Smooth, hearty and light, one pot lemon chicken orzo soup is pure comfort in a bowl. It's packed with orzo pasta, chicken breast, vegetables fresh herbs, and a dash lemon juice. It's basically chicken noodle soup but with a major upgrade.
What is Orzo?
Orzo is a tiny, quick-cooking rice-shaped pasta that can be thrown into so many recipes. You can throw it into a Mediterranean orzo salad, into rice pilaf, or into soup.
What is in Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup?
- chicken breasts - 2 large boneless and skinless breasts. You can also use two-thirds pound of boneless and skinless chicken thighs.
- butter - can easily substitute with olive oil for a healthier option.
- vegetables - onion, garlic, celery, and carrots.
- chicken stock
- orzo pasta
- lemon juice
- herbs - Italian seasoning blend, fresh parsley, and fresh dill.
- salt and pepper
You will also need measuring cups and spoons and a medium cooking pot.
How to Make the Best Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
First, melt butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and sauté until onions are soft and translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Add in celery and carrots and continue to sauté for another 3 minutes, stirring often. Then, add stock, chicken, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Next, remove chicken from pot and add orzo. Cook uncovered on medium high until the orzo is cooked through (about 10 more minutes), stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, shred the chicken with a fork and then place back into the pot while the orzo is still cooking.
Once orzo is cooked, stir in lemon juice, parsley, and dill. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve immediately with some extra lemon wedges and fresh herbs.
Tips for Making Orzo Soup
- How to serve: Serve lemon chicken orzo soup with some Greek salad and a loaf of crusty bread. My favourites are small batch ciabatta rolls, easy no knead french baguettes, small batch no-knead bread, or small batch sourdough.
- How to make with pre-cooked chicken: You can make this soup with leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken. Add it in when you are adding in the orzo.
- How to store: Lemon chicken orzo soup is best served immediately. You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Note that the orzo will continue to soak up water and expand. To reheat, you will likely need to add a little water to thin out the soup again.
More Soup Recipes
- Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
- Creamy Mexican Corn Soup
- Coconut Curry Lentil Soup
- Healthy Miso Ramen with Chicken
- Roasted Carrot and Ginger Soup
- Creamy Garlic and Cauliflower Soup
Did you make this recipe? I would greatly appreciate a comment and rating below, letting me know what you thought of the recipe. You can also snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.
Don't forget to sign up for my email newsletter so that you don't miss any recipes. You can also follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more recipe updates.
Recipe
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter (or olive oil)
- 1 medium onion, chopped finely
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 sticks celery, diced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 5 cups chicken stock
- 2 large chicken breasts (about ⅔ lb. total), boneless and skinless
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ cup dry orzo pasta (uncooked)
- 4 tablespoons lemon juice (approximately juice of 1 lemon)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Melt butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and sauté until onions are soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add in celery and carrots and continue to sauté for another 3 minutes, stirring often.
- Add stock, chicken, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil on high heat, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Remove chicken from pot and add orzo. Cook uncovered on medium high until the orzo is cooked through (about 10 more minutes), stirring occasionally. Meanwhile shred the chicken with a fork and then place back into the pot, while the orzo is still cooking.
- Once orzo is cooked, stir in lemon juice, parsley, and dill. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve immediately with some extra lemon wedges and fresh herbs.
Notes
Equipment used: measuring cups and spoons and a cooking pot.
How to serve: Serve lemon chicken orzo soup with some Greek salad and a loaf of crusty bread. My favourites are small batch ciabatta rolls, easy no knead french baguettes, small batch no-knead bread, or small batch sourdough.
How to make with pre-cooked chicken: You can make this soup with leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken. Add it in when you are adding in the orzo.
How to store: Lemon chicken orzo soup is best served immediately. You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Note that the orzo will continue to soak up water and expand. To reheat, you will likely need to add a little water to thin out the soup again.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Greek
Food Blogger Business School
A step-by-step program that teaches food bloggers how to grow and scale their blogs into a full-time business
in less time and without posting endless content until you burn out.
Ramona says
I love making soups and trying out new different kinds! This lemon chicken soup with orzo is going to be on the dinner table tonight. I love the combination of every ingredient, it looks soo delicious. I also love how you added orzo, my family, especially my kids love orzo in soup. I can't wait to try this recipe today! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Yes! I love when you have all the ingredients at home! Let me know how you and the kids liked the soup 🙂
Mama Maggie's Kitchen says
This dish will surely be my son's new favorite soup . Your lemon chicken orzo soup looks really deliciously comforting!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you! It's literally comfort in a bowl.
Amy Liu Dong says
This looks incredibly an amazing soup, the color and the texture of the soup is looks slightly creamy that makes this an enticing one. Thanks for sharing such wonderful soup recipe.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Yes, the orzo gives off a little starch to give it that creamy texture. It's so good. Enjoy!
Jenny says
Lovely comforting soup, perfect at any time of the year. Your method and ingredients are great. Love the dill add, makes it so fresh.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you Jenny. It's one of my favourites.
veenaazmanov says
I love the smell of Dill. This soup is so easy to make and looks creamy and yum. Lemon Chicken sounds so interesting.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
It's so delicious! It hits the spot on a cold fall day, especially if you have a cold... so so satisfying with the lemon flavour.
Loreto and Nicoletta Nardelli says
That is a true comfort bowl. Chicken, lemon, vegetables, and fresh herbs, plus orzo pasta which we love!