Recipe for Greek Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup for Two

Name: Recipe for Greek Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup for Two
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 tbs Olive oil; 1 medium Carrot; 1 stalk Celery; 1 small Onion (or onion powder); 2 cloves Garlic (or garlic powder); 1 Bay leaf (or 2 small bay leaves); 3 cups Chicken broth - low sodium (or chicken stock); 1/3 cup Orzo pasta (uncooked); 1 Juice of a lemon (fresh squeezed); 1 cup Chicken (white or dark meat, diced or shredded); 1/2 tsp Chicken base; 1 Zest of a lemon; 1 cup Baby spinach (fresh); 1 sprig Fresh thyme; 1/2 tsp Salt; 1/4 tsp Black pepper (freshly ground); 2 Tbs Parmesan cheese (grated ); 4 Lemon slices; Crusty bread (on the side)

Do you know those thick, hearty soups that get you through a winter storm or a traditional chicken noodle soup for those sick days? Well, this is not one of those soups. This soup has a lighter, lemony broth with chicken, vegetables, and orzo pasta. This lemon chicken orzo soup recipe is NOT avgolemono soup as it has no egg yolks! You can eat it all year long, no matter the season, consider it a summer comfort food. The bright lemony flavors have me imagining a light lunch on a sunny balcony overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. In my mind anyway. You don't need to book a trip to Tuscany because this Recipe for Greek Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup for Two can be on the table in 30 minutes. My easy recipe serves two or you can double it for next-day leftovers. The fresh lemon juice combined with the tender orzo pasta will make this one of your favorite Panera-bread-inspired soups!

Two bowls of Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Panera Style with lemon slices and buttered bread.

INGREDIENTS FOR GREEK LEMON CHICKEN SOUP

For the full recipe with quantities, see the recipe card at the end of the post.

INGREDIENT NOTES

Chicken broth - (or chicken stock, but your soup will be a little more chicken flavor forward which might overpower the lemon. Taste and add more lemon juice if needed)
Orzo pasta
Cooked chicken - (suggestions)
- Shredded rotisserie chicken
- Baked boneless chicken thighs
- Baked boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Leftover cooked chicken
- Canned chicken
Chicken base - I like the Better Than Bouillon brand Low-Sodium Roasted Chicken base.
Baby spinach - fresh is best!
Fresh thyme - (if using dried thyme use ¼ -½ teaspoon depending on taste. Dried thyme is stronger than fresh thyme.)
Parmesan cheese - grated

INSTRUCTIONS: RECIPE for GREEK LEMON CHICKEN ORZO SOUP for TWO

Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.

Skillet with carrots, celery, and peppers add to the oil.

Add the carrots, celery, and onion.

Vegetables cooking in the large skillet.

Cook, stirring frequently until the vegetables begin to soften.

Cooked vegetables with bay leaf added to skillet.

Add the garlic and bay leaf and cook for an additional minute.

Broth being poured into the skillet with the cooked vegetables.

Turn the heat up to medium-high. Add four cups of broth.

Vegetable ans chicken broth cooking in the skillet.

Bring to a rolling boil then reduce the heat to medium-low.

Orzo, chicken base, and lemon juice added to the skillet with the vegetables.

Add the orzo pasta, the chicken base, and the lemon juice to the pot.

Soup is simmering on the stove to let the orzo cook.

Cook for 10-12 minutes until the orzo is al dente.

Cooked chicken has been added to the skillet with the soup.

Add the diced or shredded chicken. Reduce the heat to low.

Salt, pepper, and lemon zest added to the skillet with the soup.

Add the fresh thyme, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional couple of minutes.

Add the baby spinach to the pot and stir until the spinach is wilted.

Taste the soup, then season with additional salt and pepper as desired.

Remove from heat. Ladle into bowls.

Finished soup with Parmesan cheese and lemon slices.

Garnish with lemon slices and Parmesan cheese, and serve with garlic bread.

Video:

RECIPE FAQ'S

Is Orzo Lemon Chicken Soup Healthy?

One serving of Greek Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup has approximately 21 grams of protein, 135% of the daily values of Vitamin A, as well as decent amounts of potassium, vitamin B, Calcium, and Iron. It contains 994mg of sodium if made using low-sodium chicken broth and chicken base. For those on special diets, always follow the recommendations of your doctor or your dietitian.

(Approximate nutrition information is provided as a convenience and courtesy only. You are encouraged to do your own calculations if precise data is required.)

Can I make this lemon chicken orzo soup recipe in my slow cooker?

Yes! If you have a long time to cook the soup, you could prepare it in a slow cooker to bring out the lemon and garlic flavors even more. I recommend adding all the ingredients except the spinach and lemon zest to the slow cooker and setting it for low cook for 4 hours.

Does Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup freeze well?

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup recipe freezes well, but as with any soup containing pasta, it will absorb the liquid from the soup and become mushy. If you are making this with freezing in mind, I would cook the orzo separately, adding it to the soup when eaten. I like to use little snack-size zip-lock bags to freeze the pasta. Just tape them to the top of the container and add them when serving this delicious soup.

Safe storage if not freezing:

I would recommend keeping Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Panera Style in an airtight container in the refrigerator for just one day at the most, as the chicken is already cooked. That is another reason that my scaled-down delicious recipe for two servings is so great! This soup only takes 30 minutes to make, so save your freezer space for ice cream! You're welcome.