Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
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Chockfull of hearty veggies and tender chicken in a refreshing lemony broth. It is PURE COMFORT in a bowl!
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No matter what the weather is outside, I can always use a bowl of chicken noodle soup. It doesn’t even matter if I’m sick with the flu or if I have the cleanest bill of health – this soup can be eaten any day of the week, any time of day for an all around feel-good warm hug in a bowl.
reasons to make lemon chicken orzo soup
- Best kind of vibrant, lemon-y broth
- Fun, different twist from traditional chicken noodle soup, maybe even better
- Easy to make and comes together very quickly in one single pot (even the dried orzo)
- Freezes beautifully, perfect for those busy weeknights and lazy weekends
what is orzo
Orzo is a short-cut type pasta, similar in shape to a long grain of rice. Orzo can be added to soup, helping to thicken the soup naturally by releasing starch as it cooks in the broth, yielding a richer, more velvety consistency.
tips and tricks for success
- Use good-quality stock. The better quality your stock, the better your soup. Many brands love to pack in the salt so always opt for unsalted or a lower-sodium variety. Homemade stock is even better.
- Add freshly squeezed lemon juice. Lemon juice will elevate your chicken soup, adding a fresh, bright flavor and balancing out all the saltiness and richness of the soup.
- Make it vegetarian. Skip the chicken, use vegetable stock and add 1 can cannellini beans.
- Make it gluten-free. Lemon chicken orzo soup can easily be made gluten-free by using gluten-free orzo or swapping out the orzo for rice.
- Serve with crusty bread. Serve with all the homemade crusty bread for dipping, sopping and dunking!
pro tip
Make ahead of time and store the orzo separately.
Because the orzo will continue to soak up the broth, cook and store the orzo separately if making this ahead of time.
what to serve with lemon chicken orzo soup
Tools For This Recipe
Dutch oven
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup: Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, chicken breasts can absolutely be used here but chicken thighs have more dark meat and a higher fat content which will yield juicier, more flavorful chicken.
You can use either chicken broth or chicken stock but always season, to taste, as store-bought broth is often saltier than store-bought stock. Broth is made from meat and vegetables while stock is often lower sodium and thicker than broth, and is made from bones and vegetables.
The orzo is cooked directly in the soup, absorbing all the flavorful broth. But if you are planning for leftovers or freezing, the orzo should be cooked and stored separately.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days, adding a splash of water or stock as needed.
Yes! You can freeze the leftovers without the orzo pasta (or else they will get mushy) in individual freezer bags, thaw overnight, and reheat on the stovetop, adding freshly cooked orzo pasta when serving.
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch chunks
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery ribs, diced
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 5 cups chicken stock
- 2 bay leaves
- ¾ cup orzo pasta
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Equipment
Instructions
- Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chicken to the stockpot and cook until golden, about 2-3 minutes; set aside.
- Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the stockpot. Add garlic, onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in thyme until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in chicken stock, bay leaves and 1 cup water; bring to a boil.
- Stir in orzo, rosemary and chicken; reduce heat and simmer until orzo is tender, about 10-12 minutes.
- Stir in lemon juice and parsley; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Did you make this recipe?
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So yummy. Made this for lunch today. But I’m a vegetarian, so I made a couple of changes. Left out the chicken ( of course) and used homemade veggie broth. So good , so good.
Really just looking for a good reason to make the house smell like rosemary. 🙂
I made this tonight and it was wonderful! Hubby loved it! I used Basmati rice instead of orzo pasta, but everything else was the same. Thanks for another wonderful recipe!
I just had a big bowl ok two bowls:) while sitting outside in the evening sun. It had just the right amount of lemon in it.
I’ve never made soup before and tonight I made this for my family – it was great! I made it in a huuuge pot and my little family and I devoured it! Soo good for us taste wise and healthwise, it has become a favourite. Thank you!!! 🙂
I just made this and it tastes delicious, simple fast and healthy..
Can this be done in the crockpot?
Unfortunately, I cannot answer this with certainty as I have never tried making this in the slow cooker. I recommend using your own judgement to convert this recipe to utilize a crockpot.
Hi,
Could you substitute ground turkey for the chicken? Would that go well with the lemon flavor?
That sounds like a great substitution. I bet the flavors would really go well together.
I tried your soup today and was pleasantly surprised, I was concerned for the lemon flavour, it’s was great, brought some to a friends house and she thought it was amazing. Will make again. Thank you, Marie
Would you swap out the chicken thighs for breast?
Yes, you can certainly substitute chicken breasts for the thighs.
Made it today, delicious and healthy soup!
I’ve made tons of recipes from your site. They NEVER cease to impress! This one is no exception. Thank you so much for filling my and my family’s bellies with your damn delicious recipes. 🙂
I so need this soup in my life right now! I’ve been so sick this week and hot soup and hot tea seem to be the only things that are working for me. This is going on the menu tonight for sure. Thanks for posting, Chung-Ah!
Oh no, feel better. And this is definitely one of those comfort foods that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside!
My poor daughter has been sick as a dog for a week! Been to the doctor twice to check for strep. He said she may have mono and there is no medicine to help. Just needs to run its course.
This delicious soup was just what she needed! She loved the lemony flavor. Soooo delicious!
I mean…So Damn Delicious!
Soup is great any time of year! And lemon with chicken is one of my favorite soup combos – so comforting!
I made this recipe over the weekend.. it was so very yummy and will be a regular… especially as we are going into Winter here…
Thanks for an inspirational blog….
Hugz
Gorgeous! I tend to love lighter soups, like this one, especially when it’s warm out. I think it’s because when you’re sitting in an office in air conditioning a nice bowl of soup will warm you up!
Thanks for sharing!
Delicious recipe,definitely I will try it saturday !
Thank yo for this recipe … I am buried in a case of bacterial pneumonia and this is just hitting the spot!!!
(I make it in my rice cooker … I make all my soups in there as they cannot boil over!!! I actually made your Mexican Corn/Bean/Quinoa dish as a soup last week)
So GLAD TO HAVE FOUND YOUR DAMNDELICIOUS SITE!!
I love chicken soup, especially with lemon. I love any clear broth soup with lemon juice added…always adds something to the flavor…thanks for sharing!
Gotta love good old fashioned comfort food!!