Instant Pot Maple Sausage & Lentil Stew (No Broth Needed)

It is harvest time in the garden, mid-August in Oregon and all the vegetables are ripening ready to be made into a meal or canned, frozen, or dried.

I really enjoy this time of year. It is the culmination of the journey that started in January with planning and seed starting. This year was the first year I had new garden boxes and I grew most everything from seed.

My garden is popping with fresh tomatoes, celery, peppers, onions and a whole cornicopia of fresh vegetables. One recipe that I really enjoy, especially when we get a rainy august day is a nice lentil stew. This is one of the best you will ever make with your garden bounty. I had a half pound of maple sausage in my freezer, but I think any ground meat or no meat at all will work for this recipe. I used my Instant Pop for this quick one pot meal.

Most of the cooking is done in cleaning and prepping those fresh veggies. This recipe also is made with a spice mixture so you don’t need to have broth on hand.

Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker, Pressure Cooker,

• 9-in-1: pressure, slow cook, sauté, sous vide, steam, sterilize, keep warm, rice, yogurt.
• 15 smart programs with a clear, intuitive display.
• Easy-Release steam switch for safe, fast venting.
• Durable 18/8 tri‑ply stainless-steel pot.
• 6‑quart size serves up to 6; cooks up to 70% faster.*

Shop Now Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Instant Pot Maple Sausage & Lentil Stew (No Broth Needed)

Serves: 4–6  •  Time: ~30 minutes

🖨️ Print Recipe

Ingredients

• ½ lb maple ground sausage (about half a package)
• 1 cup dry lentils (brown or green work best, rinsed)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1–2 potatoes, diced small (peel optional)
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced (optional heat)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional if you have)
• 1 large beefsteak tomato, diced (or ~1 cup canned)
• 3 cups water

DIY Broth Seasoning Mix

• 1 ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste at the end)
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp smoked paprika (or regular)
• ½ tsp thyme or Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp cumin (optional, adds earthy depth)
• ½ tsp garlic powder or onion powder (optional if you want more savoriness)
• Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Finish

• Fresh basil, chopped
• Splash of lemon juice or vinegar (optional but brightens the flavor)

Instructions

1. Sauté base (5 min)
   • Set Instant Pot to Sauté.
   • Brown maple sausage, breaking it up.
   • Add onion, carrots, bell pepper, jalapeño, and garlic. Cook until softened and lightly browned (this builds flavor).
2. Add potatoes & spices (2 min)
   • Stir in diced potatoes.
   • Sprinkle in the DIY Broth Seasoning Mix. Stir well so the spices coat the veggies and sausage.
3. Add lentils & water (1 min)
   • Stir in rinsed lentils.
   • Pour in 3 cups water, scraping the bottom to loosen browned bits.
4. Pressure cook (12 min)
   • Cancel Sauté.
   • Lock the lid and set to Manual / High Pressure, 12 minutes.
   • Let it naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release the rest.
5. Finish (2–3 min)
   • Stir in fresh diced tomato. The heat will gently cook it while keeping it fresh.
   • Adjust seasoning (add more salt/pepper if needed).
   • Stir in chopped basil and a splash of lemon juice or vinegar for brightness.

Tip: If the stew is thicker than you like, stir in hot water ¼ cup at a time until it’s just right. If thinner than you like, simmer on Sauté for a few minutes to reduce.