10 Lentil Recipes That Aren't Just Soup
Ten lentil dinners beyond the soup pot — tacos, sloppy joes, dal, shepherd's pie, pasta — with estimated cost per serving, protein, and cook time.
A bag of dried lentils costs about $1.50 and cooks in 25 minutes with no soaking. That's the entire case for keeping them around — and the reason to look past lentil soup, which is where most lentil lists stop. These ten put lentils in tacos, sloppy joes, dal, shepherd's pie and pasta sauce, where the texture does the job ground meat usually does.
Anychef catalog data: 26 recipes in our library cook with lentils, at a median $1.80 a serving and 40 minutes — 21 of them under $2, and 24 of them meatless, at a median 16g of protein a serving. Ranked by protein per dollar. Costs are per-serving estimates, not measured prices.
The list
1. Lentil Sloppy Joes
18g protein390 cal$1.20/serving35 min
Saucy, tangy, and hearty enough to fool the biggest skeptic, this meatless take on the lunchroom legend piles high on a toasted bun.
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2. Creamy Lentil Soup
16g protein280 cal$1.20/serving40 min
Earthy lentils simmered with carrots, celery, and onion in a silky broth, a warming vegetarian dinner that fills the belly and empties the wallet.
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3. Lentil and Chard Soup
16g protein280 cal$1.30/serving40 min
Hearty lentils simmered with leafy chard, tomatoes, and aromatics in a broth flavored with cumin and coriander, a rustic Mediterranean staple.
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4. Loaded Lentil Power Bowl
20g protein520 cal$1.80/serving45 min
Hearty cooked lentils with roasted vegetables, quinoa, and a tahini dressing.
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5. Greek Lentil Salad
15g protein320 cal$1.40/serving30 min
Hearty lentils with cucumber, tomato, olives, and oregano dressing.
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6. Creamy Tomato Lentil Pasta
16g protein410 cal$1.50/serving35 min
Al dente pasta coated in silky tomato-based sauce enriched with protein-packed lentils.
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7. Hearty Vegetable and Lentil Skillet
17g protein410 cal$1.60/serving50 min
Slow-simmered lentils with root vegetables in a rich tomato broth, served family-style.
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8. Lentil Mediterranean Bowl
18g protein430 cal$1.80/serving40 min
Warm green lentils topped with roasted tomatoes, olives, and fresh herbs over creamy hummus.
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9. Lentil & Vegetable Soup
18g protein320 cal$1.80/serving45 min
Hearty lentils simmered with carrots, celery, and spinach in a savory broth, perfect for a cozy dinner.
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10. Creamy Tomato Lentil Soup
14g protein260 cal$1.50/serving35 min
Hearty red lentils simmered in a silky tomato broth with herbs, a warming and nourishing bowl.
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Every recipe above comes from the Anychef library of 1,700+ recipes, each with cost per serving and full macros — browse all vegetarian recipes and the budget collection. Or skip the browsing entirely: scan your fridge with the Anychef app and get recipes built from what you already have, macros and grocery list included.
