Hearty, perfectly spiced and packed with protein, this Chorizo and Butternut Squash Lentil Soup is the kind of healthy comfort food that meat lovers crave!
There's no doubt that lentil soup is one of the best stick-to-your-ribs meatless meals around, providing a wallop of protein with every bite. That being said, I was quickly lured over to the meaty side with the first slurp of this chorizo and butternut squash lentil soup. And the aroma...oh, the aroma. It could rival even the Thai-inspired wafts of spiced goodness from my favorite stir-fry. And that's saying something!
When I first flipped through my copy of Cast Iron Gourmet (affiliate link), written by my friend Megan Keno of the blog Country Cleaver, several recipes caught my attention right away. Ginger-Shallot Salmon Patties, Chicken-and-Apple Sausage & Swiss Chard Skillet and Indian Chicken & Potato Stew, to name a few.
And let's not forget the gloriously decadent treats that can be made in cast iron cookware, such as Apricot-Orange Cornmeal Cake or Maple & Butternut Squash Custard (Thanksgiving dessert, anyone?)
And if beautiful photography, with a photo for every recipe, is important to you when adding a cookbook to your collection, you wont't be disappointed. The photos are stunning...a feast for the eyes.
While the recipes are definitely the star of the show, the Cast Iron Gourmet is not short on helpful cast iron cooking tips, such as the proper ways to season and clean your cast iron cookware. In true Megan style (I know from one-on-one chats that this lady is smart as a whip), everything is explained in easy to read, thorough and thoughtful detail.
As for the soup, it does not disappoint! This was not my first time combining lentils and root vegetables in a soup. In fact, I posted a vegan Instant Pot sweet potato version a few months ago. But I love kick of heat and flavor from the chorizo in the butternut squash lentil soup version. Definitely a hit with meat lovers!
Serve this up with a spinach or kale salad for an easy, satisfying dinner.
Other hearty, healthy soup recipes:
Fisherman's Soup with Tilapia & Shrimp
Pesto Turkey Tortellini Soup
Vegan Potato Soup with Beans & Kale
Slow Cooker Vegetable Barley Soup
Printable Recipe
Chorizo & Butternut Squash Lentil Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium red onion chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 cups cubed butternut squash
- ½ pound chorizo sausage
- 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 chipotle pepper minced
- 1 15 oz can black beans, drained
- 3 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup dried green lentils
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- cilantro or flat-leaf parsley for garnish
- yogurt or sour cream for topping
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, melt the butter and olive oil together until simmering. Add the red onion and saute until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Next, stir in the minced garlic until it becomes fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add the butternut squash and saute, stirring every 2 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the squash just begins to soften, about 6 to 7 minutes.
- Move the squash to the side of the Dutch oven and add the chorizo. Using a wooden spoon, break the chorizo into small pieces.
- Once the chorizo is browned, about 10 minutes, stir in the crushed tomatoes, chipotle pepper, black beans and chicken broth. Lastly, add the lentils, cumin and chili powder.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer and cover. Let cook until the butternut squash and lentils are both soft, about 40 to 45 minutes.
- Serve warm with cilantro or parsley, and yogurt or sour cream.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post contains links to my Amazon affiliate page. Any revenue made from sales through these links helps to support this blog. Thank you!
SharyG63
I wonder if the Morningstar chorizo crumbles would work in soup, or would they fall apart? Has anyone tried this?
Dara
I haven't tried this substitution myself, but would be curious to hear what you think if you try it.
Lauren
Trader Joe’s has a soy chorizo that is very good I this soup!
Dara
Great idea! I'm going to try that next time I make this.
Beth
What kind of chorizo do I get? The chub roll of ground or raw links? Thanks!
Dara
Hi Beth, I would either buy the raw links (and squeeze out of the casings) or loose chorizo (packaged like ground beef or turkey). I find that the rolls of chorizo almost "melt" and produce A LOT of oil.
Latonya
All five members of my family devoured this dish! The chorizo adds a perfect element of spicy! Perfect for a cold winter night and easy to make! Better than traditional chili yet has similar characteristics.
Dennis
Chorizo and butternut squash sound like a great combination for soup. It's awesome that you included the Weight Watchers points at the bottom.
SandyG
I hate autocorrect
Dara
Haha! No problem - I knew what you meant.
SandyG
Hi,
What would you suggest subbing for the chorizo. i can't find any without wine a wine and off-road boyfriend is allergic to it?
Dara
I would substitute a spicy Italian sausage (chicken is usually my preference). To emulate some of the chorizo flavor, add some paprika or smoked paprika (even better!) along with the other spices.