Description
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is a comforting and flavorful soup featuring tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and kale simmered in a savory broth with bright lemon zest and juice. This one-pot meal is easy to prepare and perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 1 cup carrots (chopped)
- 1 cup celery (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1.5 lbs uncooked chicken breasts
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 1 lemon (zested and juiced)
- 4 cups kale leaves (roughly chopped)
Instructions
- Heat and sauté vegetables. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan or soup pot over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion, celery, and carrots and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds, stirring constantly to release the aroma.
- Add broth, chicken, and seasonings. Pour in the chicken broth, add the chicken breasts and season with oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, and the bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer the soup. Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let the soup simmer gently for about 15 minutes, allowing the chicken to cook through and flavors to meld.
- Add orzo and cook. Stir in the uncooked orzo and continue cooking uncovered for 10 more minutes until orzo is al dente and the chicken is tender enough to shred.
- Shred chicken and finish soup. Remove the chicken breasts from the pot, shred or chop them into bite-sized pieces, and return them to the soup. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and chopped kale leaves. Cook a few minutes more until the kale is wilted.
- Adjust seasoning and serve. Taste the soup and add additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot and enjoy your comforting Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup.
Notes
- For a gluten-free option, substitute orzo with gluten-free pasta.
- If you prefer a thicker soup, add more orzo or simmer a bit longer after adding the pasta.
- Kale can be substituted with spinach or Swiss chard depending on preference.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat nicely.
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest for the best bright flavor, but bottled lemon juice can be used in a pinch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 232 kcal
- Sugar: 2.9 g
- Sodium: 466.4 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13.5 g
- Fiber: 1.8 g
- Protein: 28.2 g
- Cholesterol: 64 mg
