0 from 96 votes
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe
A heartwarming and delicious lemon chicken orzo soup recipe that happens to be healthy. Made in one pot, this easy soup recipe is made with every day ingredients and comes together in 45 minutes.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 605 kcal
Course:
Soup
Cuisine:
Mediterranean
Ingredients
- 2 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1 small onion chopped
- 3 3 medium carrots peeled and cut into small pieces
- 2 2 stalks celery cut into small pieces
- 3 3 cloves garlic sliced thinly
- 2 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour gluten-free, if needed
- 7 7 cups chicken stock
- 1 ½ 1 ½ lb boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts
- 1 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1 cup orzo gluten-free, if needed
- 2 2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
- ¼ ¼ cup fresh parsley roughly chopped
- Lemon wedges to serve with
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large heavy bottom skillet over medium-high heat. Add in onion, carrots, and celery. Sautee, stirring occasionally, for 6-7 minutes or until all the vegetables are softened. Add in garlic and saute for another minute.
- Sprinkle the flour into the pot and cook, stirring constantly, for one minute. The flour will coat the vegetables creating a glue-like paste around them, which is normal.
- Pour in the chicken stock and add in the chicken, salt, and pepper. Put the lid on, bring to a boil, turn the heat down to medium-low, and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Add the orzo and cook for another 10 minutes or until it is cooked through. Stir frequently to make sure that orzo doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Remove the now-cooked chicken from the pot and shred into smaller bite-sized pieces. Put it back into the pot and bring it to a boil to one last time.
- Stir in the lemon juice and fresh parsley right before serving. Serve with lemon wedges and crusty bread on the side.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Storage: You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When ready to serve, heat on the stove. You may have to add half a cup of water to thin it out if it is too thick.
- Freezing Instructions: This soup freezes well. However, reserving the portion you plan to freeze before adding the orzo works best as freezing soup with pasta makes it mushy. Place the soup in an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months.
- Thawing Instructions: Thaw the frozen soup in the fridge a day before you are ready to serve. Bring the soup to a boil on the stovetop and add in the orzo. Cook until the pasta is cooked through. Add in lemon juice and parsley right before serving.
Nutrition Information
Serving
2 cups
Calories
605kcal
(30%)
Carbohydrates
54g
(18%)
Protein
50g
(100%)
Fat
20g
(31%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
Monounsaturated Fat
10g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
174mg
(58%)
Sodium
1373mg
(57%)
Potassium
1178mg
(34%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
11g
(22%)
Vitamin A
8024IU
(160%)
Vitamin C
14mg
(16%)
Calcium
70mg
(7%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 605
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 2 cups | |
| Calories | 605kcal | 30% |
| Carbohydrates | 54g | 18% |
| Protein | 50g | 100% |
| Fat | 20g | 31% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 174mg | 58% |
| Sodium | 1373mg | 57% |
| Potassium | 1178mg | 25% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 11g | 22% |
| Vitamin A | 8024IU | 160% |
| Vitamin C | 14mg | 16% |
| Calcium | 70mg | 7% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.