This Greek-inspired Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup recipe is bright and sunshiny, infused with fresh lemon. Tender chicken, orzo pasta, and a medley of vegetables round out these delicious bowls of soup!
Ingredients
1tablespoonolive oil
1tablespoonunsalted butter
½medium yellow onion,finely chopped
1medium leek,finely chopped
2stalks celery,finely chopped
2medium carrots,finely chopped
4large cloves garlic,minced
2tablespoonsall-purpose flour
8cupslow-sodium chicken broth
1poundboneless, skinless chicken breasts
1teaspoonItalian seasoning
3bay leaves
1cuporzo,uncooked
¼cupfresh lemon juice + lemon zest of one lemon
Kosher salt & black pepper,to taste
chopped fresh parsley, to garnish
Instructions
Heat olive oil and butter over medium heat in a large pot or Dutch oven.
Add chopped onions, leeks, celery, and carrots. Sauté until vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant.
Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir to combine. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
Gradually pour the chicken broth into the pot, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
Add the chicken breasts, Italian seasoning, and bay leaves. Bring mixture to a simmer. Cover the pot, reduce heat, and let the chicken cook in the simmering broth for 20 minutes, or until cooked through and reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.
Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes. Then shred chicken into bite-size pieces or chop it.
Stir the orzo into the soup and continue simmering until the orzo is cooked to al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Return shredded chicken to the broth.
Season soup with salt & pepper to taste, then stir in fresh lemon juice and zest. Once the soup is all warmed, it's time to serve.
Ladle hot soup into individual bowls and garnish with fresh parsley. Offer additional fresh lemon slices if desired, for even more lemon flavor.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Spoonacular. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.