This Smoky Lentil Casserole is the perfect throw-together dinner that packs a flavour punch while being budget-friendly, super nutritious and high-protein! Also makes for great meal-prepped lunches and dinners.

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Ingredients & Inspiration

This recipe was borne out of my desire to use up a ton of veggies in my kitchen but also make something that tasted really rich, smoky and with a nice spicy kick. Boom, I give you my Smoky Lentil Casserole. Loaded with protein from brown lentils and TVP, abounding in veggies, and oozing spicy smoky goodness from chipotle peppers in adobo, it really comes together nicely in no time.

What you’ll Need:

TVP (textured vegetable protein)
brown or French green lentils
potatoes
sweet potato
frozen peas
celery
onion
garlic
chipotle peppers in adobo

diced canned tomatoes
smoked paprika
cumin
dried oregano
red chili flakes
Black pepper and salt
veggie broth
vegan cheddar cheese shreds (optional)

How to Make Smoky Lentil Casserole

This Smoky Lentil Casserole is literally the definition of a dump and bake casserole. You simply just put the lime in the coconu– er, I mean, you put some stuff in a casserole and bake it all up. 🎵 (I think I should record this as a song, it would be a TOTAL hit, no?)

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Rinse the lentils and add them to a large casserole dish, followed by the remaining veggies, TVP, spices and veggie broth. Stir to combine.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and stir, sprinkle vegan cheese overtop (if desired) and bake for a further 15 minutes uncovered.
Let cool for 10 minutes before serving, then top with chopped fresh cilantro, a lime wedge, chili flakes or BBQ sauce and enjoy!

Sssssssmokin’

Smoky, bold, hearty and filling, this Smoky Lentil Casserole should definitely make it into your cold weather meal rotation! Want to jazz it up a little? Try mixing in ½ cup of BBQ sauce and/or some canned pineapple chunks into the casserole before baking for a more tropical BBQ vibe — trust me, I’ve tried it and it’s SO tasty.

If you loved this recipe, you might also enjoy my Vegan Sausage & Egg Casserole, Golden Garlicky Quinoa Casserole, or Lentil Shepherd’s Pie!

Lastly, if you made any of these recipes and decide to share them on Facebook or Instagram, don’t forget to tag me @SteamyVegan and use hashtag #SteamyVegan! I seriously love seeing what you’re cooking up! Plus make sure to check me out on YouTube — I have HUNDREDS of videos to give you limitless plant-based inspiration!

Janelle Carss