar and honey give this soup a tangy and slightly sweet flavor, which pairs perfectly with the earthiness of the lentils, Italian seasoning, and fresh vegetables it contains. And, since this soup is slow-cooked, the vegetables and lentils retain their texture and don't turn into mush like they sometimes do when cooked on a stovetop.

Suggestions:

  • You can cut the vegetables into whatever size or shape you prefer, just make sure to cut them approximately the same size so that they can cook at the same speed.
  • Use this Homemade Italian Herb Seasoning Mix (No-Salt) to make this crockpot soup. If you use a store-bought seasoning mix, make sure to check to see if it contains salt. If it does contain salt, omit the 1/2 teaspoon of salt in the recipe and salt the soup to taste before serving.
  • I cooked this lentil soup on high heat for 4 hours, however, you could also cook it on low heat for 8 hours. If you cook the soup for longer than 8 hours, the vegetables and lentils will become softer. I prefer my soup to still have some texture.
  • If you are home while the soup is cooking, stir it a time or two.
  • This recipe will yield 4 bowls of soup.

Healthy Crockpot Balsamic Italian Lentil Soup - This healthy crockpot soup is the perfect solution for those busy weeknights when you want something quick and easy for dinner, but also want to enjoy a guilt-free meal. Balsamic vinegar and honey give this soup a tangy and slightly sweet flavor, which pairs perfectly with the earthiness of the lentils, Italian seasoning, and fresh vegetables it contains. And, since this soup is slow-cooked, the vegetables and lentils retain their texture and don't turn into mush like they sometimes do when cooked on a stovetop.

Improvements:

  • Serve this lentil soup with these Baked Parmesan Italian Seasoned Crackers.
  • Garnish the soup with freshly chopped parsley, scallions, or chives before serving.
  • Replace the red potatoes in this recipe with one large sweet potato.
  • CLICK HERE to check out all of our past crockpot and slow cooker recipes.

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Healthy Crockpot Balsamic Italian Lentil Soup

Healthy Crockpot Balsamic Italian Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

  • 3 Celery Stalks, Sliced
  • 2 Carrots, Peeled & Sliced
  • 2 Red Potatoes, Cut into Small Cubes
  • 1 Small Sweet Yellow Onion, Peeled & Finely Diced
  • 1 Cup Red Lentils, Rinsed & Drained
  • 1 (32-oz.) Carton Low-Sodium Chicken Broth
  • 1/4 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon Honey
  • 3 Teaspoons Italian Herb Seasoning Mix (No-Salt)
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Finely Ground Sea Salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Finely Ground Black Pepper
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

Directions:

  1. Place all of the ingredients in a crockpot.
  2. Stir well to combine.
  3. Cook for 4 hours on high heat or 8 hours on low heat.
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Healthy Crockpot Balsamic Italian Lentil Soup - This healthy crockpot soup is the perfect solution for those busy weeknights when you want something quick and easy for dinner, but also want to enjoy a guilt-free meal. Balsamic vinegar and honey give this soup a tangy and slightly sweet flavor, which pairs perfectly with the earthiness of the lentils, Italian seasoning, and fresh vegetables it contains. And, since this soup is slow-cooked, the vegetables and lentils retain their texture and don't turn into mush like they sometimes do when cooked on a stovetop.

Don’t let this recipe slip away. How often do you find a recipe intriguing, yet forget where to find it when you finally get the hankering to make it? Instead of digging through old posts or wandering aimlessly around on the internet, why not Pin this recipe to Pinterest where you can find it when you eventually need it? Simply Pin the image above and you’ll have it when that time comes. You can follow us HERE on Pinterest or simply click HERE to find all of our pin-worthy recipes.

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This “Slow-Cooked Balsamic Lentil Soup” recipe has been featured in Taste of Home. CLICK HERE to see the recipe. This recipe was a Runner-Up in the Taste of Home 2024 “Weeknight Winners” Contest.

Use this Homemade Italian Herb Seasoning Mix (No-Salt) to make this Healthy Crockpot Balsamic Italian Lentil Soup. Making your own Italian herb seasoning mix is a real game changer, especially when there is no salt added. Not only does it give you the ability to control the salt content in your recipes, but it also allows you to customize the blend of herbs and spices to your liking. If you’re crazy about garlic, add more garlic powder. If you prefer food a little bit spicier, add additional crushed red pepper flakes. The best part about this homemade seasoning is that it only takes a few minutes to make and can be stored for use in all of your favorite Italian recipes. CLICK HERE for the recipe.

Serve these Baked Parmesan Italian Seasoned Crackers with this Healthy Crockpot Balsamic Italian Lentil Soup. Who doesn’t love a good party snack? And if you’re hosting a party or get-together, the last thing you want to do is spend hours in the kitchen on the day of, frantically trying to prepare snacks for your guests. That’s where these Baked Parmesan Italian Seasoned Crackers come in. Not only are they incredibly easy to make, but you can also make them the day before and have them ready to go when your guests arrive. They’re buttery, cheesy, full of flavor, and have just the right amount of crushed red pepper kick. They’re also pretty great when paired with a warm bowl of soup, so don’t be afraid to make an extra batch, because these are sure to disappear fast. CLICK HERE for the recipe.

Please make sure to check out the other great From Our Dinner Table “Slow Cooking Recipes” below. A huge thanks to A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures for hosting this From Our Dinner Table group event.

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