Description
This Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is a comforting and flavorful dish that’s perfect for any time of year. It’s a hearty soup filled with tender chicken, orzo pasta, fresh vegetables, and a bright lemony broth that will warm you from the inside out.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/4 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast, see notes
- lemon pepper seasoning, see notes
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon EACH: dried oregano, basil, parsley, mustard powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
Soup
- 1/2 cup dry white wine, see notes
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3/4 cup carrots, diced
- 2 sticks celery, diced
- 4 cloves garlic
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- Juice of 1 lemon, (3–4 Tbsp.)
- 3/4 cup orzo, uncooked
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with lemon pepper seasoning and sear on each side for 3-4 minutes. Remove and dice or shred into bite-sized pieces.
- Prepare the Soup: Add white wine to the skillet, then add butter, onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Add seasonings, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and chicken broth. Simmer, then add chicken and continue cooking.
- Cook the Orzo: Boil the orzo separately in salted water, then drain.
- Finish the Soup: Reduce heat, stir in cream and Parmesan cheese. Add spinach, lemon juice, and cooked orzo. Serve hot.
Notes
- 3 cups of cooked chicken can be used instead of fresh chicken.
- Cook the orzo separately to prevent excessive broth absorption and for easier storage of leftovers.
- Use Redmond Real Salt lemon pepper seasoning for best flavor.
- Dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc is recommended, but chicken broth can be used as a substitute.
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for optimal flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
