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A bright, comforting, and quick soup featuring tender chicken, orzo pasta, and a lemony broth, perfect for a light yet cozy meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 sticks celery, finely chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1/2 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup dry orzo pasta
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (or to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (or to taste)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat butter and olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat.
  2. Add chopped celery, carrots, and onion; sauté for 5–7 minutes until softened.
  3. Add minced garlic and cook about 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and cook for 1 minute, stirring to remove the raw taste.
  5. Slowly pour in chicken broth while stirring to dissolve the flour.
  6. Add Italian seasoning and whole boneless skinless chicken breasts; bring the soup to a boil.
  7. Reduce heat to a simmer, leave the lid slightly open, and cook for 15 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165°F.
  8. Stir in dry orzo and cook uncovered about 10 minutes until tender, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.
  9. Remove the chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces, and return it to the pot.
  10. Stir in lemon juice and chopped parsley; season with salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

Add extra lemon juice or serve lemon wedges on the side to brighten flavors., Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for richer flavor., Substitute rotisserie or pre-cooked chicken by adding it with orzo at the end., For gluten-free option, use gluten-free orzo made from rice or corn, or substitute with short-grain rice., To prevent orzo from thickening soup too much when storing, cook orzo separately and add when reheating., Store soup in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days; reheat gently and thin with broth if thickened., Soup can be frozen without orzo; add cooked orzo after thawing before reheating., To adjust broth thickness, add broth to thin or use a cornstarch slurry to thicken.

Nutrition