Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
A few weeks ago, I went out to lunch with some friends. I told my guys they had to fend for themselves. Our fridge was stocked, so I wasn’t worried. I knew they could find something to eat. When I got home, my boys were finishing up their lunch. No, they didn’t order pizza…although, Josh has done that a few times:) They were eating homemade Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup.
Josh said he wasn’t in the mood for a sandwich, so he made a big pot of Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup. Caleb played with pots and pans while dad made soup for lunch! I was kind of sad I missed out on all of the fun. Oh well, mama needed a day out and the guys had a fun afternoon together.
Josh is pretty proud of this soup. Not only because he made it all by himself with Caleb at his feet, but because he says it’s the best soup he’s ever tasted. Maybe he needs a piece of humble pie, but the soup did look pretty good and Caleb loved it too!
This chicken soup has a light and refreshing lemony broth with orzo pasta, onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and fresh parsley. The lemon gives the soup a fantastic flavor, along with a boost of vitamin C. This comforting chicken soup really does heal the soul. If you are feeling under the weather or just tired of the cold winter weather, make a pot of Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup. It is sure to hit the spot.
Josh went snowboarding the next day and as soon as he walked in the door he asked if I could heat him up a bowl of Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup. He couldn’t wait to enjoy another bowl of his soup! He said it tastes just as great the next day, especially after a long day on the slopes!
Josh insists you make his Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup. It’s his new favorite soup and he thinks you will enjoy it too!
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Yield: Serves 8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Easy chicken soup made with a light and refreshing lemon broth, orzo pasta, and vegetables. This comforting soup is healthy and perfect for a cold day.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch thick
1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
8 cups of chicken broth
Zest of 2 lemons
Juice of 2 lemons (about 1/3 cup)
1 bay leaf
1 1/2 cups orzo pasta
2 cups cooked shredded chicken
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
Salt and pepper, to tasteDirections:
1. In a large stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion, garlic, carrots, and celery until tender, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the chicken broth, lemon zest, lemon juice bay leaf and bring to a boil. Add the orzo and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6 to 8 minutes, or until orzo is tender. Add the chicken and heat for about 5 minutes.
3. Remove the pot from the heat. Discard the bay leaf and stir in the parsley. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve warm.
Note-You can use shredded rotisserie chicken in this soup.
If you like this Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup, you might also like:
- Spicy Chicken Vegetable Soup from Multiply Delicious
- Easy Chicken and Rice Soup from Two Peas and Their Pod
- Turkey and Orzo Soup with Spinach from For the Love of Cooking
- Chicken Noodle Soup from Two Peas and Their Pod



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This soup sounds really good! I never think to put lemon in a soup for some reason, but it sounds refreshing.
This is one of my all time favorite soups!! I make it all the time!! I love the lemon flavor to it, it brings out a nice zing!
looks like supper to me! I even happen to have all the ingredients…and with the hap~hazard way the troops will be falling in to the homestead tonite around supper time due to out of town business meetings, high school play tryouts, and bible study tonite, this will suit our schedule just fine. Healthy eats, easy clean up, and done! Now if they could just make this vegetarian…
Thanx for sharing!!
~Joy
First of all these pictures are gorgeous!
And the soup looks over the moon perfect for a chilly night, or day or morning!
What a treat to come home to a big pot of soup!
Caleb is such a doll-baby!
xo
Looks light and delicious. Love the lemon!
That looks really good! Maybe because it’s cold out, or maybe because there have been flu bugs going around, but that looks super tasty to me. I may be rearranging my meal plan!
Love this!
You crack me up with the humble pie
I love making soup right now! Yours looks delicious Maria! x0x0
The lemon in this soup would make it so bright, fresh and good!
I LOVE orzo! This looks perfect for a gray January day. Thanks, Maria!
Looks beautiful and sounds delicious! I like lemon in unexpected spots. Great work Josh. And yayy for some mommy alone/with friends time!
This is just the kind of soup my family would be all over. Thanks Maria (and Josh!)
Mama. Mia.
this soup looks SO good and i love everything that you’ve included in it!! the orzo is rockin’!
Perfect time of year for this yummy soup!! My guys would love it too!!
I love lemon chicken soup! This looks delicious. If you are ever in Southern California, there is an incredible restaurant in Manhattan Beach that makes a delicious greek lemon chicken soup — it’s my favorite!
This looks delicious Maria! I love the addition of the lemon. It adds such a wonderful flavor to the soup and perfect for this time of the year!
We’ve been eating nonstop soup, stew, and chili – all delicious, but all either tomato based or deeply savory. This looks like such a refreshing change. And still wintry with all of that citrus flavor. Can’t wait to try this.
Maria-I seriously love this! So healthy and comforting!
The lemon addition is a great idea to shake up typical chicken noodle soup, and what a great addition for cold and flu season. Tell Josh thank you! I also love as the pasta for soups like this, it’s such a nice size and so easy for kiddos to eat. This reminds me of a fancy avgolemono.
I love that you added lemon in this soup Maria!!
Sounds like the boys had fun and now we all have something delicious to try making. Pass on a big thanks!
Sounds delicious!!
Love this soup- I make a similar version and it is always a favorite!
Yum! Sounds refreshing!
looks like my kinda meal!
Aw, I love it! And it’s true — The soup DOES look pretty awesome and the flavors sound great!
I like it when Josh gets in the kitchen. You should let me do it more often
When this came to my inbox this morning, I immediately ran to the store so I could make it for lunch! What an awesome recipe and great idea to add lemon. It was wonderful!
I have been craving lemon orzo soup–I am not kidding. Yum!
Yes, Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is delicious! Too funny, I posted a Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup today too, great minds think alike.
Sounds so comforting, yet refreshing with the lemon. I could use a bowl of this today, it is COLD!
Perfect yummy soup to keep me on my NY’s resolution of eating on the light side.
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Way to go Josh!!! Looks delicious!
Everyone can always use more chicken soup recipes to get through the winter!
so cute to picture those 2 boys at work in the kitchen! sounds like a delicious result!
A lemony soup really does sound like the perfect cure for a winter cold! Yum!
I made this yummy soup for my friend and me on this cold cold day! It was really yummy, but I have a question: my Orzo soaked up all of the chicken broth/lemon juice. When reheating it tomorrow, should I put more broth and lemon juice in? I do like it to have a soupy consistency. Thx!
Two Peas replied: — January 15th, 2013 @ 7:20 pm
Yes, you can add more broth and lemon juice.
This was dinner tonight. yummy