Creamy Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is a healthy, fresh soup bursting with bright lemony flavor! A cozy soup filled with delicious vegetables, tender orzo pasta and hearty chunks of chicken, Greek Lemon Chicken Soup is pure comfort food and ready in less than 30 minutes!
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Why you'll love this recipe
✔️ It's a quick meal but it doesn't compromise on flavor.
✔️ I love this meal (and i think you will too!) because most of the time I make it, I'm utilizing leftovers. It only takes a bit of chicken - white meat or dark meat, either will work.
✔️ This is a satisfying meal to serve for an easy lunch. Paired with a salad, it's a delicious dinner! I know you're going to love it!
Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- leftover cooked chicken - using cooked chicken keeps the cooking time to a minimum.
- orzo pasta - small pasta that actually looks like rice, but it's pasta!
- onion, celery, carrots
and garlic - all of the aromatics, making this soup taste like it's cooked all day long. - chicken stock - for flavor
- half and
half or heavy cream - I've even used sour cream in a pinch - parmesan cheese - for salty flavor and cheesy goodness.
- one lemon - to give this soup just the right amount of tang.
Instructions
This is an overview, for detailed instructions just scroll down to the bottom!
- Peel and dice the carrots and onion.
- Sauté the vegetables.
- Add the stock and lemon juice, bring to a boil.
- Next add the pasta and boil until al dente.
- Remove from heat, stir in the diced cooked chicken and cream.
Tips to make Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
- Homemade Chicken Stock will make this soup taste even better!
- Stirring the orzo while it's cooking will keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan. It will also release starch and help thicken the stew.
- Wash the lemon well before zesting.
- Avoid overcooking the pasta as it will get mushy.
More chicken soup recipes
- Copycat Panera Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe - only 20 minutes and dinner is on the table? Yes please!
- Chicken Tortellini Soup with plenty of tender chicken and pasta - so good!
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup - ready in minutes instead of hours. This recipe rich and delicious.
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 carrot chopped
- 1 stalk celery chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 1 cups shredded cooked chicken
- ⅓ cup orzo pasta
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest and juice of ½ lemon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 bay leaf
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Instructions
- In a large stockpot heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery - season with salt, pepper (red & black) and add the bay leaf. Sauté until just tender, about 5 minutes.
- Next, add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about a minute. Add the lemon juice, zest, chicken stock. Bring to a boil & add the orzo.
- Cook uncovered, stirring often - this will release the starch in the soup and help thicken it. It will also keep the orzo from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Cook until the orzo is just al dente - depending on the brand 6-9 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add the chicken, parmesan cheese and cream. Heat thru.
- Remove the bay leaf & adjust seasonings if necessary (may need a bit more salt & pepper). It's ready to serve!
Notes
Nutrition
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I'm serving up another amazing soup today! Dan and I have been devouring this soup for the last week! If you love chicken noodle soup, then you'll really love the Italian version - Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup!
A light lemony broth, with veggies, tender chicken and orzo pasta, mmmm!
I was talking to my Mom about carbs and pasta. Specifically, the best way to enjoy them in your diet without overdoing it. Many of our family members are diabetic, so carbs are always a concern.
Mom was saying when she makes spaghetti, she only uses about a nickel's worth of dry pasta (unlike me who pours the whole box in) for just the two of us....
So along these lines, when I was working on this recipe, I've made it more times than I can count. The first time I made it I made a HUGE batch and (wrote the recipe accordingly) using 3 quarts of chicken stock and well....since it's just Dan and
The second time I made this I used less chicken stock but did not adequately reduce the amount of pasta! I ended up with a lemony orzo chicken casserole rather than soup, which though quite delicious, was not what I was going for either...
Just like Goldilocks and The Three Bears, the third time was just right!
I reduced the orzo to ⅓ of a cup (seriously down from the full cup I started with). Resulting in a creamy, lemony, light soup filled with the perfect amount of pasta!
Terry
I made this tonight and it was good, but seemed to need a little something, so I added a couple of splashes of cooking sherry. (I know, I know, real sherry is better, but the last time I needed some for a recipe, the liquor store was not a convenient stop.) I poached my chicken breasts in my Instant Pot with water, lemon slices, soy sauce, salt, and some dried rosemary, thyme, and oregano; they came out great. Will definitely make this again.
Bowl Me Over
Sounds great Terry, anything that imparts a touch of flavor is always a plus, right?!!! So glad you enjoyed this soup and thank you for letting me know!!
Liza
Oh, this soup is amazing! Making it for dinner this weekend for sure!
Bowl Me Over
It is fabulous and so easy, really a great meal - I hope you really enjoy this meal!
Alison
I LOVE a good lemon chicken soup! I'll definitely be trying this dish out on a cold winter night!
Bowl Me Over
Wonderful! I hope it's a soup you really enjoy Alison!!!
Jennifer Stewart
I love chicken soup but the addition of lemon really brightens it up!
Bowl Me Over
Mostly definitely this one is a classic! Enjoy Jennifer!
Lee Ann
Delicious! Didn’t see where to add Parmesan cheese. Stirred in at the end. In my rotation for sure! Thanks!
Bowl Me Over
Ooh let me check - thanks Lee Ann! I'm so glad you enjoyed this soup, it's SO good!!!
Liza
Oh I LOVE your soups! And this one is no exception! I mean - what can be better than a nourishing one-pot meal like this soup! What a great recipe!
Bowl Me Over
Thanks you Liza, this one is so easy and good. It’s light too and the lemon makes it refreshing. We LOVE this one, I hope you do too!
Leah
I'm giving this a try for my Mother-in-law. She just had surgery on her mouth and can't really chew, so I thought this would be great if I omitted the veg and chicken, focus just on the very flavorful broth and orzo. She loves the avgolemono soup at a local pizza shop but Is allergic to egg, so I am trying to give her the same flavors. I think the cream will give some of the rich texture without the egg. Thanks for the recipe!
Bowl Me Over
How kind of you to cook for her while she is healing, that's just wonderful! This soup is so delicious and flavorful, one of my very favorites! Another thing you can do is blend it all together really well - that would be very easy for her also. Just a thought! Happy Saturday to you!
Shreyashi
Hey Deb,
This is such a beautiful way to use orzo. I think it's so under-rated.
I am pinning this for use. Will be testing out the recipe. And if it is as good as it sounds and looks, I will be featuring it in my Jan 2016 roundup. Just giving you a headsup.
Thank you so much for sharing this.
Cheers!
Bowl Me Over
How exciting Shreyashi! I hope you really enjoy it, I know we just love this soup! (In fact I'm making some for my Mom in law again today!)
Helen Fern
This looks really good! I would love to have you share this on my linky party -What's for Dinner!
http://www.lazygastronome.com/whats-for-dinner-sunday-link-up-27/
Helen Fern
Thanks for sharing!!
Bowl Me Over
You bet - excited to be invited to a new party!
Bowl Me Over
Thank you for the invite, heading your way now!
Easy Peasy Life Matters
This soup sounds divine!!! Can't wait to give it a try! Thanks for sharing on the Let's Get Real blog hop 🙂
Bowl Me Over
Absolutely, always a great party - thank you!!
Suzy | The Mediterranean Dish
Don't mind if I do! A recipe after my own heart!!!
Bowl Me Over
Oh yes, this is right up your alley! :D.
Lori Vachon
I'm all over this soup! Next time my daughter is home from college I'm making a big pot of this, all of her favorite flavors!
Bowl Me Over
She will love it Lori, I hope you get a chance to give it a try!! Thanks for stopping by!
Healing Tomato
This is the most delicious looking soup I have seen. I am starting to use more orzo in my diet, so, it is nice to see this recipe.
Platter Talk
Great flavor, texture, and comfort in this soup; what a fantastic job! Thanks for sharing!
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life
Lemon orzo chicken soup is one of my favorites. I'm always up for trying another version! Thanks for the recipe!
Bowl Me Over
You bet! I seen your recipe today also and it looked so delicious - great minds think alike! 😀
Debi @ Life Currents
This looks so good. I'm pretty sure that orzo is my favorite pasta. Such a warm and comforting bowl of goodness!
Bowl Me Over
One of my favorites too, I think it's really underused - unfortunate because it's soooo good!
peter @feedyoursoultoo
I have made this exact soup. It is such a good combination of flavors and your soup looks wonderful.
Bowl Me Over
I hear you Peter, there are many version of this soup and for good reason, it's so wonderful! Thanks for stopping by!!
Florian @ContentednessCooking
This looks amazing! So comforting and fresh!
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Florian, I hope you give this a try!
KC the Kitchen Chopper
The simplicity of this soup is just perfect. I love the pop of lemon. So Yum!
Bowl Me Over
Thanks KC - just love this soup!
Patty Haxton Anderson
This sounds perfect and I'd love a bowl right now! It's cold and windy today!
Bowl Me Over
It's cold here today too, but I bet your cold is lots colder Patty - I've turned into a whimp since I moved from the Midwest, I like my Fresno winters much better! I hope you enjoy the soup!