Hearty Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Your Family Will Love

This Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup tastes as good or better than Zoe’s version, is super easy to make, and costs much less than ordering takeout.

orzo soup

What is orzo soup?

Although similar to chicken noodle soup, lemon chicken orzo soup has a few differences that make it stand out. Orzo is used in place of traditional pasta noodles. The freshly squeezed lemon juice gives the soup a bright, fresh flavor. The fragrant spices make it not only delicious, but “feel good” for anyone feeling under the weather.

What is orzo?

Orzo is a type of pasta that’s similar to rice in shape, size, and texture. Whole-wheat orzo packs more fiber and protein than regular orzo, which makes it the healthier choice.

Can you substitute rice for orzo in this lemon chicken orzo soup?

You can use rice instead of orzo in this soup, but I suggest that you cook the rice separately and add it at the very end once the soup is cooked. Rice takes longer to cook than orzo, so this is the best way that I have found to make the substitution.

What does adding lemon to soup do?

Lemon adds acid to any dish! A small amount of an acidic ingredient like lemon juice added at the end of cooking brightens flavors, especially in soups. Start with a little bit of lemon juice, taste it, and adjust until your soup tastes balanced and bright.

Savvy Suggestions: The following products are great to have on hand in the cupboard or freezer to enable you to make soup any time the mood strikes.

  • frozen chicken breasts or tenderloins
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • fresh celery and carrots (to chop for soup)
  • fresh or frozen chopped onion
  • garlic (the Spice Island fresh whole cloves in a jar are wonderful)
  • chicken broth (canned Swanson is good; homemade is great)
  • orzo, converted white rice, or ditalini pasta
  • chicken bouillon cubes (I use Knorr)
  • Better Than Bouillon chicken base
  • seasonings & spices (kosher salt, ground pepper, Greek seasoning)

The above ingredients can be combined and tweaked to make your own favorite version of this or any other chicken soup. Whether chicken noodle, chicken & rice, or chicken orzo, these staples will make a tasty and comforting soup in less than an hour.

Watch Me Make This Yummy Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

I hope you enjoy this soup and would love to hear from you if you try it. Thanks so much for stopping by. Be blessed, and stay savvy!!!

Hearty Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Hearty Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

This soup is full of tender white meat chicken, healthy vegetables, and a fabulous lemony broth.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb boneless skinless breast, cut into small chunks
  • 1 onions, diced (or 1 cup frozen)
  • 1/2 cup diced carrots
  • 3 ribs celery, finely diced
  • 2 TB extra virgin olive oil (divided in half)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp each sea salt & ground pepper
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • 1/2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • fresh parsley
  • 5 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 bouillon cube (chicken)
  • 3/4 cup orzo pasta

Instructions

  1. Heat 1 TB EVOO in Dutch oven on stovetop.
  2. Sprinkle chicken with salt & pepper to taste.
  3. Saute in Dutch oven until golden (2-3 minutes). Remove and set aside.
  4. Add remaining TB EVOO; add onion, celery garlic, carrot, thyme, and salt & pepper to taste. Saute until soft & fragrant.
  5. Add chicken, broth, bouillon cube, water and bay leaves.
  6. Bring soup to a boil, add orzo, then reduce to a simmer.
  7. Simmer for 15 minutes; turn off heat. Allow to sit until orzo is al dente.
  8. Add lemon juice and fresh parsley; serve in bowls.
Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 113Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 4mgSodium 1340mgCarbohydrates 14gFiber 2gSugar 3gProtein 3g

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10 Comments

  1. Hi! This sounds so delicious! I just had a bowl of Zoe’s soup tonight and I’m dying to make some at home!

    I am wondering about the sugar. It’s not on the ingredient list. How much do you add?

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