Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Name: Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: ½ lb Chicken breast; ½ lb Chicken thighs, boneless skinless; 2 tbsp Olive oil; 1 Small onion; 2 Carrots, sliced; 3 Garlic cloves, crushed with press; 5 cups Chicken broth; 2 cups Water; 1 cup Dry orzo; ¼ cup Lemon juice; 1 Lemon's zest; 2 cups Baby spinach; Fresh dill; Salt; Pepper; Parmesan crisps, for serving

When you are feeling under the weather, this is the one. Golden seared chicken, tender orzo, sweet carrots and spinach, finished with fresh lemon and a blizzard of Parmesan. One pot, 35 minutes, high protein. Basically a warm hug in a bowl, built for sick days and gray days to make you feel 100 percent

Total time: 40 min
Serves: 6
Updated: October 15, 2026
Recipe by: Saba

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Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 30 min
Total: 40 min
Serves: 6

Ingredients

½ lb Chicken breast
½ lb Chicken thighs, boneless skinless
2 tbsp Olive oil
1 Small onion
2 Carrots, sliced
3 Garlic cloves, crushed with press
5 cups Chicken broth
2 cups Water
1 cup Dry orzo
¼ cup Lemon juice
1 Lemon's zest
2 cups Baby spinach
Fresh dill
Salt
Pepper
Parmesan crisps, for serving

Instructions

Step 1Pat chicken dry, season with salt and pepper. Sear in olive oil over medium high heat, 2 minutes per side until golden. It finishes cooking later. Set aside
Step 2In the same pot, cook onion and carrots 4 minutes until soft, scraping up the browned bits. Add garlic crushed with press, cook 30 seconds until fragrant
Step 3Add broth and water, return chicken. Simmer gently, partially covered, 10 to 15 minutes until it hits 165°F. Remove each piece as it finishes
Step 4Shred chicken with two forks. Add orzo to the broth, cook 8 minutes, stirring often, until tender
Step 5Return chicken with spinach. Stir 1 to 2 minutes until wilted
Step 6Off the heat, stir in Parmesan, lemon juice and zest. Adjust salt, pepper, lemon. Top with dill, extra Parmesan, cracked pepper, olive oil