4.9 from 2,142 votes
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
This lemon chicken orzo soup recipe is light, healthy, and cozy. It uses wholesome everyday ingredients and is sure to become a family favorite!
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 298 kcal
Course:
Soup
Cuisine:
Greek , American
Ingredients
- 2 ticks celery chopped finely
- 2 medium carrots peeled & chopped finely
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1.5 pounds uncooked chicken breasts
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or to taste
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or to taste
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sauté the celery, carrots, and onions in a large soup pot with the butter and oil over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, then add the flour and cook for another minute or so.
- Pour in the chicken broth and stir until the flour has dissolved, then add the Italian seasoning and chicken. Bring the soup to a boil.
- Cover the soup (lid slightly open), and reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Stir in the orzo and cook for another 10 minutes or until the orzo is cooked through. I keep the lid off and stir it fairly often because it tends to stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Take the chicken out of the pot and cut it up, then add it back in. Add the lemon juice (you may want to add more than I suggest - I didn't want to make the soup too lemony for some people), parsley, and season the soup with salt & pepper as needed. Serve immediately.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- You can sub the chicken breasts for chicken thighs if you prefer.
- Chicken is safe to eat at 165F and can go from undercooked to overcooked quickly, so I recommend using an instant read meat thermometer whenever cooking chicken so you're not guessing.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth if you're sensitive to salt.
- You may need to add more chicken broth to leftovers as the orzo soaks it up.
- This recipe is also in the Salt & Lavender: Everyday Essentials hardcover cookbook.
Nutrition Information
Calories
298kcal
(15%)
Carbohydrates
26g
(9%)
Protein
29g
(58%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Cholesterol
78mg
(26%)
Sodium
1036mg
(43%)
Potassium
782mg
(22%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
3605IU
(72%)
Vitamin C
22mg
(24%)
Calcium
42mg
(4%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 298
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 298kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 26g | 9% |
| Protein | 29g | 58% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 78mg | 26% |
| Sodium | 1036mg | 43% |
| Potassium | 782mg | 17% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 3605IU | 72% |
| Vitamin C | 22mg | 24% |
| Calcium | 42mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.