30-Minute Light and Bright Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
This Chicken Orzo Soup is a light and healthy soup filled with tender chicken and orzo in a bright lemony broth. It is an easy, comforting soup recipe that is ready in under 30 minutes.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large heavy-bottom stock pan over medium heat. Season the cubed chicken with salt and pepper and then add to the heated oil. Saute until golden on each side, and then remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan. Add in the onion, carrots, and celery and saute until tender, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in thyme and garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Stir in the wine, if using, and allow the alcohol to cook off for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the chicken stock, bay leaf, and red pepper flakes, if using, and bring the mixture to a boil.
Stir in the reserved chicken and orzo and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook until the orzo is al dente, about 9-10 minutes.
Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice. Taste to adjust seasonings. Serve with parsley if desired.
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Notes
Wine: Use a dry white wine, such as chardonnay or pinot grigio, or omit the wine and use additional chicken stock.Thyme: If you don’t have fresh thyme, you can use ½ teaspoon of dried thyme leave. Do not use ground thyme.Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Omit, or reduce, the red pepper flakes if you are sensitive to heat.Using Leftover Cooked Chicken: Reduce the olive oil to 1 tablespoon, skip step one in the recipe and add 3-4 cups of shredded or diced cooked chicken to the soup for the last 5 minutes of simmering, just to warm it through.Add Spinach: Feel free to stir in 5 ounces of fresh baby spinach into the soup when adding the lemon and lemon zest.Lemon Dill Chicken Orzo Soup: Omit the thyme from the recipe and stir in 2 tablespoons of freshly minced fresh dill when you add in the lemon.Storage: Store the leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Alternatively, you can store the leftover soup in a freezer-safe container, leaving 1-inch space for expansion in the freezer for up to 3 months.