1. Recipes

How to Make Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup - A Step-by-Step Guide

When it comes to comfort food, there's nothing quite like a warm bowl of soup. And when that soup is packed with bright, zesty flavors, it's even better. Lemon chicken orzo soup is a dish that perfectly embodies the warmth and comfort of a classic chicken soup, while also delivering a refreshing burst of citrus flavor.

This soup is a go-to for many home cooks, as it's simple to make and incredibly satisfying to eat. The combination of tender chunks of chicken, hearty orzo pasta, and t...

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Ingredients

  • 8 ounces orzo pasta
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 3 medium carrots, chopped, or more to taste
  • 3 ribs celery, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3 (32 ounce) cartons fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 lemon, zested
  • 8 ounces cooked chicken breast, chopped
  • 1 (8 ounce) package baby spinach leaves
  • 1 lemon, sliced for garnish (Optional)
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (Optional)

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 50 mins
  • Servings: 12
  • Yield: 6 quarts

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Stir in orzo and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered until partially cooked through but not yet soft, about 5 minutes; drain and rinse with cold water until cooled completely.
  • Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, and onion; cook and stir until vegetables begin to soften and onion becomes translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute more. Season mixture with thyme, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper; continue cooking another 30 seconds before pouring chicken broth into the pot.
  • Bring broth to a boil. Partially cover the pot, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until vegetables are just tender, about 10 minutes.
  • Stir orzo, lemon juice, and lemon zest into broth; add chicken. Cook until chicken and orzo are heated through, about 5 minutes. Add baby spinach; cook until spinach wilts into broth and orzo is tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Ladle soup into bowls; garnish with lemon slices and Parmesan cheese.

    • Nutrition

    167 cal.

    • Total Fat: 4g
    • Saturated Fat: 2g
    • Cholesterol: 20mg
    • Sodium: 187mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 22g
    • Dietary Fiber: 3g
    • Total Sugars: 4g
    • Protein: 12g
    • Vitamin C: 20mg
    • Calcium: 69mg
    • Iron: 2mg
    • Potassium: 321mg

    Categories

    Soup recipes
    Chicken recipes
    Pasta recipes
    Lemon recipes
    Orzo recipes