This Ham and Lentil Soup features onions, celery, carrots, tomatoes, dried lentils, and smoked ham in a savory and smoky broth. This quick and easy soup is a family favorite.
This soup is full of wholesome goodness from healthy garden vegetables and plenty of natural fiber from lentils.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients on the recipe card below.
- Carrots: Peel them to make them look more appealing.
- Smoked paprika: Not to be confused with sweet paprika. The red peppers are smoked over an oak fire before grinding. It adds a lot of flavor dimension.
- Dried marjoram: It is a milder, sweeter, less intense relative of oregano. You can substitute oregano if needed.
- Chicken broth: Preferably low sodium.
- Dried lentils: For this hearty chunky soup, use green or brown lentils.
- Fire-roasted diced tomatoes: If you can’t find them, you can substitute regular diced tomatoes.
- Ham: Use any fully cooked smoked ham. This recipe is great for leftover holiday ham, ham steak, or ham shank.
- Fresh herbs: Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or thyme.
How To Make Ham and Lentil Soup
This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
- Cook the onions, celery, and carrots in a bit of olive oil over medium heat until the onions and celery are soft.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, and marjoram. Cook for 1 minute while stirring.
- Add the bay leaves, chicken broth, water, lentils, and diced tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add the ham steak and simmer for 15-30 minutes or until the lentils are tender.
- Remove the ham steak. Dice the ham while removing the bone and fat. Add the diced ham back to the pot.
- Remove the bay leaves and garnish with fresh herbs.
Serving Suggestions
- Bread or rolls: easy sweet potato cornbread, homemade yeast rolls, beer bread
- Salads: arugula salad and roasted vegetable salad with lemon vinaigrette.
- Sandwiches: broiled tomato sandwich and Rachel sandwich
More Soup Recipes
Ham and Lentil Soup
This Ham and Lentil Soup features onions, celery, carrots, tomatoes, dried lentils, and smoked ham in a savory and smoky broth.
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Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 359kcal
Ingredients
- 1½ tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ½ tablespoon chili powder
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried marjoram
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 1⅓ cups dried green or brown lentils
- 1 (15-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 2½ cups diced smoked cooked ham or ham steak with bone
- chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook the onions, celery, and carrots until the onions and celery are soft.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, and marjoram. Cook for 1 minute while stirring.
- Add the bay leaves, chicken broth, water, dried lentils, and diced tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add the ham steak and simmer for 15-30 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Remove the ham steak. Dice the ham while removing the bone and fat. Add the diced ham back to the pot.
- Remove the bay leaves and garnish with fresh herbs.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave at reduced power.
- Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Nutrition
Calories: 359kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 1354mg | Potassium: 1078mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 6463IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 5mg
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Barbie R
I love me some lentil soup it is so yummy. Love the idea of adding smoked paprika to it. I do not think I’ve used that spice before myself but it sounds like a great twist. Yummy
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Barbie! Enjoy!
Melanie E
I do really love lentil soup but have never experimented by adding ham. That sounds like a great idea. It would add additional flavour and texture to the meal. Sounds like a lovely filling soup to try x
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Melanie! Enjoy!
Gust
Tried it for lunch and it turned out hearty and filling. Simple ingredients but really satisfying!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Gust! So happy that you liked it.
Alejandra
This ham and lentil soup is so cozy and delicious! My family loved it, so next time I’ll double the batch to take leftovers for lunch.
Beth Pierce
That sounds like a great plan, Alejandra!
Cathy Zeiler
That looks wonderful! But I never make a recipe exactly according to directions. I would be experimenting with substitutions.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Cathy! Enjoy!
Tammy
I love the combination of ham and lentils. This soup was so delicious and comforting…perfect for this time of year!
Beth Pierce
I am so glad that you liked it, Tammy!
Amy
I had a leftover ham bone and used it for this lentil soup today. It was so incredibly soothing and filling. It’s the perfect winter lunch!
Catalina
The lentils cooked perfectly and the ham added great flavor. It was even better the next day!
Beth Pierce
So happy that you liked it, Catalina!
Ben
Great recipe. I made it according to the directions, and it came out perfectly. I’m already thinking about using beef next time. Yummo.
Beth
This is really yummy! The salty ham is perfect with the lentils. I make ham all the time, so it’s also a great leftover-buster!