Description
This comforting Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is a flavorful and hearty dish perfect for any season. Tender shredded chicken, fresh vegetables, and orzo pasta come together in a bright, lemon-infused chicken broth for a delicious homemade soup that serves six.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1 lemon, juiced
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: In a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the finely diced onion, carrots, celery, and minced garlic. Cook and stir until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes, releasing their flavors and aromatics into the oil.
- Add Chicken and Broth: Increase the heat to high, then pour in the chicken broth. Add the raw chicken breasts, fresh thyme sprigs, dried bay leaf, kosher salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
- Simmer: Once boiling, cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let the soup simmer gently for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F for safety.
- Shred Chicken and Add Orzo: Remove the cooked chicken breasts from the pot and place them on a plate. Use two forks to shred the chicken finely. Return the shredded chicken to the pot and add the dry orzo pasta to the simmering soup.
- Cook Orzo: Continue to cook the soup for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the orzo from sticking to the bottom, until the pasta is tender but still slightly al dente or to your preferred texture.
- Add Lemon Juice: Stir in the freshly squeezed lemon juice to brighten the soup’s flavor. Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf before serving to ensure a pleasant eating experience.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor impact.
- Feel free to substitute orzo with another small pasta like acini di pepe or tiny elbows if unavailable.
- Adjust salt and pepper according to taste preferences.
- For a richer soup, add a splash of heavy cream after adding lemon juice.
- To make this soup gluten-free, substitute orzo with gluten-free pasta or rice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
