Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Name: Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 1/4 cup olive oil; 4 medium carrots, peeled and diced; 3 stalks celery, trimmed and diced; 1 medium or 2 small onions, diced; 4 cloves garlic, sliced or minced; Salt to taste; pepper; 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 5 cups chicken broth, homemade or store-bought; 1 cup orzo; 1 tablespoon good-quality chicken bouillon base, such as Better Than Bouillon; 3 cups shredded cooked chicken breast meat; 1 cup half-and-half; 1 cup packed chopped spinach; 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese; Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons

7 steps

A hearty Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup with tender vegetables, flavorful chicken, and a hint of lemon. Perfectly comforting for any season or occasion.

Updated at: Sun, 12 Oct 2025 23:48:42 GMT

Nutrition balance score

Good

Glycemic Index

Low

Glycemic Load

Moderate

Nutrition per serving

Calories417.6 kcal (21%)

Total Fat25.2 g (36%)

Carbs25.2 g (10%)

Sugars6.9 g (8%)

Protein23.9 g (48%)

Sodium1398.2 mg (70%)

Fiber4.9 g (17%)

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Ingredients

6 servings

¼ cupolive oil

4carrots

medium, peeled and diced

4 clovesgarlic

1 teaspoonfresh thyme

chopped

½ teaspoonred pepper flakes

5 cupschicken broth

homemade or store-bought

1 cuporzo

1 tablespoonchicken bouillon base

good-quality, such as

3 cupschicken breast meat

shredded cooked

1 cuphalf-and-half

1 cupspinach

packed chopped

½ cupgrated parmesan cheese

2lemons

grated zest and juice of

Instructions

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-low heat.

Step 2

Stir in the carrots, celery, onions, and garlic, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook until the vegetables are wilted and the onions are tender, about 10 minutes.

Step 3

Stir in the thyme and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.

Step 4

Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil.

Step 5

Reduce the heat slightly, stir in the orzo and bouillon, and cook for 10 minutes.

Step 6

Add the shredded chicken, half-and-half, spinach, and Parmesan cheese and simmer for 5 minutes.

Step 7

Just before serving, stir in lemon juice and zest.