Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Ingredients
- 2 sticks celery
chopped finely
- 2 medium carrots
peeled & chopped finely
- 1/2 medium onion
chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic
minced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1.5 pounds uncooked chicken breasts
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- or to taste1 tablespoon lemon juice
- or to taste1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- to tasteSalt & pepper
Directions
- 1
Sauté the celery, carrots, and onions in a large soup pot with the butter and oil over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes.
- 2
Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, then add the flour and cook for another minute or so.
- 3
Pour in the chicken broth and stir until the flour has dissolved, then add the Italian seasoning and chicken. Bring the soup to a boil.
- 4
Cover the soup (lid slightly open), and reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- 5
Stir in the orzo and cook for another 10 minutes or until the orzo is cooked through. I keep the lid off and stir it fairly often because it tends to stick to the bottom of the pot.
- 6
Take the chicken out of the pot and cut it up, then add it back in. Add the lemon juice (you may want to add more than I suggest - I didn't want to make the soup too lemony for some people), parsley, and season the soup with salt & pepper as needed. Serve immediately.
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
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About this Recipe
Craving a bowl of something light, healthy, and incredibly comforting? This Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is precisely what you need. It's a cozy, wholesome meal that uses everyday ingredients to deliver bright, satisfying flavors, making it a guaranteed family favorite.
What makes this soup truly special is its perfect balance of textures and tastes. You'll find tender chunks of chicken, perfectly cooked orzo, and finely chopped vegetables, all swimming in a savory, lemony broth. The addition of fresh lemon juice at the end brightens every spoonful, elevating it beyond your typical chicken noodle.
Expect a beautifully aromatic soup that warms you from the inside out. The initial sauté of finely chopped celery, carrots, and onion forms a flavorful base, deepened by minced garlic and a touch of butter and olive oil. Once the broth is added, along with a hint of Italian seasoning, the chicken breasts simmer gently, becoming incredibly tender. The orzo cooks directly in the soup, absorbing all those delicious flavors, while fresh parsley adds a final flourish of color and herbaceousness. This soup is designed to be both satisfying and surprisingly light, making it ideal for any day of the week.
While this Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is wonderful as written, it's also very adaptable. You can easily swap out the fresh parsley for another fresh herb like dill, or use a pinch more Italian seasoning for a deeper herbaceous note. Feel free to adjust the amount of lemon juice to your personal preference—start with a tablespoon and add more if you like a brighter, more pronounced citrus flavor. For a vegetarian take, consider swapping the chicken broth for vegetable broth and adding white beans or chickpeas for protein.
Serve this cozy soup with a crusty piece of bread for dipping, or simply enjoy it on its own as a complete, comforting meal. It's perfect for chilly evenings or when you're simply in the mood for something genuinely nourishing.