Green Lentil and Vegetable Casserole (Printable Version)

Comforting baked dish with lentils, vegetables, and herbs topped with golden Parmesan.

# What You'll Need:

→ Lentils

01 - 1 cup dried green lentils, rinsed
02 - 3 cups vegetable broth

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium onion, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2 medium carrots, sliced
06 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1 cup button mushrooms, sliced
09 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
10 - 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped

→ Herbs & Seasonings

11 - 2 tbsp olive oil
12 - 1 tsp dried thyme
13 - 1 tsp dried oregano
14 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
15 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
16 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Topping

17 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
18 - 1/2 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F.
02 - Combine lentils and vegetable broth in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered for 20–25 minutes until lentils are tender but not mushy. Drain any excess liquid.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic for 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
04 - Add carrots, zucchini, bell pepper, and mushrooms. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5–7 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
05 - Stir in cherry tomatoes, spinach, thyme, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for another 2–3 minutes until spinach wilts.
06 - Combine cooked lentils and sautéed vegetables in a large mixing bowl. Mix well to incorporate.
07 - Transfer the mixture to a greased 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs.
08 - Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until the top is golden and the casserole is bubbling.
09 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The combination of tender lentils and roasted vegetables creates this incredibly satisfying texture that keeps you full for hours
  • It is one of those rare dishes that actually tastes better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep or lazy lunches
02 -
  • I once forgot to drain the lentils and ended up with a casserole that never properly set, so please do not skip that draining step
  • The topping can go from perfectly golden to burnt pretty quickly, so keep an eye on it during those last 5 minutes
03 -
  • Rinse your lentils really well and pick through them for any small stones or debris
  • Chop all your vegetables to roughly the same size so they cook evenly and you get a perfect bite every time
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