Cozy Instant Pot Ham and Lentil Stew

Discover the ultimate comfort food with this incredibly versatile **Lentil Soup with Ham** recipe. Whether you prefer the speed of an **Instant Pot**, the classic charm of a stovetop pot, or the convenience of a slow cooker, this recipe delivers a hearty, flavorful meal perfect for any occasion. It’s an ideal solution for using up **leftover ham** after the holidays, or you can easily dice fresh ham or a smoky ham hock to infuse rich flavor. Packed with nutritious lentils and vibrant vegetables, this soup can be served as a robust appetizer or a complete dinner idea that comes together quickly in your pressure cooker.

If you’re on the hunt for the **best leftover ham soup**, your search ends here! This recipe offers a delightful blend of savory ham, earthy lentils, and tender vegetables, creating a deeply satisfying one-pot meal. For those who prefer a meat-free option, it’s effortlessly adaptable into a delicious **vegetarian lentil soup**. While we champion it as an incredibly easy Instant Pot recipe due to its efficiency, we’ll also provide clear instructions for preparing it on your stovetop, ensuring everyone can enjoy this wholesome dish regardless of their kitchen equipment. This article contains affiliate links, which help support our content creation at no extra cost to you.

Instant Pot Lentil Soup: Quick & Flavorful

Our journey to this fantastic recipe began with simple Instant Pot red lentils, originally envisioned as a healthy side dish. However, with the addition of fresh vegetables and the savory depth of ham, it transforms into a truly fabulous main course. This method truly shines as an exceptional leftover ham recipe, turning holiday remnants into a culinary triumph.

Don’t wait for holiday leftovers to enjoy this delightful soup! You can easily make this year-round by picking up a ham steak from your local grocery store. Simply dice it up and add it to the pot, allowing you to savor this comforting soup even in the middle of summer. Soup for dinner is always a great choice, offering warmth and flavor in every spoonful.

Pressure Cooking Tips for Success

Ninja Foodi Lentil Soup: Adaptable and Delicious

Making this lentil soup in a Ninja Foodi is just as straightforward as with any other pressure cooker. The key difference lies in using the appropriate lid—specifically, the pressure cooking lid (not the air frying lid) for this recipe. The beauty of this soup is its simplicity, requiring just a few core ingredients, leaving plenty of room for customization. Feel free to double the amount of vegetables if you desire a chunkier soup; simply be mindful that this will result in a thicker consistency. However, this is easily adjustable later by adding more broth, which is an inexpensive ingredient. For those craving an even richer flavor profile, consider adding aromatic ingredients like diced onions or minced garlic at the beginning of the cooking process.

When selecting lentils, you have several choices, each with unique characteristics. Red lentils tend to cook the fastest and will break down more, creating a creamier texture and often turning a lovely yellow hue when fully cooked. Other varieties, like brown or green lentils, hold their shape better, providing a more distinct bite. Here’s a detailed look at the ingredients that form the backbone of this delicious soup:

1. Dry Lentils: The star of our soup! Any variety works, but red lentils are great for a quicker, creamier result, while brown or green lentils offer more texture.
2. Diced Pre-cooked Ham: This is where the rich, savory flavor comes from. Using leftover ham from holiday meals is perfect, providing a wonderful way to minimize food waste.
   1. If you’ve recently prepared our Instant Pot ham or Ninja Foodi ham, you likely have a convenient bag of pre-sliced ham ready to transform into soup.
   2. For an even deeper, smoky flavor, consider incorporating ham hocks. They are a fantastic and economical way to enhance the soup’s profile.
3. Celery: A classic mirepoix component, celery adds a subtle peppery note and essential aromatic depth, making it a great and inexpensive addition.
4. Carrots: Bringing natural sweetness and a beautiful pop of color, chopped carrots are another fundamental vegetable for this hearty soup.
5. Broth (Chicken or Vegetable): Chicken broth was our choice for this recipe, offering a robust flavor base that complements the ham beautifully. For a **vegetarian lentil soup**, simply substitute with vegetable broth to maintain the rich liquid base.
6. Bay Leaves (Optional): For an added layer of aromatic complexity, you can include 1-2 bay leaves during cooking. Remember to remove them before serving to avoid any bitter taste.

Salt and freshly ground black pepper are always given to taste, but feel free to experiment with other seasonings to tailor the soup to your preference. A pinch of thyme, a dash of smoked paprika, or a touch of garlic powder can all elevate the flavor profile. Let’s get cooking!

Do You Soak Lentils Before Making Soup?

Absolutely not! Unlike some other dried legumes, lentils do not require pre-soaking before being used in soup, especially when cooking in a pressure cooker. Just like making dry pressure cooker beans, this step is entirely unnecessary. Simply give your lentils a good rinse under cold water to remove any debris, and then they’re ready to go straight into the pot. Since the ham is already pre-cooked, you don’t even need to sauté it beforehand. This truly makes it a fantastic **dump and go recipe**, saving you precious time and effort without sacrificing flavor or quality.

Can You Overcook Lentils in Soup?

Yes, it is possible to overcook lentils in soup, and doing so will significantly alter their texture. While some recipes, like our Instant Pot split pea soup, aim for a creamy, smooth consistency, lentil soup is typically enjoyed with a bit more texture. You want the lentils to be tender and soft, not crunchy, but ideally not completely disintegrated into mush. A slight bite or firmness is often preferred, providing a pleasant contrast to the liquid broth and other softened vegetables.

Achieving that perfect al dente texture for lentils truly is a fine balance, and personal preference plays a huge role. If you find yourself gravitating towards a smoother soup, then don’t fret about overcooking—a longer cook time will achieve that velvety consistency. However, if you, like us, appreciate a soup where the lentils retain some of their structural integrity, then it’s best to err on the side of a shorter cook time. For a good starting point in a pressure cooker, 30 minutes for 1 cup of lentils with adequate liquid is often perfect for maintaining that desired texture.

It’s important to note that the consistency of your lentil soup will likely change when reheated as leftovers. Lentils tend to absorb more liquid and soften further over time, so expect your soup to be substantially softer and thicker the next day or two. Despite this change in texture, it will still be incredibly flavorful and comforting. A little extra broth can easily bring it back to your desired consistency if it becomes too thick.

What Kind of Lentils Do You Use for Soup?

When it comes to lentil soup, you have several excellent varieties to choose from, each offering slightly different characteristics in terms of texture and cooking time. **Red lentils** are often recommended if you prefer a soup with a smoother, creamier consistency, as they break down relatively quickly and turn a lovely yellow-orange color when cooked. **Brown lentils** and **green lentils**, as seen in our images, hold their shape better during cooking, providing a heartier, more distinct bite that many enjoy. Green lentils tend to be slightly firmer and nuttier than brown.

While these are the most common and widely available, lentils come in a spectrum of colors. **Black lentils**, also known as Beluga lentils, are the toughest variety but are celebrated for their rich, earthy flavor and high nutritional content. They maintain their shape exceptionally well, making them ideal for salads or as a robust side dish, though they require a longer cooking time for soup. Experiment with different types to discover your personal favorite!

Beyond ham, you can certainly get creative with the protein you add to this soup. While ham provides a classic, unbeatable flavor, almost any leftover cooked meat can be repurposed. For instance, if you have leftover pork chops that you hate to waste, dice them into very small pieces. This ensures they become nice and moist within the soup and are easy to chew, similar to how we might adapt our Instant Pot barley soup after the holidays.

The addition of **diced ham** truly elevates this soup into a flavorful, satisfying meal. The inherent saltiness and subtle sweetness in the ham mean you often need very little additional seasoning—usually just a simple pinch of salt and pepper to enhance the natural flavors.

If you prefer to make this soup on the stovetop, it’s absolutely achievable, though it requires a bit more active attention. You’ll add all ingredients to a large pot, bring it to a simmer, and stir intermittently. This prevents sticking and ensures even cooking. The key to stovetop success is monitoring the lentils; once they begin to approach your desired tenderness, stay close to the stove. Check them consistently every few minutes by tasting until they reach that perfect texture. Remove the pot from the heat immediately when they are just right, remembering that they will continue to soften slightly in the hot broth, especially if the lid remains on. For the best texture, enjoy your stovetop lentil soup right away.

How to Make Pressure Cooker Lentils and Ham

Preparing this hearty lentil and ham soup is straightforward, whether you’re using a pressure cooker or a traditional stovetop pot. Here’s a detailed guide to both methods:

• Pour your chosen broth (chicken or vegetable) into the inner pot of your pressure cooker or a large, heavy-bottomed stockpot.
• Add the rinsed lentils, diced ham, chopped celery, and carrots, along with any optional seasonings like bay leaves, salt, and pepper, into your pot. Stir all the ingredients together gently to combine.
• For Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi):
  • Securely close the lid and ensure the steam release valve is set to the sealing position.
  • Cook on high pressure for 30 minutes.
  • Once the cooking cycle is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally. This typically takes around 20 minutes, allowing the lentils to fully absorb the flavors and become perfectly tender.
  • Carefully lift the lid, stir the soup, and taste for seasoning. Add more salt and pepper if desired, and then it’s ready to serve.
• For Stovetop Pot or Dutch Oven:
  • Place your pot on the stovetop and set the heat to medium. Cover the pot with a lid.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer.
  • Stir the soup every so often to prevent sticking and to ensure even cooking of the lentils.
  • Check the lentils for tenderness periodically. They will take approximately 35-45 minutes to cook, depending on the type of lentil and desired consistency.
  • Once the lentils are as tender as you like, remove the pot from the heat. Leave the lid on and let it sit for about 10 minutes; this allows the flavors to meld further and the lentils to finish absorbing liquid. Then, serve immediately.

For an extra touch of freshness and flavor, consider garnishing your finished soup with a sprinkle of fresh diced parsley and/or a generous grating of shredded Parmesan cheese—a personal favorite. While the steps above offer a quick rundown, a printable recipe card with precise measurements is conveniently located at the bottom of this post for your ease. 😉

How Do You Thin Lentil Soup?

Thinning lentil soup is incredibly easy and a common adjustment, especially when dealing with leftovers. Lentils continue to absorb liquid as they cool, which often results in a significantly thicker soup the next day. To bring it back to your preferred consistency, simply pour in a few tablespoons of additional chicken or vegetable broth (or even water) at a time, stirring well after each addition. Continue adding and stirring until the soup reaches the desired thickness. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed after thinning, as adding liquid can sometimes mellow the flavor.

Slow Cooker Lentil Soup with Ham: Effortless Goodness

For those who appreciate the ease of set-it-and-forget-it cooking, this lentil soup with ham is also perfectly suited for a slow cooker. You’ll use the same delicious ingredients as the other methods, but the cooking process is extended and more gentle. Simply combine all ingredients in your slow cooker and cook on a low heat setting for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-6 hours, until the lentils are wonderfully tender. The longer, slower cook time allows the flavors to deeply meld, creating an incredibly rich and aromatic soup. If you desire an even smoother texture at the end, an immersion blender can be used to achieve a creamier consistency. Alternatively, you can prepare Slow Cooker Lentils separately and then stir in the cooked ham during the last hour or just before serving.

Ham and Lentil Soup without Ham Bone: Flavorful Variations

While a ham bone can add incredible depth of flavor to lentil soup, it’s absolutely possible to create a rich and satisfying **ham and lentil soup recipe** without one. As mentioned, common vegetables like carrots, celery, and onion are your best, and often cheapest, allies in building a robust flavor base. These aromatic vegetables simmer down to create a sweet and savory foundation that complements the lentils and ham beautifully.

However, for an extraordinary flavor boost, consider using smoked ham. One Easter, we prepared a smoked cooked ham, and the leftovers were absolutely incredible in this soup. The smoky notes infused throughout the broth, elevating the soup to an entirely new level of deliciousness. It was truly an unforgettable experience!

Nutritional information is provided below as an approximation. Please remember that the saturated fat and sodium content can vary significantly based on the specific type of ham you use (e.g., lean ham vs. a fattier ham hock). We haven’t tried this exact recipe in a slow cooker with a ham bone, but based on experience, we imagine it would come out exceptionally well. A good starting point would be to cook on low for 4-6 hours, checking for tenderness at the 4-hour mark. We sincerely hope this comprehensive guide helps you understand how to cook lentils perfectly and that this becomes your new favorite hearty dish.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Once your delicious lentil soup has cooled, transfer any leftovers to airtight containers. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, making it an excellent meal prep option for busy weeks. As noted earlier, the soup will likely thicken considerably in the fridge as the lentils continue to absorb liquid. When reheating, simply add a splash of broth or water to achieve your desired consistency before warming it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. For longer storage, lentil soup freezes beautifully. Portion it into freezer-safe containers or bags and store for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. This ensures you always have a comforting, homemade meal ready to go, even on the busiest of days.