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.
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This soup is light but still hearty with tons of flavor! I can not recommend this recipe enough! I can’t wait to make this again!
I’ve just made a batch up to compliment my intermittent fasting. 6 generous and balanced meals packed with flavour and nutrients. Absolutely delish and perfect for those days when you aren’t feeling great or you are feeling sluggish and need a reset to the diet. I added some chilli flakes for an extra bang!
I can’t thank you enough for this soup recipe! Chemo makes food taste like paste. A month or so ago I wanted chicken noodle soup as a comfort thing. When I feel awful, that’s what I want to eat. I made regular chicken noodle and couldn’t taste anything. I hunted up something different and found this recipe and thought…lemon that’s what I need. I added lemon to my soup and was able to eat it. Then I made this recipe and I’m so happy I did. I double batch it, store it in portion sizes in my freezer including separate containers of the orzo. For the 10 days after chemo that my taste buds are gone, I eat a bowl of this soup every day. It’s easy to make with staples most homes have and most grocery stores have available even during COVID challenging times. Thanks again for the recipe, it’s really appreciated!
I followed the directions but it was kind of bland. I’m thinking maybe cooking the chicken with olive oil and some red wine might help. And maybe another seasoning or two. Not sure what they would be but the taste needs to be elevated some. Maybe a quarter stick of butter would help as well?
❤❤❤ this soup! I used fresh herbs ( rosemary and thyme) just cuz I had both on hand. The rosemary leaves broke off and i didnt care for floating leaves in my soup…so i took the time to strain them out. Great flavor, easy prep! The lemon gives it a bright note but not overpowering! I had leftover orzo in my fridge which was the reason i tried this recipe. Added orzo at end just to reheat. Perfection!
Every weekend during the fall and winter I make a different soup recipe for Sunday dinner and pair it with homemade bread and salad. I made this to rave reviews from my family and then made it again for the Souper Bowl at my office the following week. It won first place and has become my personal favorite! Love the website and your delicious recipes! Home style chicken noodle is on the menu for today. Keep the wonderful recipes coming! Thanks!
So so delicious! I made this for my mom on her last day of chemo and she couldn’t get enough. I did make 1 mistake and added too much orzo. The 3/4 cup didn’t seem like enough but I ended up scooping out orzo before I served it and I had to add extra stock. PSA—Do not add extra orzo! I am making this again this week and I will follow the recipe exactly.
I just made this and it was so good. I do not like dark meat (thighs) so I used chicken breasts and it was still tender and flavorful. I would add the juice of a half of a lemon though not a whole one as it was a bit overpowering. This is a yummy, hearty perfect-for-winter soup!
Well, I have great news for you! Chicken thighs are white meat. You are thinking of chicken legs (drumstick part) which is dark meat.
The only difference between chicken breast meat and thigh meat is the thigh meat will be juicer (more tender) than breast meat.
This recipe sounds great. I am making it tomorrow in the crockpot and adding the cooked orzo after the soup is done!
Did you just brown the chicken in a pan and throw everything but the orzo in a crockpot? I want to try cooking it in my crockpot but not sure if I’ll mess it up.
I tweaked this with leftover turkey that I baked in January… I know that is a little weird but this recipe was delicious! I think it is the lemon that TRULY makes it. We like spice/heat, so I may drop some slices of fresh jalapeno in next time. And it is super easy to follow!
I may have to try with quinoa or bulgar, as I have some on hand.
What a treat! My husband, who hates it when I break tradition, Loves it! The herbs and lemon really make this soup wonderful
I really liked this recipe! Not a huge fan of celery stalks so I just used salt & it was overall pretty good. Easy to double the recipe too
How long can this be kept in fridge or can it be frozen ?
Making today. This soup never disappoints. My granddaughter is a very picky eater and she absolutely loves this soup. Most recipes I will change a little to suit me but I wouldn’t change a thing on this one except for to double it.
Delicious!! My family loved it. Great hearty soup
I wish they would say how much a serving size is for accurate calorie count. The soup turned out great. I like how it wasn’t so salty and you could add as you wish. It takes 10-12 minutes to cook the chicken not 2-3. My husband loves it! I would probably use a little less orzo and less than a whole lemon for juice. I kind of didn’t like how lemony it was.
Excellent recipe — easy and absolutely delicious! We make this soup every other week in the fall and winter.
This is a perfect recipe. Make absolutely no changes to it. The chicken thighs are so, so flavorful – don’t be tempted to use breasts. The aroma will remind you of a traditional chicken noodle soup as it simmers. Then you add the lemon and–oh baby!–this soup is anything but traditional. The lemon adds the perfect amount of acid to cut through the richness of the chicken thighs and bring out all of the amazing flavors. This is my new go-to chicken soup!
I added turmeric in it for its many health benefits and anti inflammatory properties specially for those days when you’re under the weather . Great comfort soup !
This soup is delicious. We often add fresh chopped kale instead of spinach. Also quinoa instead of orzo. Or even day old rice. I usually add the pasta or rice on a per bowl basis so the rice/orzo doesn’t get gooey. The quinoa is perfect for sitting in the soup and for left overs. Enjoy!
excited to try!
May i know the amount of chicken stock required in ml please?
Thanks 🙂
1 US cup = 236.588 mL. 🙂
I just made this tonight. My 4 year old actually said, ”mom this soup was super good, thanks for making it.” Mind blown! Thank you!!