Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Yield: 6 servings
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
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1 medium leek, finely chopped
- 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
- 2 medium carrots, finely chopped
- 4 large cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 cup orzo, uncooked
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- zest of one large 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 flour over vegetables and stir to combine. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Gradually pour chicken broth into pot, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
- Add chicken breasts, Italian seasoning, and bay leaves. Bring mixture to a simmer. Cover pot, reduce heat, and let chicken cook in simmering broth for 20 minutes, or until cooked through and reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.
- Transfer cooked chicken to a plate and let rest for 5 minutes. Then shred chicken into bite-size pieces or chop it.
- While waiting for chicken to cool, stir orzo into the soup and continue simmering until orzo is cooked to al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Add shredded chicken to the soup.
- Season soup with salt & pepper to taste, then stir in fresh lemon juice and zest. Once 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:
Serving: 1 Calories: 357kcal Carbohydrates: 38g Protein: 32g Fat: 8g Saturated Fat: 2g Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g Cholesterol: 76mg Sodium: 1362mg Fiber: 3g Sugar: 4g
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.