Easy Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe

If you’re looking for a comforting and richly flavored soup, give this Easy Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe a try! It’s the perfect soup to enjoy year-round and the whole family will love it!


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This lemony soup is a wonderful comfort soup that you can serve all year long.

When you have a bit of extra time to simmer a pot of homemade soup, it is so rewarding. This soup has all the great flavors of chicken noodle soup with the added burst of lemon and the heartiness of orzo pasta.

If you are a soup lover, try my butternut squash soup next and my broccoli cheddar soup. They’re both easy to make and so tasty!

Why You’ll Love This Soup

  • Bright and Zesty Flavor: This soup bursts with the fresh and zesty flavors of lemon, creating a delightful and refreshing taste that’s perfect for any season.
  • Easy Preparation: With its straightforward instructions and minimal ingredients, this recipe is a lifesaver on busy days when you want a homemade meal without the fuss. It’s perfect for both novice and experienced cooks.
  • Comforting and Satisfying: The combination of tender chicken, hearty orzo pasta, and flavorful broth makes for a truly comforting and filling meal that warms the soul. It’s the ultimate comfort food!
  • Healthful Ingredients: Packed with lean protein from the chicken, plenty of vegetables, and the goodness of orzo, this soup is not only delicious but also a nutritious choice for you and your family.
Overhead view o lemon chicken orzo soup in soup pot with wooden spoon.

Ingredients for Orzo Chicken Soup with Lemon

This easy Lemon Orzo Soup with Chicken is a great way to make the most of a bounty of summer fresh vegetables and they’re also all readily available through the winter months.

Ingredient for orzo chicke soup, laid out on board.
  • carrots – fresh sliced carrots add nutrition and flavor to the soup
  • celery
  • yellow onion – or you can substitute sweet onion
  • fresh garlic cloves
  • avocado oil, or olive oil
  • orzo
  • all-purpose flour
  • chicken, raw – boneless, skinless chicken breasts are a great option here.
  • chicken broth
  • vegetable broth
  • Better Than Bouillon Chicken Flavored Seasoning
  • Italian seasoning
  • dried thyme
  • Lemon pepper (unsalted)
  • Dried dill
  • Black Pepper
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Salt
  • Lemon juice and lemon zest
  • fresh parsley
  • chopped green onions

How to Make Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

You can scroll down to a fully printable recipe card at the bottom of this page. I’ve added step by step images with instructions and tips to ensure that this soup is absolutely delicious!

Chopped ingredients for making the soup on wooden cutting board.

Equipment Needed

  • Cutting board
  • Knife
  • Pot
  • Spoon
  • Measuring spoons and cups
Vegetables and minced garlic in bottom of pot.

STEP ONE – In a large pot, add the carrots, celery, onion chopped garlic and 2 Tablespoons of the oil.

Cooked vegetables in the bottom of the pot.

Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes, with the lid on top until the carrots and celery are tender, stirring occasionally.

Flour is added to the pot with the cooked mixed vegetables.

STEP TWO – While the veggies are cooking, boil the orzo in a small pot for just 5 minutes. Drain and set aside. Do not rinse the orzo.

STEP THREE – To the large pot of vegetables, add the flour and 2 tablespoons of oil. Mix for 3 to 4 minutes.

Chicken, spices, seasonings are added to the pot.

STEP FOUR – To the large pot, add the raw chicken, chicken broth, vegetable broth, Better Than Bouillon, Italian seasoning, thyme, lemon pepper, dried dill,black pepper, red pepper flakes, salt, lemon zest and lemon juice.

Chicken is added to the post along with thyme.

STEP FIVE – Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked and easily falls apart.

Cooked chicken on a cutting board with two forks for shredding.

STEP SIX – Remove the chicken from the pot and shred it with two forks. Transfer the chicken back into the pot.

Parsley and orzo are added to the pot of soup

STEP SEVEN – Put the cooked orzo and parlsey in the pot.

Shredded chicken is added back into the pot of soup.

STEP EIGHT – Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes.

The longer you cook the soup, the thicker it will get.

Spoonful of lemon chicken orzo soup, held over bowl of soup.

Serve and top with green onions & enjoy!

Variations

Change up or add in more veggies – peas, spinach and red bell better would make great additions to this soup

My Top Tips

Zest the lemon before cutting and juicing the lemon!

How Do I Store the Leftovers?

Once the soup has cooled to room temperature, you can place the soup in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Cover the soup with the lid from the pot, or you can use plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

You can also transfer the soup to an airtight container.

Can I freeze Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup?

I don’t recommend freezing the soup as the orzo will become soft and mushy when defrosted.

Can I Cook The Orzo In the Pot Of Soup?

Yes, you can. You will need to add more broth because the orzo is very starchy and will create a thicker soup. I recommend cooking the orzo ahead of time, which will still create a deliciously thick and creamy soup!

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Lemon chicken orzo soup in pot with spoon.

Easy Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe


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5 from 1 review

  • Author: Sandra Flegg
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings

Description

If you’re looking for a comforting and richly flavored soup, give this Easy Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe a try! It’s the perfect soup to enjoy year-round and the whole family will love it!


Ingredients

2 carrots, peeled and sliced

2 celery stalks, sliced

1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

4 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil, divided

1 cup uncooked orzo

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 pound chicken, raw

4 cups chicken broth

2 cups vegetable broth

1 tablespoon Better Than Bouillon Chicken Flavored Seasoning

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon unsalted lemon pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried dill

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/8 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

Zest from 1 lemon

Juice from 2 lemons

3 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped

2 tablespoons green onions, chopped


Instructions

  1. In a large pot add the carrots, celery, onion, garlic cloves, and 2 tablespoons oil. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes with the lid on top or until the carrots and celery are tender. Stir occasionally. 
  2. While the vegetables are cooking boil the orzo in a small pot for just 5 minutes. Drain and set aside. Do not rinse the orzo. 
  3. To the large pot of vegetables add the flour and 2 tablespoons of oil. Mix for 3-4 minutes. 
  4. To the large pot add the raw chicken, chicken broth, vegetable broth, Better Than Bouillon, Italian seasoning, thyme, lemon pepper, dried dill, pepper, red pepper flakes, salt, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
  5. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked and easily falls apart. 
  6. Remove the chicken from the pot and shred it with two forks. Transfer the chicken back into the pot. 
  7. Put the cooked orzo and parsley in the pot. 
  8. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes. The longer you cook the soup the thicker it will get. 
  9. Serve and top with green onions. 

Notes

Storage Instructions:

Once the soup has cooled to room temperature, you can place the soup in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

Cover the soup with the lid from the pot, or you can use plastic wrap or aluminum foil. 

You can also transfer the soup to an airtight container.  

Can I freeze Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup?

I don’t recommend freezing the soup as the orzo will become soft and mushy when defrosted.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 55 minutes
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 314
  • Sugar: 6.9 g
  • Sodium: 964.2 mg
  • Fat: 12.5 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 29.5 g
  • Fiber: 3.1 g
  • Protein: 22.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 60.7 mg

2 Comments

  1. One of the best chicken lemon orzo soups I’ve had the pleasure of making. I did a few modifications. I used the juice of one lemon not two and added it at the end. I only used 1/2 a tsp of thyme as I find it a bit strong. I added the orzo in the soup so that it absorbed the flavour of the vegetables and broth. I cooked it in the broth for 15 minutes. Thank you for your post, this is a keeper and I will be making it again and again.






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