Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe: A Comforting Delight

Name: Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe: A Comforting Delight
Total time: 50 mins
Ingredients: 8 ounces orzo pasta; 1 teaspoon olive oil; 3 medium carrots, chopped, or more to taste; 3 ribs celery, chopped; 1 medium onion, chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme; 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano; salt and ground black pepper to taste; 1 bay leaf; 3 (32 ounce) cartons fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth; 0.5 cup fresh lemon juice; 1 lemon, zested; 8 ounces cooked chicken breast, chopped; 1 (8 ounce) package baby spinach leaves; 1 lemon, sliced for garnish; 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese

This lemon chicken orzo soup is the ultimate comfort food! Experience the delightful flavors of tender chicken in a zesty lemon broth, perfectly combined with orzo pasta, carrots, onions, celery, and baby spinach. It's quickly becoming a family favorite soup recipe for its warmth and delicious taste.

Total time50 mins
Prep time20 mins
Cook time30 mins
Yield6 quarts, 12

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Servings

Instructions

Prepare all the necessary ingredients.
In a large pot, bring lightly salted water to a rolling boil. Add the orzo pasta and continue boiling, uncovered, until partially cooked but not yet soft, approximately 5 minutes. Drain the orzo and rinse thoroughly with cold water until completely cooled.
In a large pot over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the carrots, celery, and onion; sauté until the vegetables begin to soften and the onion turns translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, around 1 minute. Season the mixture with thyme, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and freshly ground black pepper; continue cooking for another 30 seconds before adding the chicken broth to the pot.
Bring the chicken broth to a boil. Partially cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium-low, and allow to simmer until the vegetables are tender, approximately 10 minutes.
Add the cooked orzo, fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest to the broth, then gently stir in the cooked chicken. Cook until the chicken and orzo are thoroughly heated, about 5 minutes. Add the baby spinach and cook until the spinach wilts into the broth and the orzo is tender, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Ladle the warm soup into serving bowls. Garnish with fresh lemon slices and grated Parmesan cheese for an extra touch of flavor.
Serve and enjoy your homemade lemon chicken orzo soup!

Nutrition

Calories: 167 kcal
Fat Content: 4 g
Fiber Content: 3 g
Sugar Content: 4 g
Sodium Content: 187 mg
Protein Content: 12 g
Cholesterol Content: 20 mg
Carbohydrate Content: 22 g
Saturated Fat Content: 2 g
Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g