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This is the best Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup recipe! This Chicken Orzo Soup is made with tender chicken with onions, carrots, celery, and garlic in a fresh lemon cream broth with fresh parmesan cheese. You will love this lemon chicken soup recipe!
I am full-on obsessed with this Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup recipe. The first time I tried it, my jaw dropped. It was creamy with bright lemon notes, tender chicken, orzo pasta, and the perfect amount of saltiness from the parmesan cheese. Then my husband tried it and this is now his favorite chicken soup recipe.
Why do I love this Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe?
- This Lemon Orzo Soup is comfort food in a bowl and is a fun twist on traditional chicken soup.
- This Lemon Chicken Soup has it all — freshness, creaminess, heartiness, and is so full of flavor.
- It is easy to make...especially if you use shredded rotisserie chicken.
- Everyone loves this Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup recipe!
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Ingredients:
- Chicken — I suggest using rotisserie chicken because it is super tender, flavorful and a huge time saver. You can also use poached chicken in this recipe — just make sure to season it well with salt and pepper!
- Orzo Pasta — is a thin, oval, rice-shaped pasta. It is a popular small pasta in Italy.
- Butter — use salted butter to saute the vegetables in the orzo soup.
- Onion — use a sweet onion or red onion in this chicken orzo soup.
- Fresh Lemon Juice — for the most vibrant, fresh flavor, use freshly squeezed lemon juice from fresh lemons. For extra lemon flavor, add some lemon zest.
- Chicken Broth — this is what gives the soup depth of flavor. The orzo will soak up the chicken broth so be prepared to add more chicken broth for a thinner soup.
- Heavy cream — this adds rich, creaminess to the soup. May use half-n-half instead of heavy cream.
- Parmesan Cheese — use freshly grated parmesan cheese for easier melting and better flavor.
- Carrots
- Celery
- Garlic
- Salt and Pepper
- Fresh Parsley
Storage:
Store this chicken orzo soup in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. The orzo pasta will soak up the chicken broth so you may need to add more once it is refrigerated and reheated.
Popular Soup Recipes:
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Zuppa Toscana Soup Recipe
- Cheesy Cauliflower Soup
Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
Creamy Spinach Artichoke Soup
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Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons Salted Butter
- 1 medium Onion (diced)
- 2 Carrots (diced)
- 2 Celery (chopped)
- 3 Garlic Cloves (finely diced)
- 6 to 8 cups Chicken Broth
- 1 cup Orzo Pasta
- 2 to 3 cups Shredded Cooked Chicken Breast (from rotisserie chicken)
- 3 to 4 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
- 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
- 1 teaspoon Salt and Pepper
- Fresh Italian Parsley (diced)
Instructions
- Heat a large pot over medium heat. Melt butter. Add onions, carrots, and celery and saute for 7-8 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add orzo and stir to coat with vegetables, about 1 minute. Add 6 cups of chicken broth and stir. Cook for 9-13 minutes or until the orzo is cooked and plump.
- Stir in chicken, fresh lemon juice, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper. Let the soup heat up and thicken. If you want a thinner soup, you may add more chicken broth. The orzo pasta will soak up the chicken broth so you may need to add more in time.
- Taste for seasonings. If you want extra lemon flavor, add fresh lemon zest. Sprinkle with fresh Italian parsley and any extra freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This soup is amazing, it is my go to for chicken soup!! I use more lemon juice and zest because I love the lemon flavor. I will cut back on the orzo pasta because it does soak up the liquid. Delicious flavors. 😍
I am so glad you loved this soup recipe, Cindy! Thank you so much for making it!
Delicious! I will definitely be making it again soon. The whole family enjoyed the recipe.
I am so glad your family loved this recipe! Thank you for making it.
The easiest and best soup. To make it even easier, I buy the celery, carrots and onion already chopped at Trader Joe’s….and since in AZ we have lemons all over our trees this time of year….this is the perfect, most delicious recipe!
Absolutely, love & love it!!! My daughter turned me on to it and it was wonderful;)!
Thank you so much for making this recipe, Teri!
Yum! I loved this soup!
Thank you for making this recipe, Annie!
Delicious! I used whole milk instead of cream and it tasted great. An easy recipe that tastes like you cooked it all day.
That is a great swap. I am so glad it turned out for you! Thank you for making this recipe.
I make at least four or more of this recipe every year during winter season. My family loves it!
This is ALWAYS my family’s favorite soup….and because it is the season for soup and for lemons….we will have it often.