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Hearty Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Hearty Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Delicious Hearty Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup recipe with step-by-step instructions.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 1975 kcal

Equipment

  • large pot

Ingredients
  

Soup Base

  • 2 tablespoon butter I like Kerrygold unsalted butter for this
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1.25 cup onion
  • 1.25 cup carrots
  • 1.25 cup celery
  • 4 cloves garlic freshly minced for best flavor
  • 8 cups chicken broth I use Swanson Less Sodium
  • 2 lb chicken breasts
  • 2 teaspoon chicken bouillon
  • 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 teaspoon rosemary
  • 1 cup orzo

Finish

  • 1.5 lemon juiced and zested for maximum brightness
  • 0.5 cup cream
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 0.5 cup parsley
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill chopped

Instructions
 

Prepare Ingredients

  • Dice the onion, carrots, and celery into roughly equal-sized pieces (about ¼ inch). Mince the garlic fresh and set aside. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large pot over medium heat until foaming and fragrant.

Sauté Vegetables

  • Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery to the hot fat and sauté for 5-7 minutes until soft and translucent. Then add minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Add italian seasoning, thyme, and rosemary.

Cook Chicken

  • Pour in the chicken broth and chicken bouillon. Add chicken breasts whole to the pot, bring to a boil, and then simmer for 10-12 minutes until chicken reaches 160°F.

Add Orzo

  • Remove cooked chicken and let cool. Add orzo to the simmering broth and cook for 8-10 minutes. Chop chicken into bite-sized pieces.

Finish Soup

  • Stir in lemon juice and zest, then pour in cream. Fold in parsley and dill, and return chopped chicken. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve

  • Stir gently for 1-2 minutes, then ladle into bowls and serve hot.

Notes

The soup tastes even better the next day as flavors meld, making it excellent for meal prep.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowlCalories: 1975kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 50gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 1000mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 400IUVitamin C: 50mgCalcium: 90mgIron: 3mg
Keyword chicken soup, comfort food, healthy soup, Hearty Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup, lemon soup, orzo soup
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