Green Lentil Soup with Bacon, Carrots and Kale (French-Style)

This green lentil soup with smoked bacon, carrots and kale is one of those deeply comforting dishes that feels both rustic and nourishing.

The broth is rich and savoury, flavoured with smoky bacon, garlic, herbs and a little Dijon mustard for warmth. Green lentils simmer gently until tender, creating a soup that is filling enough to be a meal in its own right.

It’s also made with simple, affordable ingredients, which makes it ideal for everyday cooking!

Recipes like this are exactly the kind of thing I love to cook during the week – hearty, flavourful meals that are easy to make in one pot.

If you enjoy simple dinners like this, you might also like my collection of one pot recipes here, where everything cooks together in a single pan.

A French-style lentil soup

This recipe takes inspiration from classic French lentil soups, which often combine lentils with simple vegetables and herbs.

The flavour base here comes from:

• onion and garlic
• bay leaves
• rosemary
• thyme
• Dijon mustard

The addition of smoked bacon brings richness and gives the soup a slightly smoky flavour that works beautifully with the earthy lentils.

Why this soup works well for weeknight dinners

This is exactly the sort of recipe that makes weeknight cooking easier. Everything cooks in one pot and the preparation is minimal.

Once the vegetables are chopped and added to the pan, the soup mostly simmers on the stove while you get on with other things.

It’s also very forgiving. Soups like this are easy to adjust depending on what you have in the fridge.

If you enjoy hearty one pot dinners, you might also like:

• One Pot Bacon and Lentil Pasta – another comforting lentil recipe
• One Pot Mexican Bean Stew – warming and full of flavour

Ingredients and Substitutions

This soup uses straightforward ingredients, many of which you may already have at home.

• Smoked bacon – Smoked bacon adds savoury depth and richness to the broth. You can use streaky bacon, back bacon, pancetta or bacon lardons. The smoky flavour is key, so try to avoid unsmoked bacon if possible.
• Onion and garlic – These form the base of the soup and provide sweetness and depth.
• Carrots – Carrots add natural sweetness and colour. You could also add celery or leeks if you have them in the fridge.
• Green lentils – Use dried green lentils for this recipe. They hold their shape well and soak up all of that delicious flavour.
• Stock – Vegetable stock works well here, but chicken stock can also be used. If you don’t have homemade stock, a good quality stock cube works perfectly well.
• Herbs – Fresh herbs make a noticeable difference in this soup. Bay leaves, rosemary and thyme create a fragrant broth that complements the lentils beautifully.
• Dijon mustard – This is a small ingredient but adds an important layer of flavour. Dijon mustard brings a subtle peppery warmth that lifts the whole soup.

Tips for the best lentil soup

A few small techniques will help this soup taste its best.

1. Let the bacon brown slightly. Cooking the bacon with the onions helps release its smoky flavour and builds a richer base for the soup.
2. Simmer gently. Lentils cook best at a gentle simmer rather than a rapid boil. This helps them become tender while keeping their shape.
3. Adjust the broth. Depending on how long the soup cooks, the lentils may absorb more liquid. If the soup becomes too thick, simply add a little extra water or stock.