Chard and Lentil Vegetable Soup
Light yet filling, this healthy chard and lentil vegetable soup is perfect for cooler weather! Packed with zucchini, carrots, tomatoes and swiss chard, you’ll want to cozy up with a bowl for dinner ASAP. Dairy free, gluten free and vegan.
You didn’t think I was done sharing soups with you since it’s Spring right?
Honestly, it doesn’t really feel all that spring-like at the moment anyway. It’s been flipping back and forth between warmer weather and cold, dreary rain.
I’m ready for nice sunny days. Period. But mother nature doesn’t feel like listening to me I guess. No soup for her.
But there is plenty of soup for me … and you!
About This Chard Lentil Soup
Now, this is one of those soups that I think is perfect for the transition from winter to spring – comforting and warm yet still nice and light.
It is full of different veggies, including one of my favorites at the moment – swiss chard. Can’t get enough.
And then with a good amount of lentils, for a little bulk.
Healthy, filling and satisfying. It goes perfect with a loaf of crusty bread for dinner … or with some pita chips the next day for lunch.
Additional Soup Recipes You Might Enjoy:
- Vegan Zuppa Toscana
- Mexican Minestrone Soup
- Vegetarian Stuffed Cabbage Soup
- Turmeric Quinoa Vegetable Soup
- Sweet Potato Swiss Chard Soup
- Roasted Vegetable Soup
Did you make this recipe? Rate and review it down below! I’d love to hear from you.
Chard and Lentil Vegetable Soup
Light yet filling, this healthy chard and lentil vegetable soup is perfect for cooler weather! Packed with zucchini, carrots, tomatoes and swiss chard, you’ll want to cozy up with a bowl for dinner ASAP. Dairy free, gluten free and vegan.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 medium zucchini, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 (14 ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 cup green lentils, rinsed and picked through
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 bunch swiss chard, stems removed and torn into bite-sized pieces
- grated parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)*
Instructions
- Set a large stockpot over medium heat. Add in the olive oil. When hot, add in the onion. Cook until it starts to soften, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add in the carrots and zucchini. Cook for another 5 to 7 minutes, until tender. Add in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add in the vegetable broth, tomatoes, lentils, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then cover, reduce the heat to medium / medium-low and let simmer for about 35 minutes, until the lentils are tender.
- Add in the swiss chard and cook for 5 minutes.
- Ladle the soup into bowls and top with some parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
*To keep this dairy free / vegan - omit the parmesan cheese for serving or use a non dairy parmesan of choice.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 160Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 640mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 8gSugar: 8gProtein: 8g
Nutrition data shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator and is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for a medical professional’s advice.
Looks really good and beautiful.. lovely presentation too!!
Hi Ashley! Please excuse my long absence – I had a baby boy four months ago and have been very busy since. I haven’t forgotten about you though, and recently made your hearty chipotle chicken soup, vegetarian sloppy joes, barley and bean tacos, and this chard lentil soup – they are all delicious! Your blog is one of my favorites, and I’ve even introduced several of my friends, who are now also subscribers. Keep up the great work!!
Take care,
Amy
Amy! Oh my goodness congratulations! That’s so exciting – I hope you are enjoying every minute with your new addition. This made me smile so much – I’m so so glad you enjoyed all of those recipes! And such timing – I was just thinking about you the other day when I was looking at one of my old recipes you left a comment on! Thanks for being such an awesome reader : )
That’s so funny that your pup wanted to sample your soup…hehe.
It’s still cold by me too but I think I’ve emotional moved on to “spring” food. I’m loving this soup though! Definitely need to add it to my must-make list. 🙂
A good homemade vegetable soup is always welcome in my house…and stomach. Your dog sounds hilarious – with a soup looking this delicious I can’t say I blame her!
Oh noooo … what a naughtly Beagle! Cute though, let’s face it! I watched a hilarious Youtube video the other day showing a dog that wasn’t allowed on the bed but went absolutely crazy rolling around and terrorising the cat as soon as no-one was looking … haha! As for the soup, I actually really like soup all year round and this one looks lovely and light anyhow. This soup reminds me a little of minestrone … but without the pasta. Delicious!
I saw that one! So funny!
I’ve always loved beagles, and now even a little more 🙂 This soup looks awesome, perfect way to eat lentils!
They’re awesome dogs : ) Not that I’m biased or anything! lol
It defiantly doesn’t feel like Spring today here, with a inch of snow and highs in the teens! UGH…..but this soup looks so delicious and would be a perfect dinner for this non-spring like weather we have right now! Pinned 🙂
I’m glad I’m not alone in the spastic weather department, Colorado’s weather can’t decide what it wants to do. I thought I was over soups too, but this one looks awesome and dog approved too! Thursday it’s supposed to rain, it will be the perfect day to give it a try!
Hahaha – sorry Ashley, but that picture of your beagle lapping up this delicious bowl of soup is just too funny! But she has GREAT taste! This soup sounds wonderful!
My collie-mix once ate a whole plate of no-bake peanutbutter/rice Krispie balls when I left the room to check on what was in the oven – she scarfed down the whole plate in less than 2 minutes!
haha oh my gosh – they are so so fast! I guess they know they are going to be stopped once we find them : )
It sure as heck doesn’t feel like spring, that’s for sure! I had soup for dinner last night, and the night before, and this is tempting me to have it again tonight….
Wow!! This looks amazing! I love love LOVE soup! It’s just so nourishing, satisfying and delicious! Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe! I hope you are having a great week!
A wholesome soup, Ashley. Love those crackers too.
She is very smart when it comes to food : ) She will try just about anything to get some!
We got more light snow too after a few days of nice and warm temperature. Hot soup is perfect for this kind of weather – especially one loaded with all these veggies and lentils. This sounds awesome for these chillier temps we are still getting and apparently Emma feels the same way 😉
Great recipe, girl!! I’m SO over this snow and really ready to put this winter behind me 🙁
I think it’s wonderful that you posted another soup recipe – pretty sure that’s exactly what we need since Spring has yet to get here! As much as I want it to warm up ASAP, I can’t say I am sorry that I get another chance to make a bowl of delicious soup – this one looks and sounds incredible!!
Your dog is so funny! I’m completely over the cold weather too! Wish I had a bowl of this soup to warm me up. 🙂
I can eat soups all year round, I’ll just have them slightly less piping hot in the summer, so I love this recipe! That’s sooo funny about Emma, my dog has definitely done the same thing, it’s hilarious and extremely frustrating all at once. 🙂
Exactly – I try to be “stern” but you just can’t help laughing!
Oh my gosh, that is hilarious! What a naughty beagle! 🙂
I can’t blame her either. This soup does look delicious! That’s too bad it’s still so cold by you. Brandon is actually interviewing in Virginia right now and they’re predicted to get snow tomorrow too. Crazy I tell you!
Such a naughty beagle! Although I shouldn’t be surprised … she tries to get food all the time! : ) It’s completely crazy – we thought we were getting away from so much cold when we moved down here!
Same here Ashley – looks like Spring, feels like Winter!! This soup is perfect for this weather and oh so healthy and delicious! 🙂
mmm sounds good! too funny about your beagle! 🙂 sounds like something my cats would do. they just beg constantly every time we eat or go into the kitchen. it’s ridiculous!
Haha just like Emma – she is constantly under my feet whenever food is around!
This looks like a great spring soup! And you totally can’t stay mad at your pup for too long! I would have done the same thing when you went to sign for that package!
It’s Spring here but it’s freezing so I’m all about soup. Even better, a soup with tons of vegetables! This looks like it would be perfect for dinner tonight!
We woke up to cold and snow this morning! I could use a bowl of this soup to warm up!
More snow, yikes! We had a perfect taste of spring this weekend. I hope the warm weather comes your way soon! I’m always ready for a hearty bowl of soup. And I’m glad to hear that it was puppy approved 🙂 Have a great week, lady!
Hey Ashley,
This looks really yummy and I love lentils and swiss chard. Unfortunately, my s.o. does not like lentils in soup so am wondering if there is another bean/grain that you would suggest as a substitute?
Hey Jennifer! I think white beans would be a great substitute. I would use drained and rinsed cooked cannellini beans if it was me : ) You can also reduce the cooking time if you use the beans instead … I’d simmer for about 20 minutes just to get the flavors to come together! Hope all is well with you!
This looks like one delicious bowl of soup, and I’d eat it any time, because soup is great year round in my opinion…and I think Emma would agree. haha I love that story! Have a beautiful Monday! 🙂
haha Emma would definitely agree with that statement : )
I am trying to block out all talk of snow but it’s hard to ignore, particularly when it’s freezing yet again today. It is definitely still time for hot soup and I love this kind of balanced version – full of vegetables but hefty enough with the lentils to make me full. : )
It felt like spring over the weekend, but today it’s freezing – 22 degrees and windy this morning. Brrr!! SO, this soup is very timely and would be perfect for dinner with some nice crusty bread!
Same here! Thanks Holly!
Seriously what is up with this weather?! We have had snow the past three days! And it’s still be so cold. Soup is definitely what I’ve been feeling! Pinned 🙂
It’s ridiculous! One day I’m in a tee-shirt and today I had out my winter jacket!
I agree, soups are the best for this transition period. And yours looks just perfect…:) ela
It’s the same here in Italy: the weather keeps flipping back and forth between sunny days and cold, rainy ones. Ugh…I can’t wait for Spring to be here! Anyway this soup looks amazing and combines some of my favorite veggies so I’ll be making it as soon as possible!
xo, Elisa
This sounds like such a nice soup! I love lentils and veggies!
Haha — maybe Emma was just trying to get in her recommended daily amount of vegetables? But seriously, this soup looks hearty and filling. And I often seem to find myself with an abundance of Swiss chard (get a lot of it from our CSA), so this recipe will certainly come in handy when I’m wondering what to do with all those leafy greens.
Ha! Maybe that was her plan all along : )