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Home » Recipes » Soups and Stews

Vegetable Orzo Soup

Published: Sep 19, 2022 by Bowl Me Over · 34 Comments

Perfect for chilly days, you'll love the fresh flavors in this hearty vegetable soup recipe!
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This quick 30-minute meal will have everyone coming back for seconds! Vegetable Orzo Soup a delicious and easy meal. The flavors come together in a snap and it's a healthy soup packed full of flavor!

There's nothing better than a great soup like this Potato Soup Recipe, it's one of our favorites!

Two white bowls fill with vegetable orzo soup sitting on a white table cloth.
Orzo Soup with Vegetables is packed full of flavor and delicious!
Jump to:
  • Why you'll love this recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Equipment
  • FAQ's
  • Variations
  • Tips
  • Storage
  • Related recipes
  • Serve with
  • Vegetable Orzo Soup Recipe

Why you'll love this recipe

Dan and I have been traveling a lot. In May we were in New Mexico and Colorado. June took me to San Francisco, last weekend we were in Sacramento, with more travel planned before summer is complete!

Eating out has become a "thing"!! I told Dan on the way home from Sac Town I think it's time for some of Deb's home cooking and he agreed. And even though it's hot, we both enjoy soup.

Which is great because it's a terrific meal we can enjoy that is pretty much guilt free like this orzo pasta soup!

So even though the weather is hot, hot, hot, soup is on the menu tonight. Bonus? It is so easy and takes only thirty minutes to make! Delicious choice, right?

I thought so! 😋

This soup is packed full of bright fresh vegetables like spinach, celery, carrots & onions.

In less than thirty minutes your meal complete and you are ready for dinner! Who is hungry?!!

Ingredients

Chopped spinach, carrots and onions on a wooden cutting board.
Chopping the vegetables a uniform size will ensure everything cooks in about the same amount of time.

For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

  • carrots
  • celery
  • onion
  • spinach
  • garlic
  • fire roasted tomatoes
  • uncooked orzo pasta, whole wheat orzo or any other small pasta
  • vegetable broth or chicken broth - whichever you'd prefer.
  • dry Italian seasoning
  • lemon and fresh parsley optional

You'll love this easy to make soup! It's filled with fresh ingredients and the perfect way enjoy your vegetables! It's such a satisfying meal.

Instructions

Onions, carrots and celery being poured into a red soup pot.
Onions, carrots and celery poured into the soup pot to cook.

This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!

  1. Dice the carrots, celery & onion into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil, carrots, celery, onion and the spices.
  3. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
  4. Add in the garlic & sauté for about another minute, until the garlic becomes fragrant.
  5. Chop the spinach, add it to the soup pot.
  6. Next add the pasta and give everything a good stir. Pour in the tomatoes, stock and water.
  7. Increase the heat to high and stir well to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium, stirring often until the orzo is cooked to al dente.
  8. When the orzo is cooked, remove the soup from the heat. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and about a tablespoon of chopped parsley for bright fresh flavor.

Equipment

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 

Soup Cozy!! I'm so excited Amazon is offering these now! My Mom has been making them for years. These little cozies go in the microwave under your bowl while it is heating, no more burned fingers!! I have about 10 of these and they are GREAT!!!

FAQ's

What is orzo?

Though it looks like rice, orzo is actually a pasta shaped like a grain of rice. Orzo is a wheat-based pasta and can be eaten alone or served up in a soup or salad.

Is Orzo more healthy than rice?

Although it has about the same carbohydrate count as rice, orzo offers nearly twice as much protein as brown rice. Both are low in fat.

Does orzo freeze well?

It does, this soup freezes terrific and makes for an easy meal when you don't feel like cooking. It will keep in the refrigerator for three days.

Variations

If you are looking to add more protein to your meal, garbanzo beans or cannellini beans would be a great addition to the vegetable orzo soup!

Add almost any combination of your favorite vegetables. Extra vegetables only make it better! Green beans, red bell pepper, spinach or kale would be lovely!

You can also add chicken breasts chopped into bite-sized pieces or Italian sausage - that would be delicious!

This is one of my favorite soup recipes and a great way to add a ton of veggies to your diet! (Without anyone turning up their nose!)

White bowls filled with orzo veggie soup on with spoons.
Orzo Soup with Vegetables

Tips

Peel the carrots and dice them along with the onions. Chopping the vegetables a uniform size will ensure everything cooks in about the same amount of time.

Dicing them uniformly not only allows them to cook evenly, when the soup is done, everything fits fit easily onto a soup spoon. If you want all of my soup tips and tricks to make the BEST homemade soup, click here!

Because this stew cooks so quickly the vegetables still have a bit of a crunch, giving it great texture. Finishing the soup with a squeeze of lemon and bit of chopped parsley keeps the flavors bright and fresh.

A white bowl filled with soup. There's a spoon serving up a healthy meal of vegetable orzo soup.

Storage

Refrigerate - Store in an airtight container. This will keep in the refrigerator up to 5 days.

Freeze - Store in an airtight container, you can freeze this soup up to three months.

Reheat - thaw in the refrigerator overnight. This can be reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Related recipes

I bet you're hungry for more delicious soup recipes, right? Here are some of my favorite soups!

  • Tomato Soup - classic and delicious, this creamy soup is rich. It's packed with vegetables, you'll love it I'm sure!
  • Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup - This soup is pure comfort food - bursting with bright lemony flavor, it is full of vegetables, tender orzo pasta and hearty chunks of chicken.
  • I bet you'll love this Alphabet Soup Recipe! Be sure to spell out your name with the pasta!
  • 15 Bean Soup with Ham - this classic bean soup is rich and filling. It's easy to make and leftovers freeze great. This is one terrific meal!

Serve with

This is such a lovely soup and you're going to really love this meal!

If you're looking to prepare compare a complete dinner here is what you can serve with this yummy soup!

Start off the meal with this tangy green onion dip and some vegetables and chips for dippers! It would be such a delicious combination!

Serve a salad along with it, like this spinach garbanzo salad. It has loads of crunch and freshness.

Some fresh dinner rolls alongside. YUM!

Double Chocolate Cherry Brownies are perfect for dessert!

Vegetable Orzo Soup in white bowls with serving spoons.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
4.89 from 9 votes

Vegetable Orzo Soup Recipe

Perfect for chilly days, you'll love the fresh flavors in this hearty vegetable soup recipe!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time30 mins
Course: Soups &amp, Stews
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 257kcal
Author: Deb Clark
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

  • 3 carrots
  • 2 stalks celery
  • 1 medium onion yellow onion
  • 8 cups spinach
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 14.5 oz can fire roasted tomatoes
  • 1 cup orzo pasta
  • 4 cups vegetable stock
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • Pinch red pepper flakes
  • ½ tablespoon lemon (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon parsley minced (optional)

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Dice the carrots, celery & onion. Heat a large Dutch Oven over medium heat. When it is good & hot, add the olive oil. 
  • Then add the carrots, celery, onion and the spices - Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. 
  • Sauté for 4-5 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften. Add in the garlic & sauté for about another minute, until the garlic becomes fragrant.
  • Run your knife thru the spinach a couple times, chopping it into bite sized pieces. Add it to the soup pot. 
  • Next add the pasta and give everything a good stir, scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen the brown bits. Pour in the tomatoes, stock and water.
  • Increase the heat to high and stir well to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium - you'll still want to keep it a light bubble and cook until the orzo is cooked thru - about 8-9 minutes. 
  • Continue to stir the soup often. The orzo has a tendency to stick to the bottom of the pan. In addition, stirring it will release the starches in the pasta and help to thicken the soup.
  • When the orzo is cooked, remove the soup from the heat. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and about a tablespoon of chopped parsley for bright fresh flavor.

Notes

Substitute brown rice or quinoa for the orzo. Both are equally delicious! Just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly. 

Nutrition

Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 4g | Sodium: 1798mg | Potassium: 656mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 14300IU | Vitamin C: 25.4mg | Calcium: 143mg | Iron: 3.1mg
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I hope you enjoy this meal because soup is good food! 😋 What's your favorite soup? Please take a moment and hit reply or comment below!

If you make this soup be sure to tag me on Instagram @bowl_me_over or using the hashtag #bowlmeover!! If you've tried this, I've love it if you would leave a comment below, enjoy!!!

First published July 5, 2018 - Last updated October 15, 2021

More Soup and Stew Recipes

  • Busy Day Soup Recipe
  • Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
  • Chicken Tortellini Soup Recipe
  • CopyCat Panera Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

About Bowl Me Over

Welcome to Bowl Me Over! My name is Debra and I send warm greetings from sunny California. I am a serious foodie – I’ve been known as the go-to girl in our family for years, catering weddings and anniversary parties. In the summer I help cook mountains of food for our family reunions. Often times things I create end up in a bowl, hence the name Bowl Me Over! Let's stay connected, you can email me at [email protected] and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jan Hanlon

    June 20, 2021 at 12:29 pm

    5 stars
    I made this recipe today and it was absolutely delicious. I increased the carrots to l pound and added additional celery. No need to chop the spinach as it cooks/shrivels immediately. This is the first time I have used Orzo and it is a wonderful addition. I will certainly add orzo to other soups in the future. I also added 1 pound of cooked hamburger to the finished soup. Recipe is delicious without hamburger, but we liked the additional flavor of the hamburger. This recipe is a "Keeper".

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      June 20, 2021 at 1:06 pm

      Awesome Jan thanks so much for taking the time to come back and comment, I really appreciate!! That soup is definitely a winner and so easy to make! I appreciate your support of the blog!

      Reply
  2. Camille

    December 14, 2018 at 5:52 am

    4 stars
    Hi! I have made the recipe four times now I think. I haven’t ever been able to find orzo (oops) so I’ve been substituting other pastas.

    Wanted to comment, though, because I believe the quantity for the spinach was meant to be 8 oz not 8 cups ?

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      December 15, 2018 at 12:38 pm

      I'm glad you are enjoying this soup Camille, it's such a wonderful combination of flavors. I can't believe you can't find orzo, it's one of my fav pastas! For this soup... I stuff it with spinach, but I hear you - less can be more sometimes, that totally works for me!

      Reply
  3. Heather Gallagher

    November 28, 2016 at 9:37 am

    This sounds so amazing - I love a good veggie soup but I almost never put noodles in - why didn't I think of this? DELISH!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      November 28, 2016 at 10:14 am

      I hear ya Heather! Adding the orzo keeps it noodley (is that a word? 😀 ) without the heavy noodles! I hope you enjoy this soup.

      Reply
  4. Jennifer A Stewart

    November 27, 2016 at 4:55 pm

    You're like me I love a squeeze of lemon and parsley in my soup! This is a great soup and I love the orzo instead of regular rice. Can't wait to add this to my soup rotations!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      November 27, 2016 at 5:47 pm

      That squeeze of lemon & dusting of parsley makes all the difference, huh Jennifer? Love that bright fresh flavor!! Thanks for stopping by!!!

      Reply
  5. Michelle

    November 27, 2016 at 12:16 pm

    This is definitely my kind of soup! Our farmer's market is still going through early spring, so I'm going to try to make this with farmer's market veggies!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      November 27, 2016 at 2:33 pm

      I love our Farmer's Market - it's always fun to plan my weekly meals around the offerings. Nothing tastes better than fresh! I hope you really enjoy this soup Michelle!

      Reply
  6. Sandra Shaffer

    November 26, 2016 at 10:34 pm

    5 stars
    It's raining outside which always makes me crave soup, and this one comes together so quickly! Love those fire roasted tomatoes that you added.

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      November 27, 2016 at 2:34 pm

      Thanks Sandra! Even though the tomatoes are canned they really give it a slow cooked flavor. I love those little shortcuts!

      Reply
  7. Michaela Kenkel

    November 26, 2016 at 8:05 am

    5 stars
    So hearty and delicious!! Somebody hand me a spoon!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      November 27, 2016 at 2:34 pm

      One order coming up, enjoy Michaela! 😀

      Reply
  8. Platter Talk

    November 26, 2016 at 7:10 am

    5 stars
    Healthy, warm and delicious. And...CONVENIENT! Sign. Me. Up!!! Great job with this bowl of deliciousness!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      November 26, 2016 at 8:33 am

      Thank you so much Platter Talk - I appreciate you stopping by!

      Reply
  9. justine

    November 26, 2016 at 6:41 am

    looks wonderful!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      November 26, 2016 at 8:34 am

      Thank you!

      Reply
  10. Jenny | Honey and Birch

    November 25, 2016 at 8:23 pm

    Mmm... I love orzo in soup! Sounds delicious.

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      November 25, 2016 at 9:09 pm

      Thanks Jenny, we just love this soup!!

      Reply
  11. [email protected]'s Dinnertime Dish

    November 23, 2016 at 4:49 pm

    I love quick and easy soups! This one sounds like it's full of delicious flavor!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      November 25, 2016 at 9:10 pm

      Thanks Lisa, I love having a go-to soup recipe for these cool days, perfect for fall!!

      Reply
  12. Angela

    November 23, 2016 at 11:56 am

    Hearty, veggie packed and I do love orzo in soups! Wonderful recipe!!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      November 23, 2016 at 4:13 pm

      Thanks Angela - love that yummy veggie punch! 😀

      Reply
  13. Debi at Life Currents

    November 22, 2016 at 3:14 pm

    This sounds great! Maybe even for dinner tonight! Yum!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      November 23, 2016 at 4:15 pm

      You know that's one reason I really like this meal - most of the ingredients you already have on hand, love that!

      Reply
  14. Julie

    November 22, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    I can eat soup year around and am always looking for new soup ideas. This recipe sounds delicious!

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      November 23, 2016 at 4:16 pm

      Awesome Julie, I hope you really enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  15. Mary Jones

    November 15, 2016 at 6:59 pm

    After watching you make risotto several weeks ago, I tried it tonight and it was fabulous! Creamy, tasty, absolutely loved it and so easy to make. Thanks Super Chef Deb.

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      November 15, 2016 at 8:27 pm

      Hey that's terrific Mary, I'm so happy you gave it a try and enjoyed it so much. I love risotto, such an easy meal!! Thank you for stopping by and letting me know!

      Reply
  16. Healing Tomato

    November 14, 2016 at 3:04 pm

    5 stars
    I love a good orzo soup recipe. Orzo works so great with veggies, doesn't it? this recipe looks so comforting. Wish I had a bowl of it in front of me right now.

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      November 15, 2016 at 8:25 pm

      Thanks Rini, I'm proud of this soup, often times orzo includes cream and this is just so delicious w/out the cream!

      Reply
  17. Michelle

    November 14, 2016 at 10:28 am

    Love this orzo soup. It's my Italian family's pasta go to in bean soups too. Delish. Just made it for lunch.

    Reply
    • Bowl Me Over

      November 14, 2016 at 10:37 am

      I'm thrilled that you've already tried this Michelle - we just love this soup. It gets better as it sits too. I've never had orzo in a bean soup - now I have a new idea - thank you! 😀 And thank you for letting me know what you thought of this recipe!

      Reply

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