Lentils are a fantastically cheap store cupboard ingredient to keep on hand, as they lend themselves beautifully to everything from soups and stews to traditionally ‘meaty’ meals like bolognese, burgers and meatloaf. These delicious, budget-friendly lentil recipes are definitely worth a try!
Don’t miss our best content straight to your inbox! Sign up now and get our FREE newsletters packed with fun ideas and things to do with the kids, family-friendly recipes, expert advice, parenting tips and great competitions.
I love lentils, and it’s something that we always have in the cupboard. I add them to soups, bolognese and plenty of meat-based dishes which helps to bulk it out and make it go further (great for keeping costs down too).
In an effort to add more vegetarian meals to the menu lately, I’ve been on the hunt for more lentil recipes – and now I feel like I’ve been missing out on so many. Lentil dahl and lentil curry were big hits, and Mujadara was divine!
You May Also Enjoy Cheap Chickpea Recipes That Are Packed With Flavour (And Protein!)
Delicious Lentil Recipes
Red Lentil Dahl
Image: The Wanderlust Kitchen
Red lentil dahl (sometimes also written as dhal, daal, or dal) cooks really fast, so is a great choice for midweek meals because you have a healthy, homemade meal on the table in 30 minutes.
This lentil dahl recipe from The Wanderlust Kitchen packs a real punch with the addition of lots of spices. It’s amazing what a few fragrant ingredients can do to a pot of lentils! Serve with plenty of naan bread and basmati rice for the perfect Indian meal.
You May Also Enjoy This Deliciously Easy Vegetable Stir Fry Takes Just Minutes to Make!
Hearty Lentil Soup
Image: Cookie and Kate
This Cookie and Kate lentil soup is a very popular lentil recipe, with more than 1,500 reviews. The soup itself has an amazing hearty texture that’s lightly creamy (without adding any cream!) and is packed full of goodness for a delicious meal-in-a-bowl!
Lentil Stew
Image: Budget Bytes
This vegan lentil stew from Budget Bytes is rich, hearty, and packed with flavour – all you need to go with it is some crusty bread.
This recipe makes a big batch that’s perfect for freezing in portions, ready to defrost for nights when you just want comfort in a bowl!
You May Also Enjoy 10 Super Tasty And Easy Store Cupboard Recipes
Lebanese Lentil Salad
Image: Kalyn’s Kitchen
Skip the usual side dishes and try this delicious Lebanese Lentil Salad with garlic and herbs from Kalyn’s Kitchen for some amazing flavour!
Great for a family occasion or to keep in the fridge for healthy weekday lunches.
Lentil Bolognese
Image: Hungry Healthy Happy
Spaghetti Bolognese is such a classic Italian dish, and this vegan lentil bolognese from Hungry Healthy Happy is still packed with protein and flavour.
Using store cupboard staples, with lentils instead of meat, you’ll find this dinner is perfect for batch cooking.
You May Also Enjoy 10 Tempting Vegetarian Pasta Recipes Perfect for Family Dinner
Creamy Coconut Lentil Curry
Image: The Endless Meal
This easy-to-make Creamy Coconut Lentil Curry from The Endless Meal is a healthy vegan recipe that makes a perfect meatless dinner.
It takes less than an hour (mostly hands-off time) to make and is packed full of delicious Indian flavours.
DO YOU MEAL PLAN?
Learn how to create a plan with our top tips and download your FREE weekly meal planner!
Vegetarian Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
Image: Taste
Lentils and pumpkin (or squash) combine for a delicious vegetarian shepherd’s pie in this dinner recipe from Taste.
A cheesy mash is the perfect topping, and you won’t miss the meat.
You May Also Enjoy 11 of the Best Vegetarian Recipes for a Meatless Monday
Lentil Hummus
Image: Oh My Veggies
No chickpeas? No problem! You’ll fall in love with the flavours of this delicious green lentil hummus from Oh My Veggies.
Mujadara
Image: Feel Good Foodie
Mujadara is a Middle Eastern recipe using green or brown lentils (not red), rice or bulgur, and caramelized onions. It is inexpensive and simple to make, and there are countless variations of the recipe that include some additional flavours, from sultanas to pomegranate seeds.
This classic mujadara recipe from Feel Good Foodie shows you just how to make this tasty dish at home.
Pasta With Lentils (Pasta e Lenticchie)
Image: Tasting Table
Pasta e lenticchie, like pasta e ceci (chickpeas) and pasta e fagioli (beans), is a staple of Neapolitan cuisine.
Try this delicious pasta a lenticchie recipe from Tasting Table and you’ll be surprised at the rich, creamy flavour that can be achieved.
You May Also Enjoy This Warming Chickpea Stew Is Packed Full of Flavour (And Cheap!)
Lentil Burgers
Image: Making Thyme For Health
These classic lentil burgers from Making Thyme For Health are perfect for adding all your favourite burger toppings.
Plus, better still, there’s no guilt with these burgers as each one packs plenty of iron, fibre and 12 grams of protein!
Mediterranean Lentil Salad
Image: Recipe Runner
This Mediterranean Lentil Salad from Recipe Runner is a hearty salad that’s perfect for lunch, a side dish or even a vegetarian main dish.
Full of cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, feta and protein-packed lentils, you’ll absolutely love the flavours and textures in this healthy salad.
Carrot and Lentil Soup
Image: BBC Good Food
This spiced carrot and lentil soup from BBC Good Food is one of our favourites. Using cumin for that earthy warmth gives this soup major comfort food status – without the guilt!
You May Also Enjoy 16 Splendid Soup Recipes That The Kids Will Love
Lentil Meatloaf
Image: Minimalist Baker
This vegan lentil nut meatloaf from Minimalist Baker uses just 10 ingredients, including tinned lentils to make this even simpler.
Sweet potatoes and mushrooms give the meatloaf plenty of flavour, while some chopped nuts give texture. A traditional Ketchup glaze will ensure meatloaf fans are missing out on nothing!
You May Also Enjoy These Crispy Chickpeas Are Great for a Healthy Snack
What are your favourite lentil recipes? Leave a comment below and let us know – we’d love to hear from you!
About the Author: Emily Manning
