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Light, healthy, and super comforting, this lemon chicken orzo soup recipe uses wholesome ingredients and will surely become a family favorite! Shredded chicken and orzo pasta are simmered in a zesty broth with carrots, celery, onion, and garlic for a delicious bowl of chicken pasta soup you can enjoy any time of the week!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Ingredients list for the lemon chicken orzo soup recipe
- 1 1/2 lbs (600g) chicken breasts
- 2 celery sticks, diced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning, or to taste
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
- 1/2 teaspoon salt + pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup parmesan, for serving
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Lemon chicken orzo soup
This chicken soup with orzo pasta is a soup you can enjoy all year round. It’s lemony, creamy (without cream), and packed full of protein and healthy veggies. Perfect nutrition and comfort in a bowl!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Directions
How to make the lemon chicken orzo soup:
1. Melt butter with oil over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven. Sauté the celery, carrots, and onions for 5-7 minutes.
2. Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
3. Pour the chicken broth into the pot. Add the Italian seasoning and chicken. Bring the chicken soup to a boil.
4. Cover the Dutch oven with a lid (slightly open on the side), reduce the heat, and simmer the chicken soup for 15 minutes.
5. Remove the lid, stir the orzo into the soup, and cook for another 10 minutes until the orzo is cooked through. Stir regularly to avoid the pasta sticking to the bottom of the pot.
6. Take the cooked chicken breasts out of the pot and shred with two forks, then add it back in.
7. Add the lemon juice and parsley and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, as needed. Sprinkle with parmesan and serve the lemon chicken orzo soup immediately. Enjoy!
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
Tips for the chicken orzo soup recipe
- You can use rotisserie chicken instead of fresh chicken; it’s delicious, too… and super quick!
- Feel free to add a kick of spice to the soup if you like. We love a good drizzle of hot sauce or a pinch of Cayenne!
- Add 1/3 cup of heavy creamy to the soup toward the end of cooking if you want a creamier result.
- If you plan on having leftovers, cook the orzo separately–according to package directions–and add it directly to your serving bowls. Otherwise, the orzo absorbs all of the chicken broth, and your leftovers will look more like a chicken pasta casserole instead of a soup.
- Add a splash of dry white wine for deeper flavor ;)
- Toss in some fresh baby spinach for good balance!
How to keep the chicken orzo soup leftovers
You can keep leftovers for up to one day or two maximum because the orzo will get soggy over time–unless you cook it separately, as said above. Keep the chicken soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave or a saucepan with a few tablespoons of water.
More chicken soups you might like
- 20+ Easy Chicken Soup Recipes
- Creamy Chicken Soup with Pasta and Spinach
- Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Soup
- Slow Cooker Creamy Crack Chicken Soup
- Chicken Pasta Soup
- Crack Chicken wild Rice Soup with Mushroom and Bacon
Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com
