Description
A warm and comforting Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup featuring tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and nutrient-rich kale simmered in a flavorful broth with a bright lemon finish. Perfect for a cozy weeknight meal made in one pot.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 1 cup carrots (chopped)
- 1 cup celery (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 4 cups kale leaves (roughly chopped)
Soup Base
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp thyme
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs uncooked chicken breasts
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 1 lemon (zested and juiced)
Instructions
- Prepare Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large saucepan or soup pot over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion, celery, and carrots, sautéing until softened, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Simmer Soup: Stir in chicken broth, whole chicken breasts, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 15 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
- Cook Orzo: Add uncooked orzo to the soup and continue to cook uncovered for 10 minutes, or until the orzo is al dente and chicken is tender enough to shred.
- Shred Chicken and Add Greens: Remove chicken breasts from the pot and shred or cut into bite-sized pieces. Return chicken to the soup along with lemon zest, lemon juice, and chopped kale. Stir well until kale is wilted.
- Season and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot and enjoy the bright, comforting flavors.
Notes
- This soup can be made with rotisserie chicken to save time; add shredded cooked chicken in step 4 and reduce simmering time accordingly.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth to control the salt content.
- Substitute orzo with any small pasta or rice if preferred.
- Kale can be replaced with spinach or Swiss chard for a different leafy green flavor.
- For a thicker soup, add an extra ½ cup of orzo or simmer uncovered longer to reduce broth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 232 kcal
- Sugar: 2.9 g
- Sodium: 466.4 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13.5 g
- Fiber: 1.8 g
- Protein: 28.2 g
- Cholesterol: 64 mg
