Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

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Simple ingredients make this delicious Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup an easy weeknight favorite. It’s clean-eating and hearty, and ready in 35 minutes!

I’m a big fan of soup.
And lemons.
And pasta.
And, well, chicken, too, for that matter.
So you can imagine my excitement that I have a new delicious recipe that uses all those wonderful things.
But, when I told Dustin I was going to make a Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup, he didn’t sound too excited.
In fact, he pretty much told me he didn’t plan on eating it – that he’d “figure something else out for dinner” that night.
Then, when he came home later that day and smelled how wonderful this soup had made the house smell, he decided to try a taste.
And he loved it! Hooray!
I laughed and told him I can always tell a winning recipe when it turns him from not even being interested into a full-on fan in one taste.
He went on to finish the entire bowl, by the way.
And had the left-overs the next day, too.
Winner, winner 🙂

HOW TO MAKE LEMON CHICKEN ORZO SOUPThis soup is so easy to make, I am sure you will add it to your roster of hearty dinner dishes. The orzo cooks right in the pot, making this a quick recipe for a bust night. In a nutshell, the steps are straightforward.
Dice slightly frozen chicken thighsBrown them in olive oil in the stock potRemove the chicken and set asideAdd your veggies, chicken stock, and orzo as directedBring to a boil and then simmerAdd the lemon and enjoyIS ORZO HEALTHY?Orzo is a pasta that looks similar to grains of rice. To get full benefits from the fiber, buy a whole wheat orzo as opposed to one made with white flour. Orzo contains 7 grams of protein in every serving and pairing it with another protein as we do in Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup, ups the count even more. Orzo is also low-fat, with only 1 gram per serving.

WHAT ARE OTHER OPTIONS FOR ORZO IN LEMON CHICKEN ORZO SOUP?Orzo is made from wheat semolina flour and can be used in both soups and salads. This small, versatile pasta resembles barley, which is the Italian translation for orzo. If you’d like to try this soup with something other than orzo, look to these options:
CouscousQuinoaBrown RiceCauliflower riceHOW TO MAKE GLUTEN-FREE LEMON CHICKEN ORZO SOUPTo make lemon chicken orzo soup gluten-free, just switch regular orzo for a gluten-free variety of pasta, similar in size. The alternatives, if you cannot find a gluten-free pasta that you’d like to use, are often quinoa or lentils. Short-grain brown rice works, too. Buy chicken broth that is a gluten-free brand as well, or make your own stock the next time you cook a chicken.
HOW TO MAKE LEMON CHICKEN ORZO SOUP VEGANLemon Chicken Orzo Soup is easily made vegan by replacing the chicken with protein-rich chickpeas. Chickpeas are also high in fiber, folate, iron, phosphorus, and B vitamins, making them a great substitute for chicken. Many vegans will add ⅓ cup of tahini to add creaminess to the dish. Use low-sodium vegetable broth instead of chicken stock, and you are all set with a power-packed soup!

HOW TO MAKE LEMON CHICKEN ORZO SOUP PALEO AND KETOFor a paleo Chicken Orzo Soup, you simply replace the orzo with cauliflower rice. If you are on a keto regimen, use the same option of cauliflower rice. Most keto followers will leave out the carrots and use kale or spinach instead. 
HOW DO YOU STORE LEMON CHICKEN ORZO SOUP?Store lemon chicken orzo soup in the fridge in an airtight container and reheat the next day for a repeat meal of deliciousness. To warm up Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup, place in a pot on the stove and add a bit more chicken stock. The orzo may absorb some of the liquid when stored, so adding stock will give it the liquid needed to make it savory and like a soup again. Don’t boil as your reheat, or you may toughen the chicken. This yummy soup can be frozen if you have any leftovers! Store in an airtight container and place in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnight to reheat the next day.

MORE HEALTHY SOUP RECIPESIf you are a soup lover like me, you will want to try more recipes. I suggest these healthy soups as a place to start!
Healthy Slow Cooker Split Pea SoupCream of Tomato SoupCrock Pot Chicken Enchilada SoupEasy Cream of Broccoli SoupRoasted Acorn Squash SoupEasy Turkey Noodle SoupSlow Cooker Hot and Sour SoupLemon Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe Video 
Print Lemon Chicken Orzo SoupSimple ingredients make this delicious Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup an easy to make weeknight favorite. It’s clean-eating and hearty, and ready in 35 minutes!Course SoupCuisine EasyKeyword lemon chicken and orzo soup, lemon chicken orzo soup, orzo soupPrep Time 15 minutesCook Time 20 minutesTotal Time 35 minutesServings 4Calories 431kcalAuthor Lacey Baier of A Sweet Pea Chef Ingredients1 lb boneless and skinless chicken thighs about 61 1/2 tsp kosher salt plus more to taste1 tsp ground black pepper plus more to taste2 tbsp olive oil divided1 yellow onion diced3 carrots diced2 celery stalks diced3 garlic cloves minced1/2 tsp dried thyme1/2 tsp dried rosemary5 1/2 cups chicken stock3/4 cup uncooked orzo2 tbsp lemon juice approx. 1 lemon2 tbsp fresh Italian parsley finely choppedInstructionsDice the chicken into bite-size cubes. This is easiest to do if the chicken is just slightly frozen
Season the chicken cubes with the salt and pepper
Heat a stock pot with 1 tbsp. olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until well-browned, stirring occasionally, about 8-10 minutes. Once browned, remove from stock pot and set aside, reserving the drippings in the pot
Add the remaining oil to the pot
Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook until the onion is tender, about 6 minutes
Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute, until fragrant
Add the thyme, rosemary, chicken stock, and orzo and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, until orzo and carrots are tender, approx. 10-12 minutes
Add the lemon juice and parsley and stir to combine
Season to taste
*If storing for later, you will likely need to add additional chicken stock upon reheating since the orzo will absorb more liquid if not eaten right away
NutritionCalories: 431kcal | Carbohydrates: 36.1g | Protein: 34.4g | Fat: 15.9g | Saturated Fat: 3.4g | Cholesterol: 116.5mg | Sodium: 1346.1mg | Fiber: 3.1g | Sugar: 9.7g | Vitamin A: 2250IU | Vitamin C: 17.3mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 2.5mgThis post contains affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.
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