Easy Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
You’re going to love this easy lemon chicken orzo soup recipe. It is pure comfort in a bowl and the perfect recipe to make when you want a warm, cozy meal without much fuss.
If you love chicken soup recipes, try our Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup.
Ingredients and Substitutions
When it’s soup season, we love a hearty bowl of cozy soup with plenty of add-ins like chicken, pasta and veggies to make it a complete meal. This lemon chicken orzo soup is a great recipe for simple weeknight dinners as you can easily swap in rotisserie chicken and use any vegetables of your choice to add bulk. It’s even delicious with some chickpeas stirred in.
- Chicken. I used leftover roasted chicken for this soup recipe. I often make it with shredded rotisserie chicken as well which makes it fuss-free and prep is kept to a minimum. If you want to roast chicken for this soup, drizzle chicken breasts with olive oil and season generously then roast in a hot oven (or in the air fryer) for 10-15 minutes until golden brown and just cooked. Allow to cool then shred the meat with two forks. Chicken thighs or bone-in pieces can be used too but will require longer cooking time.
- Mirepoix. The trio of ingredients that gives fantastic flavor to all soups and stews. Onion, carrot and celery are all used in this recipe. Even if you don’t like celery, I would suggest chopping it finely and adding it as it adds incredible savory depth to all soups and stews.
- Fresh garlic cloves.
- Bay leaves.
- Herbs: I used fresh thyme sprigs and a teaspoon of dried oregano. Other herbs like parsley, basil, fresh dill or marjoram can all be used. Use Italian seasoning as substitute.
- Lemon zest and juice.
- Chicken broth/chicken stock.
- Orzo pasta. Any pasta rice can be substituted.
- Salt and black pepper.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp butter/olive oil
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 large carrot peeled and finely chopped
- 2 celery spears finely chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 3 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 6 cups chicken broth / chicken stock
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2-3 cups cooked chicken shredded
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh parsley to serve
Instructions
- Finely chop the mirepoix ingredients.
- Heat a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat and add a knob of butter or splash of olive oil.
- Add the vegetables with the bay leaves and sprigs of thyme then allow to sauté for a few minutes until the veggies start to turn a light golden colour.
- Add the chopped garlic and dried oregano and cook for another minute then pour in the chicken broth and orzo.
- Stir in the fresh lemon juice and zest then bring to a simmer and allow to boil for 10 minutes until the orzo is tender/al dente.
- Add the shredded cooked chicken and cook for another 5-10 minutes.
- Season to taste with salt and black pepper and add more lemon juice if needed then serve.
Notes
- Feel free to use skinless chicken breasts. Simply poach in the sauce until cooked through then remove, shred and return to the soup.
- Add other vegetables like broccoli, fresh spinach, kale or peas to the lemon chicken soup.
Nutrition
Tips For The Best Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
- Allow the mirepoix to cook properly. Sautéing the onions, carrots and celery for a good 10 minutes builds flavor and depth into the base of the soup.
- Use good quality chicken stock/broth. The soup is made with simple ingredients so using the best quality stock you can find is essential to making a delicious soup. I also love using bone broth.
- Use the whole lemon. Using both the lemon juice and zest delivers a bright lemony broth.
Can I make this ahead?
Yes, this soup is great to make ahead and it freezes very well. Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To freeze, allow to the cooked soup to come to room temperature then transfer to freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating in a saucepan on the stove.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Lemon juice adds a lot of brightness to soups and stews. The acidity enhanced the flavors of the other ingredients and brings the whole dish together.
The first thing you need when making soup is a good quality broth or stock. Homemade is always best but store-bought is perfectly fine. To add more flavor to chicken soup, use herbs and spices like garlic, paprika, rosemary, thyme and oregano and don’t forget to season generously!
If your chicken soup is lacking in flavor, I would suggest adding umami-rich ingredients like a splash of soy sauce or a parmesan rind. Starting with a knob of butter and using good quality broth (bone broth is especially great) will also add lots of richness to your chicken soup.
Orzo is just a shape of pasta so the health benefits are the same as that of pasta. For an extra boost of fibre and protein, use wholewheat orzo instead of regular.
I made this on Sunday! Such an easy and delicious soup! Would highly recommend you try this too! Thank you Alida
Delicious soup, especially nice when nursing a cold! I love pasta but I would cut back a bit next time I make it. 2 cups of orzo leaves very little broth.