Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup with Spinach
It has been very cold and rainy here in Oregon this week which always has me craving soup. I found a recipe for lemon chicken orzo soup with spinach on Damn Delicious that looked like it would be perfect for dinner tonight. My daughter had Hapkido this evening so she had a bowl before practice and enjoyed it so much that she had another bowl after practice. The rest of my family enjoyed this soup too and we all thought the lemon was an excellent addition. This soup was served with a house salad and some freshly baked bread for a healthy and comforting dinner on this cold rainy night.
How to Make Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup with Spinach
Heat half of the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes; remove from pot and set aside.
Add the remaining olive oil then add the onion. Cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add the carrots and celery and cook, stirring often, for 3-4 minutes. Add The minced garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
Add the broth and water along with the bay leaf; bring to a boil. Stir in the orzo, chicken & juices; reduce heat and simmer until the orzo and vegetables are tender, about 10-12 minutes. Stir in the spinach, parsley, fresh basil, and lemon juice. Taste and season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Ladle into bowls and serve immediately. Enjoy.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil divided
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs trimmed of fat & cut into 1-inch chunks
- Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
- ½ sweet yellow onion diced
- 3 carrots peeled & sliced
- 2 stalks of celery diced
- 3 cloves of garlic minced
- 5 cups of chicken broth
- 1 cup of water
- 1 bay leaf
- ¾ cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh basil chopped
- Juice from 1 lemon
Instructions
- Heat half of the olive oil in a heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken and season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes; remove from pot and set aside.
- Add the remaining olive oil then add the onion.
- Cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes.
- Add the carrots and celery and cook, stirring often, for 3-4 minutes.
- Add The minced garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.
- Add the broth and water along with the bay leaf; bring to a boil.
- Stir in the orzo, chicken & juices; reduce heat and simmer until the orzo and vegetables are tender, about 10-12 minutes.
- Stir in the spinach, parsley, fresh basil, and lemon juice.
- Taste and season with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste.
- Ladle into bowls and serve immediately. Enjoy.
Fresh, filling and so delicious!
Looks like a classic and great looking chicken soup Pam
Perfect hearty soup for these chilly days.
Looks good, but you missed listing the spinach in the ingredient list!
it’s incredible how much a hit of acid can change a soup! this looks very satisfying and perfect for knocking out that pesky chill.
I was looking for a new soup recipe and this fit the bill…delicious, hearty and full of flavor. I actually made it as written and didn’t change anything (which is a bit unusual!)….except maybe I added a little more veg to it. The flavor is even better if you freeze it and then defrost later…it really comes together. Yum!
this dish is good to go at any time.
Loved this soup! It was perfect for a cold December evening. I had leftover cooked chicken that I used in place of the chicken thighs, and that made it a really quick and easy weeknight dinner.
Molly,
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
-Pam