Description
This Slow Cooker Lentil and Chicken Soup is a hearty and comforting dish perfect for an easy weeknight meal. Combining tender chicken thighs, nutritious lentils, and a flavorful blend of spices and vegetables, this soup is slow-cooked to develop rich and savory flavors with minimal effort. Packed with protein and fiber, it’s both satisfying and nourishing.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound dried lentils (green or brown)
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 24 ounces, all fat trimmed, or use chicken breast)
- 2 cartons chicken broth (32 ounces each)
- 1 (10-ounce) can Rotel diced tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups carrots (diced)
- 1/4 cup sofrito (homemade or store-bought)
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon Adobo seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Place the dried lentils, chicken thighs, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, carrots, sofrito, turmeric, cumin, Adobo seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper into a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Cook the Soup: Set the slow cooker to high and cook the mixture for 4 hours, or alternatively set it to low and cook for 8 hours. This slow cooking will tenderize the chicken and lentils, allowing flavors to meld.
- Shred the Chicken: Once cooked, use two forks to shred the chicken pieces directly in the slow cooker. Stir the soup to distribute the shredded chicken evenly.
- Adjust Seasonings: Taste the soup and adjust the salt, black pepper, or other seasonings as desired to enhance the flavor.
Notes
- Sofrito can be homemade or bought pre-made; it adds a rich base flavor to the soup.
- Using chicken thighs adds extra moisture and flavor compared to chicken breasts.
- If using chicken breast, monitor cooking time as it may dry out faster.
- The soup can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for longer storage.
- For a thicker soup, you can use an immersion blender to partially puree some of the lentils before shredding the chicken.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
