Stop the presses! This is my all time favorite out of all of my gluten free soup recipes! I love anything with bacon, but try to not eat it too often, as most of them contain many preservatives, not to mention the calories. I am having overnight company in about a week and decided to make my famous lentil bacon soup. Kids love it as well as adults. Who doesn’t like bacon, right? I am sure they exist, but it is as many who do not like chocolate.
Use a gluten free bacon in all gluten free soup recipes, as well as other recipes, if you are on a gluten free diet. Hormel Black Label, Hormel Natural Choice, and Applegate are all gluten free. This soup is really yummy, but without the bacon it wouldn’t be the same. Enjoy!
A gluten free lentil soup recipe with bite size pieces of bacon when you crave comfort food.
Ingredients:
- 4-9 slices crispy gluten free bacon (Applegate Farm, Jones Dairy Farm, Open Nature, Hormel Black Label, Hormel Natural Choice)
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup small diced carrots
- 1 chopped heart of celery with leaves (appx. 1/3 cup)
- 1 cup frozen chopped spinach (optional)
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed bay leaves or 1 large
- 1/2 teaspoon dried sweet basil (or 8 small leaves, minced)
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley
- 2 fresh sage leaves, minced (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1/8 teaspoon ground thyme (optional)
- 10 cups gluten-free low-sodium or homemade chicken broth
- 1 lb. package brown lentils
Instructions:
- If desired, soak dried lentils in water for 4 hours or overnight. Rinse and drain several times.
- Cook bacon until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb drippings. Chop into little pieces and set aside.
- Add all ingredients to a large pot, stir, bring to a boil; lower heat to medium-low; and cook for 1 hour or until carrots are tender.
- Remove large bay leaf, if using.
- Serve immediately and refrigerate or freeze left-overs in air-tight containers.
Tips
If you are using homemade, unsalted chicken broth you may need to add a little sea salt. I used a combination of homemade and low-sodium boxed chicken broth.
If you on a gluten-free diet, ensure you use a bacon that is gluten-free.
See more Gluten Free Soup Recipes.