Chicken Lemon Orzo Soup (Printable Version)

A bright Mediterranean soup combining tender chicken, zesty lemon, and orzo pasta with fresh vegetables for a comforting meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 lemon, zested and juiced
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Pantry & Grains

09 - 3/4 cup orzo pasta
10 - 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Seasonings

12 - 1 bay leaf
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
14 - 3/4 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional

16 - Grated Parmesan cheese for serving

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in garlic, thyme, and bay leaf. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil.
04 - Add orzo and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender.
05 - Add cooked chicken, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes to heat through.
06 - Remove bay leaf. Stir in dill, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning and lemon juice to taste.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with parsley and Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like sunshine in a bowl, bright and comforting at the same time without being heavy.
  • You can have it on the table in under an hour using rotisserie chicken from the store.
  • The leftovers somehow taste even better the next day once all the flavors settle in together.
02 -
  • Don't add the lemon juice too early or it will lose its bright punch, wait until the very end.
  • If you're reheating leftovers, add a splash of broth and a squeeze of fresh lemon to bring it back to life.
03 -
  • Taste the soup before adding all the lemon juice, some lemons are more tart than others and you want balance, not pucker.
  • If the orzo soaks up too much broth overnight, just stir in half a cup of water or broth when reheating and it'll loosen right back up.
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