4.7 from 78 votes
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
This Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is a comforting and easy meal for any night of the week.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 320 kcal
Course:
Soup
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 1/3 /3 cups carrots, chopped (about 2 large carrots)
- 1 1/3 /3 cups celery, chopped (about 2 large celery stalks)
- 1 cup onion, chopped finely (about 1/2 an onion)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 /4 teaspoon Italian seasonings
- 1 cup orzo pasta, uncooked
- 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded (about 3 cups)
- 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- grated Parmesan or Romano cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil and melt butter in a large Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat.
- Add the carrot, celery, and onion. Sautee for about 5 minutes or until veggies are soft. Add the garlic and cook for thirty seconds.
- Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and cook for one minute. Add the chicken broth, bay leaf, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and Italian seasonings.
- Add the orzo and simmer until orzo is cooked through about 10 minutes (see Note not serving soup right away). Stir in the chicken until heated through.
- Just before serving add parsley and remove bay leaf. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Add Romano or Parmesan cheese if desired.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- If you're serving right away you can add the orzo pasta and chicken at the same time until the orzo is cooked. If you plan on serving later it at a later time you may want to cook the orzo separately and add right before serving. The orzo pasta tends to soak up all the liquid and can become quite thick if you simmer the soup for a long time. You can always add more chicken stock if you want to thin it out a little.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1/6 of the recipe
Calories
320kcal
(16%)
Carbohydrates
31g
(10%)
Protein
31g
(62%)
Fat
9g
(14%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
4g
Trans Fat
0.1g
Cholesterol
67mg
(22%)
Sodium
776mg
(32%)
Potassium
732mg
(21%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
4927IU
(99%)
Vitamin C
7mg
(8%)
Calcium
56mg
(6%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 320
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1/6 of the recipe | |
| Calories | 320kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 31g | 10% |
| Protein | 31g | 62% |
| Fat | 9g | 14% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 67mg | 22% |
| Sodium | 776mg | 32% |
| Potassium | 732mg | 16% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 4927IU | 99% |
| Vitamin C | 7mg | 8% |
| Calcium | 56mg | 6% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.