Home > Soups & Stews > Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup October 23, 2023 | 8 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Get ready for a zesty flavor explosion! Our Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup not only bursts with vibrant flavor but is also brimming with wholesome ingredients. And guess what? With a couple of cooking short-cuts, you’ll be slurping it up in under 30 minutes! Pair this Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup with our favorite homemade Focaccia and a green salad like this Italian Salad. Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup We’ve been under the weather more than usual this fall and winter, and I swear by this soup. It not only comforts everyone but also seems to alleviate some symptoms. There might be some truth to those age-old remedies! Recent studies suggest that chicken soup with vegetables can aid hydration and reduce cold symptoms. This soup is rich in lemon, a fantastic source of vitamin C, which boosts the immune system when you’re unwell. So, it’s fair to say this soup is ideal when you sense a cold brewing. It’s been a lifesaver in our home! But its charm isn’t limited to cold days. It’s perfect anytime you’re craving comforting warmth or a twist on chicken noodle soup! Ingredients In Orzo Soup Olive Oil: Used to sauté the mirepoix, setting the foundational flavor. Mirepoix (onion, carrot, celery): A classic base that deepens the soup’s flavor. Garlic: Enhances the aromatic profile. Seasonings (various herbs and spices): They provide depth, savory notes, and aromatic complexity. Orzo Pasta: Offers a filling texture; can be replaced with other small pastas if unavailable. Rotisserie Chicken: Adds protein and rich flavor, enriching the broth. Lemon Juice and Zest: Brightens the soup with a zesty, acidic touch. Fresh Baby Spinach: Provides color, nutrition, and a mild earthy flavor. And make sure to serve it with some Herb Bread, No-Knead Bread, or Dinner Rolls! QUICK TIP What is orzo? It’s a pasta shaped like rice. While “orzo” means barley in Italian, in the US, we typically associate it with rice. For this recipe, you can use any small pasta as a substitute. The goal is to have a pasta that cooks quickly and fits easily onto a spoon for eating. How To Make Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup In a large pot, add olive oil, diced carrots, diced celery, and diced onion. Sauté the vegetables until they are crisp-tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. Take your time here; it’s the flavor base of this soup! Gather all the required seasonings for the soup. Incorporate these seasonings into the vegetables, stirring until aromatic. Pour in the broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, add the orzo pasta and cook until it’s tender. Mix in the shredded rotisserie chicken to warm it up, followed by the spinach until it wilts. Finish by adding the lemon zest and juice. Enjoy! Garnish bowls with Parmesan cheese if desired. SHORTCUTS Soup Shortcuts Using a rotisserie chicken saves time, and pre-shredded versions are available at stores like Costco, Smith’s (Kroger), Trader Joe’s, and Walmart. A lemon-herb seasoned (lemon-herb) rotisserie chicken is especially delicious for this soup. For quicker preparation, consider pre-chopped mirepoix, available both fresh and frozen in many grocery store produce sections. Utilize a microplane and lemon juicer for effortless zesting and juicing. If you’re a lemon enthusiast, adjust the quantity to suit your taste! QUICK TIP What is Mirepoix? Mirepoix is a classic culinary base consisting of diced onions, carrots, and celery, often used to add depth of flavor to various dishes. STORAGE Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup storage If making ahead of time: omit the orzo and reserve 2 cups of broth. When serving, cook the orzo separately and then add it to the soup. When refrigerated, the soup lasts 2-3 days, but note that the orzo may absorb some liquid, so adjust with more chicken stock when reheating for desired consistency. Avoid freezing with orzo; add it after thawing and reheating for best texture. More Delicious Soup Recipes: Chicken Gnocchi Soup creamy and delicious The best-ever Vegetable Soup CrockPot White Chicken Chili award winning Pasta Soup with Italian sausage Creamy Chicken Chili reader favorite! FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup 5 from 4 votes - Review this recipe Get ready for a zesty flavor explosion! Our Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup not only bursts with vibrant tastes but is also brimming with wholesome ingredients. And guess what? With a couple of quick tricks, you'll be slurping it up in under 30 minutes! SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup 5 from 4 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Get ready for a zesty flavor explosion! Our Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup not only bursts with vibrant tastes but is also brimming with wholesome ingredients. And guess what? With a couple of quick tricks, you'll be slurping it up in under 30 minutes! Course Dinner, Soup Cuisine American Keyword lemon chicken orzo soup Prep Time 10 minutes minutes Cook Time 20 minutes minutes Total Time 30 minutes minutes Servings 6 -8 servings Chelsea Lords Calories 161kcal Author Chelsea Lords Ingredients▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil▢ 3 cups diced mirepoix (or 1 cup each: diced yellow onion, diced celery, diced carrots) (Note 1)▢ 2 teaspoons minced garlic▢ 1 teaspoon chicken boullion powder▢ 1/2 teaspoon each: fine sea salt, pepper, dried parsley, dried oregano, dried thyme▢ 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning▢ 8 cups chicken broth▢ 1 bay leaf, optional▢ 3/4 cup uncooked orzo pasta (Note 2)▢ 2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded/chopped (Note 3)▢ 2 cups coarsely chopped baby spinach▢ 2 large juicy lemons (3-4 tbsp juice & 1-1/2 tsp zest) (Note 4)▢ Optional: fresh thyme, Parmesan cheese, and crusty bread, for servingUS - Metric USMetric InstructionsMIREPOIX: In a large pot over medium heat, add olive oil. Once the oil is shimmering, add diced onion, celery, & carrots. Cook until veggies are crisp-tender, stirring occasionally, for about 7-9 minutes (reduce heat if veggies are browning too quickly). Add minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds. SEASON: Add the seasonings and stir for 30 seconds. Pour in the chicken broth and add the bay leaf if using. Increase the heat and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add the orzo pasta. Cook according to package directions, subtracting 2 minutes from the recommended cooking time.CHICKEN/SPINACH: Stir in the shredded rotisserie chicken and then the spinach. Gently stir to warm through the chicken and allow the spinach to wilt, about 1-3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the lemon zest and juice. Season to taste if any additional salt or pepper is needed. SERVE: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish, if desired, with fresh thyme. Add optional Parmesan cheese to individual bowls. Serve with crusty bread. Video Recipe NotesNote 1: Mirepoix: Grab a pre-chopped mirepoix blend from the store’s produce aisle or process the veggies in a food processor for a quick dice. You'll need about 1/2 a large onion, 3-4 stalks of celery, and 3 carrots. Note 2: Leftovers: Keep in mind that since we cook the orzo in this soup, it will continue to absorb the liquid. This soup is best eaten the same day it's made. Note 3: Rotisserie chicken: If available, choose a lemon herb seasoned rotisserie chicken for extra lemon and herb flavor. Note 4: Lemon: Add lemon juice and zest gradually according to your personal taste preferences. This recipe is written the way we love it, but you may prefer slightly less or slightly more lemon. If you're a big lemon fan, consider using lemon herb seasoning (e.g., Mrs. Dash) or lemon pepper instead of regular pepper in the soup. Nutrition FactsServing: 8servings | Calories: 161kcal | Carbohydrates: 14.2g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 6.5g | Cholesterol: 30.1mg | Sodium: 131mg | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 2.6g We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
I loved this soup. I couldn’t find orzo and I needed to make it gluten free anyway so I used green lentils. It worked well. Thank you! Reply
I made this exactly as indicated and it was absolute perfection. Making another pot tomorrow as at 10 PM my husband was in the kitchen heating up the remainder (I also made the orzo separately). Thank you for the great recipe -this is a huge win to find this. Reply
I like to freeze some of my large batches of soup. Does this freeze we3ll without the orzo and spinach? Reply
