Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Lemon Chicken Orzo soup is a delicious, easy, and healthy soup recipe. We love this soup for busy weeknights or for meal prep to eat throughout the week.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ small white onion or shallot diced
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 1 Parmesan rind optional
- 1 can cannellini beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 cups baby spinach optional
- Fresh parsley or basil for serving
- Grated Parmesan for serving
Instructions
- Sauté the vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 6–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Add the garlic: Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Simmer the broth: Add the chicken stock, salt, black pepper, rosemary, and Parmesan rind, if using. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes.
- Cook the orzo: Stir in the cannellini beans and orzo. Simmer for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the orzo is tender.
- Add the chicken: Stir in the shredded chicken and spinach, if using. Cook for 2–3 minutes, until the chicken is heated through and the spinach is wilted.
- Finish the soup: Remove and discard the rosemary sprig and Parmesan rind. Turn off the heat, then stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice. Taste and add more salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed. Serve with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan.
Notes
- Chicken: Shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover roasted chicken keeps this recipe quick and easy. You can also use chicken breasts or thighs cooked using your preferred method.
- Spinach: The spinach is optional and can be omitted without making any other changes.
- Orzo: For the easiest one-pot method, cook the orzo directly in the soup as written. If you are making the soup ahead or expect leftovers, cook the orzo separately according to the package directions and add it to each bowl when serving.
- Consistency: Orzo continues to absorb broth as it sits. Add a splash of chicken stock when reheating if the soup becomes too thick.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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