Greek Orzo Chicken Soup
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Greek Orzo Chicken Soup is a comforting and delicious soup, perfect for cold nights or as a light lunch. This recipe combines simple ingredients like orzo pasta, chicken, and fresh herbs to create a rich and flavorful broth that will warm you from the inside out.
This easy chicken soup made from scratch is perfect for a meal or sandwich partner any day! Made easily in minutes with a hint of lemon, this lovely orzo soup recipe is ready in about 15 minutes.
Enjoy this Greek Orzo Chicken Soup for a taste of Greek cuisine in your own home. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a cozy weekend lunch.
We’ve got a few favorite chicken soups that I love to incorporate into our meal plan. Our chicken rice soup and our chicken soup with spaghetti noodles are favorites we make time and time again.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Comfort Food: This soup is the ultimate comfort food with its soothing flavors and hearty ingredients.
- Quick and Easy: With a cooking time of about 15 minutes, you can have a delicious soup ready in no time.
- Nutritious: Packed with vegetables, chicken, and orzo pasta, this soup is both wholesome and satisfying.
- Versatile: Use rotisserie chicken, leftover chicken, or even freshly cooked chicken breasts or thighs for this recipe.
- Flavorful: Fresh lemon juice and herbs like oregano and basil add a burst of fresh flavor to this classic Greek soup.
Like my Chicken Alfredo soup, my Chicken soup with rice and my Chicken Tortilla Soup, these are great, budget-friendly soups.
Ingredients for greek chicken orzo soup
- Olive oil
- Celery, chopped
- Onion, chopped
- Medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- Chicken broth
- Water
- Orzo pasta
- Cooked chicken
- Garlic cloves
- Salt
- Pepper
- Basil
- Oregano
- Lemon
How to make lemon orzo chicken soup
Cook the orzo in a pot of boiling water per package directions.
Add cold water to the pasta. Drain and set aside.
In a large stockpot, add oil over medium heat.
Add chopped onions, carrots, and celery.
Saute until the onion is clear.
Add chicken broth and water to the pot.
Add garlic, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper.
Squeeze juice from ½ a lemon, add it to the pot, and add cooked chicken.
Bring the pot to a boil.
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Add cooked orzo pasta.
Reduce heat to medium-low and cook another 5-7 minutes.
Tips for the Best Results
- Cook Orzo Separately: Cooking the orzo pasta separately ensures it remains al dente and doesn’t absorb too much broth.
- Use Fresh Herbs: Fresh parsley, thyme, or dill can elevate the flavors of this soup.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice adds a tangy brightness to the broth. Consider adding lemon zest for an extra kick.
- Chicken Stock: For a richer broth, use homemade chicken stock or a high-quality store-bought version.
- Simmer: Let the soup simmer on medium-low heat to allow the flavors to meld together perfectly.
- Rotisserie Chicken: You can save time using a rotisserie chicken in this recipe. It makes it really easy to prepare, and it is also a great way to use up leftover chicken.
- Pre-Cut Veggies: Pre-cut the onion, celery, and carrots ahead of time. I usually cut up these vegetables the day I bring them home and keep them in containers in my refrigerator for use during the week. It really saves valuable time since I can prepare these for more than one recipe at the same time.
- Less Sodium: I also recommend a low salt chicken broth so that you can control the salt level in your recipe. You can always add more salt when you use a low-salt version of broth.
Substitutions and Variations
- Rice: Substitute orzo pasta with rice or cauliflower rice for a lower-carb option.
- Chicken: Use skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or even shredded rotisserie chicken for convenience.
- Broth: Substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth or a broth of your preference.
- Herbs: Swap basil and oregano with fresh thyme or dill for a different flavor profile.
- Creamy Texture: For a creamy soup, temper an egg mixture by whisking a couple of egg yolks with a cup of the hot broth, then stir it back into the soup. You could also add a bit of heavy cream.
FAQs About Greek Orzo Chicken Soup
Yes, you can use the Instant Pot for this recipe. Sauté the vegetables on sauté mode, then add the rest of the ingredients except orzo and cook on high pressure for a few minutes. Quickly release, then add cooked orzo.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on low heat to avoid overcooking the orzo.
Yes, you can freeze the soup. It’s best to freeze without the orzo and add it when reheating to prevent it from becoming mushy.
This soup pairs well with a side of crusty bread or a light salad. For a Greek-themed meal, serve with feta cheese and olives.
More great soup recipes
For more great soup recipes, check out our delicious Mexicorn Chowder a wonderful, hearty soup with potatoes, peppers, and corn. You may also like our Easy Roasted Vegetable soup, full of fresh vegetables that you roast in just minutes in your oven.
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Chicken Orzo Soup
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 4 stalks celery, chopped
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1 cup cooked chicken
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 pinch pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 /2 lemon
Instructions
- Cook the orzo in a pot of boiling water per package directions
- Add cold water to pasta. Drain and set aside
- In a large stockpot, add oil over medium heat.
- Add chopped onions, carrots and celery.
- Saute until onion is clear.
- Add chicken broth and water to the pot.
- Add garlic, basil, oregano, salt and pepper.
- Squeeze juice from 1/2 a lemon and add to the pot and add cooked chicken.
- Bring the pot to boil.
- Add cooked orzo pasta.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and cook another 5-7 minutes.
Nutrition
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Really one of my favorites EVER. YUM YUM YUM. I love soup and I love simple classics and this is a must for me.
I always love making soup this time of year. I will definitely try your recipe.
Thanks Elizabeth! I hope you love it!
What a delicious and easy to make soup!
I love the idea of using orzo in chicken soup instead of noodles!