Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

5.0

(4)

3 Reviews

It's just what the doctor ordered for cold, winter days.

By

Southern Living Test Kitchen

Updated on September 15, 2023

lemon chicken orzo soup — Photo:
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Active Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

40 mins

Servings:

6

This lemon chicken orzo soup is just what the doctor ordered for those cold, winter afternoons. Add a tossed green salad or hunk of warm, homemade bread, and settle into a spot by the fireplace.

A rotisserie chicken is a great solution when needing a quick and easy dinner, and one will also work well in this soup, making the prep time even shorter. If using pre-cooked chicken, add 3 cups towards the end of the recipe while the orzo cooks. This will give the chicken time to heat thoroughly.

lemon chicken orzo soup in a dutch oven — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Ingredients

1 large lemon
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 large shallots, thinly sliced (about 1 cup)
2 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary
8 cups unsalted chicken stock
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes (about 4 cups)
3 (8-oz.) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 cup uncooked orzo
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions

Peel and juice lemon:

Using a vegetable peeler, remove 6 (2-inch) lemon peel strips from lemon. Squeeze lemon to equal 2 tablespoons juice. Set aside strips and juice.
Cook shallots:

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high. Add shallots and rosemary. Cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 4 to 5 minutes.
Add stock and potatoes:

Add lemon peel strips, stock, and potatoes. Bring to a boil over high; reduce heat to medium.
Add chicken and orzo:

Add chicken and salt, and cook 10 minutes. Add orzo, and cook until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of chicken registers 165°F and potatoes and orzo are tender, about 10 minutes more.
Shred chicken:

Remove and discard lemon peel strips. Remove and shred chicken; return to soup. Stir in lemon juice. Ladle soup into bowls; sprinkle evenly with chopped parsley.

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Ingredients

Directions

Peel and juice lemon:

Cook shallots:

Add stock and potatoes:

Add chicken and orzo:

Shred chicken:

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