Total time: 4 hr 10 min • Prep: 10 min • Cook: 4 hr • Serves: 4 • Difficulty: Easy

We lean on healthy convenience items—namely canned, frozen, and prewashed fresh vegetables—to make this protein-rich stew the easiest ever. A half-cup of dried red lentils lends more protein and heft; you can cook the stew until they break down and thicken the broth or just until they’re tender but still retain their shape. Old Bay seasoning, not just for seafood, offers loads of herb and spice flavor in one handy ingredient. Make sure you don’t skip the cheese garnish at the end; it makes the soup.