Slow-Cooker Hearty Vegetable and Lentil Stew

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-05 · Updated 2026-04-05

A comforting, one-pot stew simmered to perfection in your slow cooker, featuring protein-rich lentils, hearty vegetables, and aromatic herbs for a satisfying weeknight meal. This slow-cooker recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 375 minutes, pairs brown lentils, onion, carrots for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 6, 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 brown lentils
• 1 large, diced onion
• 2, peeled and diced carrots
• 2 stalks, diced celery
• 3 cloves, minced garlic
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 cups, stems removed and chopped kale

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Place rinsed lentils, diced onion, carrots, celery, minced garlic, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper into the slow cooker, stirring to combine.
2. Step 2: Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours until lentils are tender and vegetables are soft.
3. Step 3: Remove bay leaf, stir in chopped kale, and cook uncovered for 10 minutes until kale wilts and tender.