Chicken Lentil Soup
Updated Sep 19, 2025
Chicken lentil soup made with red lentils, shredded chicken, carrots, tomato pasta, and spices, simmered on the stovetop and ready in 30 minutes.
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Chicken lentil soup is so good and filling!
This chicken lentil soup is a little spin on my Lebanese crushed lentil soup, but with red lentils instead of brown ones. The red lentils give the chicken lentil soup that beautiful orange color and cook down into the broth. I like to add shredded chicken to this version because it turns the soup into more of a full meal.
The spice mix is a little different, too. Smoked paprika, cumin, and turmeric make the whole kitchen smell incredible while the soup simmers, and they add a warmth that goes so well with the carrots and chicken. For me, this chicken lentil soup is the kind of recipe I make on a Sunday and then enjoy for a couple of lunches during the week. It reheats so well and just gets better the next day.
Happy Cooking!
– Yumna
Chicken and Lentil Soup Ingredients
- Lentils: Make sure you’re grabbing red lentils, not green lentils (the textures are different).
- Shredded chicken: I like to use breast meat, but you can use thighs too! You can also try using tofu or chickpeas to make this one vegetarian.
- Oil: I like to use olive oil, but you can use any you have on hand.
- Vegetables: My go-to veggies for this chicken and lentil soup are onion, garlic, and carrots, but feel free to add other aromatics like celery or fennel. Bell peppers and zucchini would be good, too!
- Tomato Paste: Canned diced tomatoes work well if you don’t have any tomato paste on hand!
- Seasoning: I use smoked paprika, cumin, turmeric, salt and pepper to flavor this soup. Feel free to add in thyme or rosemary as well.
- Chicken broth: You can use your favorite store-bought brand or use homemade chicken broth. I like to use chicken, but vegetable broth will work well, too.
- Garnishes: I always top my chicken and lentil soup with fresh cilantro, but parsley will work, too.
How to Make Chicken Lentil Soup
Lentil Chicken Soup Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic clove minced
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup dry red lentils
- 2 large carrots sliced
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- Cilantro for serving
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the onions; cook until lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, one more minute.
- Stir in the tomato paste, smoked paprika, cumin, turmeric, salt and pepper and cook until the spices are fragrant, and everything is well coated in the paste, about 2 minutes.
- Add the lentils, carrots and chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Simmer until the lentils and carrots are soft, about 20 minutes.
- Stir in the shredded chicken and serve with fresh cilantro, if desired.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Recipe Tips
- Fry your spices with your onions. The spice combination in this soup is everything! To release the best flavor from your spices, make sure to toast them with oil and onions.
- Allow your soup to rest for the best consistency. It may seem too liquid-y at first, but your lentils will continue to absorb the liquid as it sets, so make sure you give your soup enough time to sit!
Serving Ideas
- Pair with fresh bread. I love sopping up this soup with some crusty homemade bread!
FAQs
After allowing your soup to cool down to room temperature, transfer it into an airtight container and it should keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, pour your soup into a pot and warm over medium heat, stirring occasionally until hot.
Absolutely! Once your soup has fully cooled, transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag, leaving some space at the top for expansion, and it should keep well for up to 2 to 3 months. When you’re ready to serve, thaw your soup overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop.
Comments
Made this with freekeh instead of lentils. It was delicious low cal meal. Thank you for the recipe!
Love that! So happy you enjoyed it, Ashley! Thank you!!
I’m sure this would have been delicious, however I thought I would try brown lentils instead of red as it’s what I had in my pantry, and I don’t think it worked as well as it would have! Flavour lacked sweetness and it was a bit watery, definitely better to use red lentils which I’m sure would break up better and add to sweetness!
So sorry the texture wasn’t the best with brown lentils! I hope you enjoy the soup even more next time with red lentils. Thank you, Kirrily!
Great flavoured soup recipe. I added shredded chicken and a few more veggies. Indian spices took it to another level. Excellent!
Yum! So happy you liked it, Robyn. Thank you for sharing!
So delicious. I cooked the chicken right in the soup when simmered for about an hour. Also added lemon juice based on other reviews and it was awesome! Will make again!
So happy you liked the recipe and the addition of lemon juice!! Thanks for sharing, Alyssa!
I happen to find this recipe on Google because I was trying to figure out what to do with the chicken I had in the fridge and the red lentils I had in the pantry and this recipe popped up so I gave it a try and it’s actually really good. I ended up using a little bit more cumin and some garam masala. I also added some chickpeas because I didn’t have carrots. Definitely give it a try.
Yum, love the tweaks you made!! So happy you found this recipe and were able to make the ingredients you had in your kitchen work! Thanks, Crystal!
This soup turned out amazing. I had to tweak it a bit, due to not having all ingredients on hand. I used ‘Better Than Bullion’ to make chicken broth, used garam marsala and touch of taco seasoning in place of the turmeric and cumin and added a couple of bay leaves. I also used one chicken leg quarter that I roasted in the oven and deboned to add to the soup, along with some peas. I love this recipe and will definitely make it again. Thank you!
Yum, love the substitutions you made with what you had in your pantry!! So happy you liked the recipe, Justine. Thank you!
This was so easy and delicious! Thank you!
Thank you! So glad you liked it, Michelle!
This soup was a disappointment. I think it needed something sour and acidic. I added sour cream. I will add some lemon juice too.
So sorry to hear you weren’t a huge fan of the soup, Hibber. I think the addition of lemon juice and sour cream sounds amazing! Hope you were able to achieve that extra touch of acidity you were looking for.
I cannot wait to try this recipe, but I have one question. The ingredient list says paprika, but the instructions mention smoked paprika. Which one should I use? Thank you!!!
Great question, Ana! You should use smoked paprika; the ingredients list was incorrect. Thank you for pointing this out. I’ve updated the recipe to say “smoked paprika” now! Enjoy!!
Delicious recipe, thank you for sharing
You’re welcome, Denise! So happy you liked it!!
Hi, can this be done in the Instant Pot?
I haven’t tried this soup in my Instant Pot yet but I think it would work well. Please let me know how it turns out if you end up trying it!!
I wanted an alternative to typical chicken soup when I found this. I made it last night and wow! I fell in love. Easy and quick to make and the seasonings are right on! I didn’t have tomato paste so I substituted pasta sauce instead and it worked fine. I’ve already shared this recipe with 2 friends and I’ll make it many times this winter.
Aww, that’s amazing! So happy you love it!! It’s so good to have a few go-to soup recipes for the winter. Thanks, Michelle!
Amazing soup. Glad I tripped across it
Yay! I’m glad you did too!!
I made this tonight and it was delicious! I did add one thing after tasting – a scant amount (maybe 1/4 tsp-ish) curry powder (“generic” Spice Island grocery store curry powder), and I thought it really boosted all the other spices. Anyway, it hit the spot!
Yum, sounds like a great addition! So glad you liked it!! Thanks, Tracy!
Delicious as always! I had a delicata squash on hand and roasted, peeled and cut up to add to the soup. Also squeezed half a lemon to brighten up. Will make this again for sure. Think I’ll add some chopped mini bells as well. Five stars!
Yay, so happy you liked it!! Love the tweaks you made and I think mini bell peppers would be delicious too! Thanks!
Loved this soup! It came together so quickly and was absolutely delicious. I added some frozen peas, for some more vege. Will definitely be making it again this winter.
Yay! So happy you loved it! Frozen peas are a great addition. Thanks, Kristen!
Is the nutrition based on one serving of soup?
Yes, it is! The recipe makes 6 servings.
I’m excited to try this! Is there a substitution for cumin? I currently have a strong pregnancy aversion to it 🙂
Congrats! Yes, you can either skip the cumin or swap it for chili powder, or even a little more smoked paprika.
I cooked chicken thighs about 5-6 min per side in the Dutch oven first, removed and added back in with the liquids to all simmer together. I removed thighs at end and shredded with fork and added back in. Loved the seasoning and the texture from the red lentils. Will definitely make again!! 👍😋
Sounds amazing!
Love this soup!! I added a spicy Spanish Chorizo (diced) before adding the spices, and a handful of chopped fresh spinach at the end with a squeeze of lemon. So delicious, I’ll be making this one again!
Sounds great, thanks for sharing!
I love this soup, have made many times. Cheers!
Amazing! Glad you like it, Lyn!!
This soup is absolutely amazing and the lentils add a wonderful texture. I added zucchini, broccoli, and green pepper for additional veggies. I make soup on a weekly basis and will have this soup once a month!!!
Yum, sounds so good!
This soup was delicious!! I usually find myself adding ingredients to recipes to get to the flavor I’m looking for but this recipe I followed to the letter (even measured the seasonings which I never do!! lol) and it was perfect! I used my own homemade chicken stock and added some chicken thighs I had cooked in the stock. I used my hand mixer with one beater attached to make quick work of shredding the chicken. My whole family loved this soup and everyone went back for seconds! Very flavorful and will definitely be added to our list of favorite soups to make!!
*the only change I had to make was I used regular paprika because I was out of my smoked paprika…I will try it with the smoked paprika next time because I’m sure it will only add to the delicious flavor of the soup!!
Wow, so glad to hear the whole family loved it, that is always such a good feeling!
The taste and consistency is spot on! Simple to make. Will definitely stay as our go to recipe .
Loved it! I have texture issues with food so I chose to blend the soup before I added the chicken. I made this for meal prep and I’m looking forward to eating it all week!
What a great way to get ahead on the week. Thanks for letting me know about the option to blend the soup, so happy that worked out for you.
This soup is delicious and so easy! I used shredded rotisserie chicken, extra carrots, and added a can of rinsed cannellini beans at the end for more fiber and protein. Adding this to the rotation :o) Thank you!!!
You’re so welcome! Happy to hear that you enjoyed it!
I didn’t like lentils before this recipe….. but now i LOVE them-this was so good!!! I like to soak my lentils for 8 hours with 2 tbsp of vinegar in water beforehand for easier digestion like I do with all beans.
So glad you enjoyed the soup – great tip too on soaking beans!
This was delicious! So hearty and filling yet low in fat! Great for meal prepping as well!!
Thank you so much!
Followed the recipe as best I could, (had to cook chicken bits to add, no cicken broth, used stock cubes, missed out the salt).
turn out so well and made so much, had my fill (twice 🙂 ) and froze the rest.
easy and cheap. added to my batch cooking list ( Cooking 4 1).
So glad you liked Collin.
Wow, so good! I added a dollop of labneh on top. Yum yum!
Yum!!!
Oh man, this is going into permanent rotation! Amazing flavors and quite easy to prepare. I added a little chilli for some heat too.
So glad you enjoyed the lentil soup, Natasha!
Yumma, your red lentil soup is as delicious as it is easy–I couldn’t stop sampling as it cooked. Easy to have the needed ingredients and easy to pull together with your straightforward, unfussy approach. I decided to use dark meat instead of breast, so, before sauteing the vegetables, I browned some chicken legs in the soup pot, removed them to the side, and added them back whole to cook along with the soup. It’s a winner, a keeper, ten thumbs up.
Thank you so much! Sampling is definitely one of the best parts. I love that!
Excellent soup. Did use extra spice and garlic, also added some green vegetables. All my family loved it without exception – a very rare occurrence!
Thank you so much! That would perfect.
I made this for the first time tonight and it is delicious. I made the chicken in my Instant Pot. I used 5 carrots and Andes 5 celery stalks. I will definitely make this again. My fiancé said he would eat this all winter. This is a winner!
That makes me so happy to hear! That sounds perfect! Hope you both stay cozy and warm this winter with this soup.
It was very good I might have overcooked it but it tasted good
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the taste nonetheless!
I made this for dinner and we loved it. It is lightly seasoned but perfect for my taste. I made it with homemade chicken broth and used regular paprika since I didn’t have smoked and it was still soo good. Thank you for such wonderful recipes.
That’s perfect! You’re so welcome!
Amazing soup and so easy to make!
Thank you!!!
Only tweak was adding celery and it is delicious. Seasoning is light but perfect for my taste, cooking spices with onion is important. So tasty!! I didnt add chicken into the soup but did have it on the side.
Great idea! Thank you!!
It was easy and yummy! I added diced celery with onions. I will make this again.
Thank you! Love that idea!
Was excited to try this, but it ended up pretty bland. Looking at the spice quantities compared to other recipes I’ve made, I would probably double the quantities if I made it again.
You can definitely taste and adjust the seasonings as you go!
Looks and sounds yummy but I’m curious where all the sodium is coming from in the nutrition facts?
Thank you! Most of it is coming from the chicken broth.
I cooked this for my partner and I with a few extra veggies and it was delicious! Thanks for the recipe I will definitely be making it again and have shared the recipe with family.
That sounds amazing! I’m glad to hear it!
This was INCREDIBLE! so sooo yummy! I made for dinner but had to have some right away!
Thank you for this amazing recipe! I’ve sent this link to all my friends that like to cook!! Yummy!!!!
Thank you so much!! Hope all of your friends enjoy it as much as you did!
Just great Thank you
Yay! You’re so welcome!
Yum!
Yay!!
This soup was soo good and easy to make! Even my 6 year old liked it, yay!
That’s amazing! Yay!!
I love this soup! The smoky paprika adds the perfect flavor and it smells like a memory that I had forgotten, but makes me warm all over when it comes back.
I added the shredded chicken about 10 minutes into the last 20 minutes of simmering. I used the hand pulled rotisserie chicken from Costco.
I added the spices to the hot oil and onion/garlic mixture and stirred until the aroma was full. Then I added the tomato paste and it was perfect.
I’m trying to decide what to serve with it, not in it. Orzo or couscous maybe.
Looking forward to seeing how well it freezes and thaws.
Wasn’t runny or watery at all.
Thank you so much! That makes me so happy to hear! How nostalgic!
Just the best recipe and it is very easy- all comes together into a delicious meal. Can I assume that the serving size is one cup and the recipe makes 6 cups?
I doubled it and plan on freeZing the remainder if there is any! Thank you for the recipe!!
Thank you so much!!! That could work, but I recommend making the recipe and then dividing it by six to get the most accurate serving size. You’re so welcome!
Thank you Yumna for this great recipe. I enjoyed the entire easy process of making and eating it. Very easy and the outcome taste delicious. Kids approved!
This is so delicious. Recipe is so well written and the spices are perfect. I have made it twice already. This is my favorite food insta page!
I really appreciate that! Thank you so much!
This soup is delicious! My whole family loved it. It’s very filling and perfect for lunch, especially during the chilly winter months!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that!
Wow, loved this soup! Decided to make it after a big snow storm in NJ to warm up and it was perfect! I added celery because I just love celery, I’m weird! I also topped it with some oven baked, crispy tortilla strips and it was a wonderful addition for a little crunch!
I could see how celery would be a good addition! Thank you!
Thank YOU for another awesome recipe!
Most welcome!
Such a tasty soup for everyday! I made it without the chicken and added an extra carrot! Amazing!!
I love that! Thank you!!
Another winner! SO GOOD and perfect for this cold rainy day. Thank you!!
Yay! I love that! Most welcome!!
I made your red lentil soup for dinner tonight and I loved it! It was so easy to make ( since I am 18 years old I appreciated that part ) and full of flavor! Definitely gonna make it again
Yay! Hope you continue to enjoy it!
I have split red lentils, is that the same thing?
Yup! That will work!
This is an awesome recipe. So flavorful and delicious, easy-to-cook and unusual with all those spices! ❤️
Especially love how protein loaded it is!
That is perfect! Thank you so much!
This is so yummmmmy!!
Its goes so well with the chicken 😍
Thank you for this recipe💙
That’s amazing! Most welcome!!
Its so yummy
beckandbulow
Yay! I’m so glad to hear that!
Made this tonight and absolutely loved it! I added a couple extra veggies for me and left the chicken out. Then added chicken separately in my husband’s bowl. This has delicious flavor and is super quick and easy. Thank you for the recipe!
Most welcome! I’m so glad to hear that.
I made this without chicken. I added lemon juice! Oh my goodness it was so delicious. There were no left overs in my house. This is now a weekly meal!
I’m so glad you all enjoyed it! Thank you!!