Chicken Orzo Soup is a light and healthy soup filled with tender chicken and orzo in a bright lemony broth. It is an easy, comforting soup recipe that is ready in under 30 minutes.
Chicken soup reigns high on the list of all-time favorites when it comes to soul-satisfying comfort food.
And while I absolutely love rich and hearty chicken soups like Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup and Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings, when I want something light and bright that still delivers comfort, I always turn to this Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup.
Why You Will Love Chicken Orzo Soup
- Incredible Flavor. The broth is richly flavored, yet the addition of lemon brightens up the whole soup and gives the soup an incredible punch of flavor.
- Easy to Make. We are talking one pan and ready in less than 30 minutes, making this soup perfect for ANY night of the week!
- Hearty. From the chunks of tender chicken to pasta to the veggies, this soup satisfies and leaves you full for hours!
- Wholesome. Made with simple, wholesome ingredients and very little oil, Chicken Orzo Soup packs in nutrients, while still being relatively low in fat and calories.
- Picky-Eater Approved. My two picky kiddos and very picky husband LOVE this chicken soup. While my son MAY pick out the cooked carrots in the soup, my entire family loves this recipe, and for this mom, that is a win!
Notes on Ingredients
- Chicken: Use either boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs for this recipe.
- Chicken Stock: Use your favorite low-sodium store-bought or homemade chicken stock. And yes, chicken broth and chicken stock are interchangeable.
- Wine: I love adding a bit of dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay, to the base of the soup recipe. It adds a depth of flavor and richness that cannot be duplicated using just broth. That said, if you don't have wine on hand or don't care to use alcohol, simply replace the wine with additional broth. It will still be delicious!
- Orzo: Orzo looks like grains of rice but is actually a type of pasta and can be found with all the other varieties of dry pasta in just about any grocery store.
- Aromatics: The base of this soup starts just like all good soups with a combination of onions, carrots, celery, and garlic.
- Thyme: Thyme is the perfect complement to both the chicken and lemon in this recipe. Use fresh thyme for the best flavor, but you can substitute it with dried thyme leaves, not ground thyme.
- Lemon: Obviously, lemon is essential in a Lemon Chicken Orzo soup recipe. Be sure to only use FRESH lemon juice and to zest the lemons before juicing them.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: While you can omit the red pepper flakes if you are sensitive to heat, a little bit really helps the flavors to pop and wake your palate.
Recipe Modifications
- Using Leftover Cooked Chicken: If you have leftover cooked chicken, such as leftover rotisserie chicken, that you would like to use to make this soup, simply add 3-4 cups of shredded or diced cooked chicken to the soup for the last 5 minutes of simmering, just to warm it through.
- Add Spinach: Feel free to stir 5 ounces of fresh baby spinach into the soup when adding the lemon and lemon zest.
- Lemon Dill Chicken Orzo Soup: Lemon, dill, and chicken are another classic pairing. For a soup with notes of fresh dill, omit the thyme from the recipe and stir in 2 tablespoons of freshly minced fresh dill when you add the lemon.
- Make with Whole Grains: Use whole wheat orzo in place of regular orzo pasta.
- Instant Pot Version: For the same delicious flavors, try out my recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Orzo Soup.
How to Make Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step One: Sear the Chicken. The first step to making this soup is searing the chicken. This will give this chicken a nice golden color and seal the juices in the chicken.
Step Two: Saute the Veggies. Once the chicken is golden, remove it from the pan, add a bit more oil, and saute the carrots, onions, celery, and garlic. This combination is the building base for just about all good soups!
Step Three: Deglaze the Pan. Once the vegetables have softened, add in the wine, and using a spatula or spoon, scrape up any browned bits off the bottom of the pan, while the wine simmers. Those browned bits will add incredible flavor the the soup.
Step Four: Bring to a Boil. Add in stock and seasonings to develop the rich broth and bring the liquid to a boil.
Step Five: Add Chicken and Orzo. Once the broth is boiling, add the seared chicken back to the soup, along with the orzo. Reduce the heat and simmer the chicken orzo soup until the orzo is tender.
Step Six: Add Lemon. At this point, you have a delicious Chicken Orzo Soup. But we really want to take it over the top by adding in lemon zest and lemon juice. This will elevate and brighten the flavors of the soup, turning a good soup into a phenomenal chicken soup.
Serving Suggestions
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is hearty enough to stand alone as an entree. However, I love to pair it with rustic Dutch Oven Bread to soak up the rich broth and a Spinach Avocado Salad to round out the meal. Feel free to top each bowl of soup with fresh parsley and/or parmesan cheese.
Storing/Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerate: Allow the soup to cool slightly and then transfer it to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Transfer the cooled soup to a freezer-safe container, leaving 1-inch space for expansion. Freeze the leftover soup in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: When you want to reheat the Chicken Orzo Soup, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator if needed. You can reheat the soup in a saucepan over low heat or in a heat-safe bowl in the microwave until warmed through. Keep in mind that because this soup is made with orzo, which is pasta, it will soak up some of the broth as it sits. Remedy this, by adding a bit of water or stock to the soup before reheating.
More Delicious Soup Recipes
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Tortellini Soup
- Vegetable Beef Soup
- Italian Wedding Soup
- Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Need more inspiration for planning meals that your family will love? Sign up for my FREE Meal Plans and each week you will get a meal plan with a shopping list.
If you tried out this recipe for Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
30-Minute Light and Bright Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs cut into 1-inch chunks
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 3 carrots peeled and diced
- 2 celery ribs diced
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- ½ cup dry white wine optional
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- fresh parsley for serving
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large heavy-bottom stock pan over medium heat. Season the cubed chicken with salt and pepper and then add to the heated oil. Saute until golden on each side, and then remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan. Add in the onion, carrots, and celery and saute until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in thyme and garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in the wine, if using, and allow the alcohol to cook off for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the chicken stock, bay leaf, and red pepper flakes, if using, and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Stir in the reserved chicken and orzo and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook until the orzo is al dente, about 9-10 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice. Taste to adjust seasonings. Serve with parsley if desired.
Letha
Can you substitute gluten free pasta or rice?
Letha
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Letha! Barilla gluten-free orzo works well in this recipe.
Nicole DiDomenico
When making it in the instant pot do I saute the chicken and take it out saute tye vegetables and put it back?
Kristen Chidsey
You can saute the chicken with the vegetables until just golden and then deglaze the pan. No need to remove the chicken.
Natalie
Beautiful soup. Healing and healthy. I will make this for my son.
Katie
Lemon, chicken, and orzo are a match made in heaven. This soup is so comforting on cold winter days.
Louise
Hi Kristen,
I'm allergic to gluten so wonder if I could make this recipe in my Instant Pot with rice instead.
Thank you so much for your recipes.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Louise. I haven't tried using rice myself to give you the right ratios of rice (as it expands and soaks up more liquid than pasta) or the cooking time. That said, I would think 1/4 cup rice at 2 minutes of cook time on high pressure with natural pressure release would work well.