Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
This flavorful Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup makes a delicious comfort food meal. The bright lemon infused flavor paired with tender orzo pasta and chicken is both hearty and satisfying.
Easy Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe
The lemon in this soup brings a bright fresh flavor. Simmer it on the stovetop and How to make Lemon Orzo Soup: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)
- Vegetables – In a Dutch over medium high heat cook the carrots, celery and onion in 2 tablespoons olive oil. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Add the garlic, cook for 1 minute longer.
- Flour – To the pot add the flour and remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Cook on low for 1-2 minutes until the flour absorbs the oil.
- Chicken – Add the chicken, chicken stock, Better Than Bouillon, Italian seasoning, thyme, lemon pepper, dried dill, black pepper, red pepper flakes, salt, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil then immediately lower the heat to medium. Cook with the lid offset for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked and easily falls apart.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and shred it. Set aside. Add the orzo and 1 Tbsp parsley to the pot.
- Cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes until the orzo is fully cooked and tender. Add the chicken and remaining parsley back to the pot. Stir to combine and simmer just until the chicken is heated through. (The longer you cook the soup the thicker it will get.)
- Serve immediately garnished with green onions.
How to Make the BEST Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
- Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup: Boneless skinless chicken breasts, uncooked orzo, carrots, onion, celery, garlic, salt, lemon juice, lemon zest, chicken stock, vegetable stock, lemon pepper, dry Italian seasoning, thyme, black pepper, dry dill, chopped parsley, green onions, chicken base i.e. Better than Bouillon Chicken base or similar, all purpose flour and crushed red pepper flakes. (optional)
- Kitchen tools you’ll need: Dutch oven or soup pot, sharp knife and cutting board, measuring spoons and cups, ladle, large spoon for stirring plus medium pot to cook orzo.
- The longer you cook the soup the thicker it will get.
- If you want to simplify even further you can skip the chicken breasts and add 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken to the pot at the end of cooking. Simmer just long enough for it to fully heat through.
- If the soup simmers too vigorously you may need to add more stock to the pot after the orzo cooks. Have extra on hand just in case.
- Serve garnished with green onions or additional parsley.
- Store Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in single servings in the microwave or in a saucepan over medium heat.
- You can freeze this soup for up to 2 months.
More Easy Soup Recipes to Make
- Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Soup simmers while you go about your day.
- Serve this Taco Soup for game day and family dinners.
- Homemade French Onion Soup is better than a bistro.
- Good for the soul Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup.
- Serve this Lentil Soup with bread for dipping in the broth.
- Smoky Barbecue Hamburger Soup.
- Light Vegetable Tomato Rotini Soup.
- Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup from Comfortable Food.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 346kcal
Ingredients
- 2 medium carrots peeled and sliced
- 2 ribs celery sliced
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 3 medium garlic cloves minced
- 4 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 32 oz chicken stock
- 1 Tbsp better than bouillon chicken base
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp lemon pepper
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp lemon zest
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 3 Tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley
- 2 medium green onions thinly sliced
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven medium high heat cook the carrots, celery and onion in 2 tablespoons olive oil. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Add the garlic, cook for 1 minute longer.
- To the large pot of vegetables add the flour and remaining 2 tablespoons of oil. Cook on low for 1-2 minutes until the flour absorbs the oil.
- To the pot add the chicken, chicken stock, Better Than Bouillon, Italian seasoning, thyme, lemon pepper, dried dill, black pepper, red pepper flakes, salt, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil and cook with the lid offset for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked and easily falls apart.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and shred it. Set aside. Add the orzo and 1 Tbsp parsley to the pot.
- Cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes until the orzo is fully cooked and tender. Add the chicken and remaining parsley back to the pot and stir to combine. Simmer just until the chicken is heated through. (The longer you cook the soup the thicker it will get.)
- Serve immediately garnished with green onions or additional parsley.
Notes
If the soup simmers too vigorously you may need to add more stock to the pot after the orzo cooks. Have extra on hand just in case.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 346kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 260mg | Potassium: 667mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 3756IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 2mg
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Great recipe!! Easy…I have a question. My leftovers turned into a pasta dish the next day…it was also delicious. How do you avoid this? Add the orzo as needed?
Thanks for a great recipe!
The broth will thicken once cooled. You can certainly thin it down with additional chicken stock when reheating.
Looks delicious. Can’t wait to try.
I’m confused about the orzo and the comment about 2 cups of water to cook it. Are you saying cook it first in water?
Or to add the water to the soup?
Hi Alice, you can parboil it if desired but it will fully cook in the broth.