Best-Selling Lentil & Sweet Potato Soup

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

A hearty, vegan soup with earthy lentils, caramelized sweet potatoes, and a hint of smoked paprika for depth. This vegetarian-inspired soups (vegan) ready in about 50 minutes pairs rinsed dried green lentils, medium, peeled and diced sweet potatoes, medium, diced carrots for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup, rinsed dried green lentils
• 2 medium, peeled and diced sweet potatoes
• 2 medium, diced carrots
• 1 medium, finely chopped onion
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, add 1 finely chopped onion, and cook for 5 minutes until translucent and soft.
2. Step 2: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, then add 2 diced sweet potatoes and 2 diced carrots, cooking for 3 minutes until slightly softened.
3. Step 3: Add 1 cup rinsed dried green lentils, 4 cups broth, 1 tsp smoked paprika, and 1/2 tsp dried thyme, then bring to a gentle boil.
4. Step 4: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25-30 minutes until lentils and vegetables are tender and soup has thickened slightly, stirring occasionally.
5. Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, letting it rest for 5 minutes to meld flavors before serving.