Slow Cooker Lentil Stew Recipe

Slow cooker lentil stew recipe with sausage kielbasa, carrots and celery makes a hearty and healthy meal for dinner you’ll love. One of our favorite Crockpot recipes of all time.

Crockpot Lentil Stew

We have made Lentil Soup with Ham before after the holidays but I don’t always have that type of meat on hand. A great substitute for us has been kielbasa sliced into bite size pieces. Not only does it add protein to this meal but has so much flavor in it that very few seasonings are required beyond that.

If you have never cooked this type of legume yourself we are here to help with How to Cook Lentils a number of different ways. Low and slow will get them super tender but there is a texture preference for sure when it comes to these. An hour too long may “ruin” it for you so keep an eye on it the first go around.

FIRST – You should sign up for my free newsletter so you get new posts emailed to you twice a week and never miss out on anything! Let’s talk a little bit about slow cooking shall we?? First off I have a few different varieties and I love them all. Each one has an occasion to be used like….

1. This is my favorite 6 quart programmable one with a locking lid so it’s great for bringing to a potluck too.
2. If you just want to serve a few appetizers you should get this one that sit side by side one another.
3. I prefer not to use liners, but rather just spray olive oil inside before adding my food for easier cleanups.

Let me give you a peek of my pretty thang I bought recently. It goes with my kitchen so I can just leave it out on the countertop all the time. 😉

Slow Cooker Lentil Stew

Now yellow, green or brown lentils still have the hulls in tact so they stay firmer for longer than Red Lentils. Those are hulled with skins removed therefore become softer with more of a mushy texture. Choose the style and color you’d like.

• 1 onion diced
• 2 stalks celery dicced
• Carrots peeled and diced
• Minced garlic
• Lentils rinsed and drained
• 4 sausage links cut into dials
• Diced tomatoes
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• Chicken or vegetable broth
• Add salt and pepper to taste when done

The cook time for lentils in a slow cooker can vary depending on the type you’re using and the specific recipe you’re following. Same thing goes for How Long to Cook Lentils on Stove. Here’s a general guideline for cooking common types in a Crockpot;

1. Brown Lentils are the most common type and hold their shape well. When cooking brown lentils in a slow cooker, you can generally follow these guidelines:
   • High Cook for 3 to 4 hours.
   • Low Cook for 6 to 8 hours.
2. Green Lentils are known for their firm texture and earthy flavor. They take a bit longer to cook than brown lentils but still work well in a slow cooker:
   • Cook for 4 to 5 hours high
   • Low setting cook for 7 to 9 hours.
3. Red Lentils cook more quickly and tend to break down, creating a creamy texture. When using red lentils in a slow cooker:
   • 2 to 3 hours High
   • Slow Cooker Lentils cooked on low for 4 to 6 hours are usually perfect
4. French Green Lentils are similar to regular green lentils but may require slightly less time:
   • 3 to 4 hours on high
   • 6 to 8 hours on low
5. Black Lentils are small and hold their shape well. They cook relatively quickly in a slow cooker:
   • Cook for 3 to 4 hours on high
   • 6 to 8 hours on low

Remember that these are general guidelines, and the actual cooking time may vary based on factors such as the cooker’s temperature accuracy and the specific recipe you’re using. Always check for tenderness and adjust as needed. Additionally, the liquid to legume ratio is important, so ensure you have enough liquid to cover them by about an inch or so.

They are quite forgiving though, so even if you slightly overcook or undercook them they can still be tasty and versatile for a variety of dishes like Instant Pot Lentil Soup with Ham and stews like this one.

Sausage Stew Slow Cooker

If you want a plant based vegan lentil stew then use vegetable broth and leave out the meat entirely. If you aren’t a huge fan of kielbasa let’s say then you could cook ground or Italian sausage in a bit of olive oil, slice and throw that in there. Easier with this for meal prep since it is already cooked and you just slice.

• Place all ingredients into the slow cooker and stir to combine.
• Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or until the lentils and vegetables are tender.

If you want to keep more of the texture then start testing every 30 minutes after 6.5 hours or so. Soups and stews made with these are really subjective as to the desired texture. Depends on whom you ask whether they prefer them more like split pea soup consistency or needing to chew it a bit more.

Love serving this with garlic crusty bread on the side to dunk it and scoop some up for dinnertime. Do this with almost all my favorite Curry Lentil Recipes too.

Chicken Sausage Stew

Now if I do have leftover chicken that works well in there too. Diced and bite sized will keep it’s texture a bit more than shredded but either one works. Before you jump to recipe let me answer a few frequent questions we have had thus far. If you have others leave them in the comments and we will do our best to answer them too.

I have made Lentils and Rice together in my Instant Pot but don’t really recommend cooking that grain in your Crockpot. The consistency is just off.