• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Butter & Baggage logo

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
      • Savory Breakfast Recipes
      • Sweet Breakfast Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
      • Easy Beef Recipes
      • Best Chicken Recipes
      • Tasty Pork Recipes
      • Seafood Recipes
      • Soup and Chili Recipes
      • Pasta Recipes
    • Salads & Sides
    • Dessert Recipes
      • Cakes Pies & Muffins
      • Cookie Recipes
      • Brownies & Bars
      • Fruit Desserts
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Seasonal Recipes
    • Techniques
  • Restaurants
    • Culinary Ventures
  • About
    • Barbara’s Bio
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Home » Recipes » Main Dish Recipes » Soup and Chili Recipes » Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Jan 15, 2021 · Leave a Comment

14shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
A bowl of chicken soup with shredded chicken

Lemon chicken orzo soup is the ultimate comfort food. Simple to make but packed with flavor. A cozy soup for cold winter days and perfect for when you’re not feeling great.

A bowl of lemon orzo chicken soup

We’re in the middle of winter here in the Carolinas and this year more than most, Spring seems like a long way away. It’s days like these when you need a comfy cozy bowl of soup. While chicken noodle soup is a classic, and a bowl of spicy chicken soup is delicious, give lemon chicken orzo soup a try, you won’t be disappointed.

No slurping bland noodles when you have orzo to soak up all the great flavors. If you haven’t cooked with orzo before, it’s just a rice shaped pasta that works so well in this chicken soup recipe because it absorbs the liquid. The longer it stays in the broth the more it seems to absorb.

Chicken soup with a loaf of bread

Not only is it easier to eat than chicken noodle soup, you’re going to love the flavors. By cooking the chicken and vegetables together it gives the broth a rich chicken flavor, not watery at all. Then you’ll add dill and lemon at the end. if you have to leave off the dill, that’s ok, but don’t leave off the lemon. It adds a burst of flavor that perks up the soup.

This is also one of my favorite soups to take to someone who’s not feeling great. It’s nourishing but also comforting. You’ll want to keep some in your freezer for those days when Spring feels like it will never get here.

What you’ll need

ingredients for chicken soup
  • Veggies – Green onions and celery. You can certainly add some chopped carrots if you like.
  • Chicken – I use thighs which I think have more flavor, but breasts can be used if you prefer.
  • Chicken broth or bone broth- bone broth has more flavor, but since you’re cooking the chicken in it, chicken stock or broth will still produce a great chicken soup.
  • Orzo – you could use any pasta or rice in it’s place.
  • Fresh Dill – this adds so much flavor
  • Lemon – citrus is perfect with chicken soup

How do you make chicken soup

Step 1: A Dutch oven is perfect for making soup but any large pot will work. Begin by cooking the onions and celery, if you want to add carrots, add them here.

Step 2: Once the veggies are soft, add raw chicken and broth and bring it to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and let it simmer for about 20 minutes until the chicken has cooked through. Remove the chicken to a plate.

A Dutch oven with chicken broth and chicken

Step 3: Bring the broth to a boil and add orzo and cook until the pasta has cooked to your desired texture.

Step 4: Shred chicken and add to the soup along with fresh dill. Squeeze a lemon over the top before serving.

Shredded chicken on a cutting board

FAQ’s and tips

Can you use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

You can easily substitute chicken breasts for thighs. Use a meat thermometer to determine when they have cooked through, 165º for white meat, 175º for dark.

Can you use rice instead of pasta?

Rice will work instead of pasta but the cooking time may be different. Just test the rice for doneness.

Can you make a smaller amount?

You can easily cut this recipe in half, but it freezes well, so if you have room in your freezer make a big batch.


What is orzo?


Orzo is just a rice shaped pasta. You can find it along with all of the other pastas.

Favorite breads to go with soup

  • Irish soda bread
  • Cornbread biscuits
  • Buttermilk biscuits
  • Dill yeast rolls
  • Pull apart bread

More cozy soup/chili recipes

  • Mushroom noodle soup
  • Chili with sweet potatoes
  • Slow cooker chicken chili
  • Chicken chili
  • Chicken salsa soup
A bowl of lemon orzo chicken soup

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Lemon chicken orzo soup is the ultimate comfort food. Simple to make but packed with flavor. A cozy soup for those cold winter days and perfect for when you're not feeling great.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: entree
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken soup, comfort food, soup
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 208kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 6 green onions sliced
  • 2 stalks celery chopped
  • 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs 1 1/2 lbs
  • 12 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup orzo
  • ½ cup fresh dill chopped
  • lemon
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  • In a Dutch oven or large pot, heat oil and when hot, add chopped celery and green onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
  • Add chicken and broth and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer. Cook until chicken has cooked through, about 20 minutes, 175º. Transfer to a cutting board to cool.
  • Bring liquid to a boil and then add orzo and cook uncovered until it has softened, about 8-10 minutes.
  • With two forks, shred chicken and add back to the pot along with chopped dill. Let sit for a few minutes. Squeeze lemon juice over soup before serving.

Notes

  • You can substitute any shaped pasta for orzo or even rice. 
  • You can use chicken breasts, remove them when they reach 165º.
  • The orzo will continue to absorb liquid, if needed you can add additional chicken broth. 

Nutrition

Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 1371mg | Potassium: 578mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 344IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 2mg

If you make this recipe be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! I would love to see your creation.

Best Chicken Recipes, Main Dish Recipes, Recipes, Soup and Chili Recipes

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen. Read More…

Sign up & get your FREE e-book of Easy Weeknight Dinners!

Queso Chicken

Footer

Explore breakfast bread chicken pasta dessert bars
Butter and Baggage

Sign up & get your FREE e-book of Easy Weeknight Dinners!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 Butter & Baggage
Branding & Customization by Grace + Vine Studios