Instant Pot Lentils (How To Cook)

These Instant Pot Lentils are healthy and ready in only 10 minutes! Learn how to cook green or brown lentils with this easy recipe.

These Pressure Cooker Lentils are ready in no time and the perfect addition to all your favorite meals!

Lentils are one of my favorite 'go-to' ingredients. I always have a plentiful stash of green lentils in the pantry. Lentils are great for So. Many. Reasons.

The first reason is that they are cheap. You can get a bag of dried lentils for a little more than $1.00 at your local grocery store or food coop. The second is that they are healthy. Lentils are naturally vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free.

Another reason to love them is because they are so versatile. You can use lentils in soups, salads, wraps, casseroles, and even tacos. They are the perfect ingredient to have on hand when you're trying to cut down on meat while maintaining your protein intake.

They are low in fat and taste great in all kinds of cuisines. You can find lentils in Indian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, French, and Mexican dishes. They pair well with spices from oregano and thyme to curry and garam masala to cumin.

Jump to:

• What Are Lentils?
• Do Lentils Need To Be Soaked?
• Ingredients For Instant Pot Lentils
• How To Cook Lentils In The Instant Pot
• How Long Does It Take To Cook Lentils In The Instant Pot?
• How Much Liquid Is Needed To Cook Lentils In The Pressure Cooker?
• How To Serve With Lentils
• Can Lentils Be Made Ahead Of Time?
• Can They Be Frozen?
• Instant Pot Lentils (How To Cook)

What Are Lentils?

Lentils are a type of pulse - A pulse is the edible seed of a legume. Examples of pulses include dry peas, chickpeas, and dry beans.

At your local grocery store you may find green lentils, red lentils, French lentils, or Beluga lentils. For this recipe we are using brown or green lentils. Red lentils have a shorter cooking time and won't work for this recipe.

French lentils may also be used but require a few more minutes of cooking time as they are a bit tougher.

It's important to look for whole lentils and not split lentils for this recipe as the cooking times between the two are quite different.

Do Lentils Need To Be Soaked?

Lentils are truly a low-maintenance ingredient. They do not need to be soaked before cooking although it is best to rinse them under water to remove any impurities.

The one downside to lentils is that they can take awhile to cook on the stove top. I love whipping up a batch of lentil soup in a Dutch oven but this isn't always an option when in a hurry. The Instant Pot the perfect way to speed up the cooking process for things like lentils.

I love the pressure cooker for speeding up the cooking process of dried ingredients. This Instant Pot Wild Rice is one such example - Once I started using the Instant Pot for cooking wild rice I never looked back!

If you love healthy and economical dishes be sure to check out these ones!

• Sweet Potato Tacos
• Cannellini Bean and Carrot Soup
• Sweet Potato Kale Soup
• Curried Cauliflower and Potato Soup
• Healthy Harvest Vegetable Soup

Ingredients For Instant Pot Lentils

It took some testing to nail down the correct cooking times with this recipe. On average I test a recipe once or twice at most (and sometimes not at all) before determining it 'blog-worthy'. This one was tested 7 times before I was satisfied.

Needless to say, we ate a lot of lentils for awhile. My husband's enthusiasm for lentils started to wane over the past few weeks.

Here's what you'll need to make them.

• 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 2 cloves Garlic
• 1 cup Green Lentils or Brown Lentils
• 2 cups Water
• ¼ tsp. Kosher Salt
• ¼ tsp. Pepper
• ¼ tsp. Italian Seasoning

How To Cook Lentils In The Instant Pot

1. Remove the skins from 2 cloves of garlic (there is no need to mince it).
2. Plug the Instant Pot in and set it to the 'Sauté' setting. Add 1 Tbsp. of olive oil.
3. Once the oil is heated add the garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute, stirring often.
4. Add the rinsed lentils and sauté with the garlic for another minute, stirring often.
5. Add 2 cups of water and ¼ tsp. each of kosher salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir until combined.
6. Place the cover on the Instant Pot and make sure it is locked and that the valve is sealed. Press the 'Off/Cancel' button and then hit the 'Manual' button and set the timer for 10 minutes.
7. Allow the Instant Pot to pressurize, cook for 10 minutes, and then allow it to natural pressure release for 2 minutes. Flip the vent after 2 minutes and to release the extra steam.

How Long Does It Take To Cook Lentils In The Instant Pot?

An important goal when cooking lentils is to achieve optimum texture. If the cooking time is too long they will become mushy. If not long enough they can be too crunchy and you could chip a tooth.

I found that 10 minutes with 2 minutes of natural pressure release resulted in lentils that were cooked through, retained a slight crunch, and did not become mushy.

You can certainly skip the 2 minutes of natural pressure release and flip the vent as soon as the 10 minutes are up if you like even a bit more 'bite' to your lentils.

How Much Liquid Is Needed To Cook Lentils In The Pressure Cooker?

In general, a 2:1 ratio is perfect for cooking lentils. For this recipe that means 1 cup of dried lentils to 2 cups of water.

Always be sure to exercise caution when using an Instant Pot. Check out this guide for any questions you may have regarding use of your Instant Pot.

How To Serve With Lentils

Once the Instant Pot Lentils are cooked you can use them in any variety of dishes!

I love to add them to salads or grain bowls. They are also great added to sandwiches or wraps. You can even make lentil tacos or add them to a healthy casserole.

Lentils taste great paired with roasted vegetables like herb roasted potatoes, maple mustard Brussels sprouts, Parmesan roasted cauliflower, or garlicky roasted green beans.

They can be served as a side dish for mustard egg salad, tarragon chicken salad, lemon dill egg salad, or basil chicken salad.

You can add them to cooked soup or stews for added protein and texture.

I love to add cooked lentils to scrambled eggs and serve with bread or a warmed tortilla.

Or, you can serve them alongside rice for a hearty and economical meal.

The flavor of these Instant Pot Lentils goes with a variety of dishes - The garlic and Italian seasoning give it an overall 'savory' flavor profile.

Love lentils? Check out these recipes!

• One Pot Lentil Soup
• Chicken Sausage Lentil Soup
• Instant Pot Spinach Lentil Soup
• Cauliflower Red Lentil Soup

Can Lentils Be Made Ahead Of Time?

This is a great recipe for meal-prep. You can whip up a batch at the beginning of the week and add it to your favorite lunch dishes for work.

These lentils should keep 4-5 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Make sure to cool completely before transferring to the fridge for storage.

Can They Be Frozen?

Yes!

To freeze allow the lentils to cool completely and then transfer to a heavy-duty freezer bag. Label with the date and freeze up to 3 months.

Place the frozen lentils in the fridge 24 hours before use to thaw.

Love the Instant Pot? Be sure to check out these recipes!

• Instant Pot Carnitas
• Instant Pot Split Pea Soup
• Instant Pot Pot Roast
• Instant Pot Mediterranean Chicken and Rice

Looking For More Lentil Recipes? Don't Miss These!

Summer Lentil Salad

Blueberry and Blood Orange Belgian Lentil Waffles

Lentil Lettuce Wraps

Mint Lentil Salad