This Lemon Chicken and Orzo Soup takes your ordinary chicken soup up a notch. Tangy lemon complements classic chicken soup flavors to elevate them. I’ve also added spinach to give the soup more color but also to add another layer of nutrients. My Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup goes great with a nice hunk of crusty bread and/or a delicious salad. Enjoy!
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Description
When you’re running low on time and energy but still want to put a delicious meal on the table, we all look to our trusted friend, the store bought rotisserie chicken. You can serve your rotisserie chicken plain or transform it into a variety of delicious dishes. One such dish is my Lemon Chicken Orzo soup, a light and flavorful soup you can accompany with a hunk of crusty bread and a salad to serve up a complete meal. I love this meal for busy nights because when the chicken is cooked for you, over half the work is already done. You can easily prepare this the night before by shredding your chicken and cutting up your veggies, which will save you loads of time the next day. I especially love making this soup for busy nights because it comes together so easily and is nearly foolproof. Whether you serve this up as your main dish or a side soup, you will be treated to a bright and nutritious dish that comes together in a snap and it will surely be your new favorite comfort food. You know what happened to me one time that wasn’t so comforting? That time I wandered into the lions den at the zoo! It was an early spring day and I had promised my kids a trip to the zoo. We had seen all the elephants, monkeys, bears, giraffes, and then it was time to get lunch. It was starting to get hot and the kids were getting cranky so I decided that ice cream was in order. As they sat patiently at the table with their dad, I began my hunt for the ice cream stand. As I tried stand after stand with no success, the situation was starting to become dire. Finally, I decided to step into a random door hoping to find a staff member to help me, but the door I wandered into wasn’t for staff at all, it went directly into the lion's den! I had immediately forgotten about the ice cream and quickly tried to assess how I would get myself out of this situation. Knowing it’s a bad idea to turn my back on this apex predator, I knew going out the way I came in was not an option, then there it was, I found my path out. I quickly hopped onto a log and flung myself onto a nearby tree and scrambled right out of harm's way. Exhausted and soaked in sweat from this experience, I emerged from the lion's den. Do you know what was in front of me when I got out? Ice cream!!! I quickly ordered and paid for my family's treat and made my way back to our table and explained the whole story to my family. Even though they didn’t believe me, I was still thankful to be out of that scary situation. And you know what I made for dinner that night after a long day of being at the zoo and escaping death? Lemon Chicken Orzo soup.
Ingredients
Instructions
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Add carrot, celery, and onion to a Dutch Oven with 1 T olive oil and salt and pepper. Sautee 5-7 minute, then add garlic until fragrant. Â
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Add your broth and bring to a simmer for 5-7 minutes or until your vegetables are tender. Keeping your broth at a simmer, add your orzo and cook according to package instructions.Â
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Once your orzo is tender, reduce the heat and add chicken and spinach to the pot, cook until spinach is wilted and chicken is warmed through, about 3 minutes. Add your freshly squeezed lemon juice and remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Add more lemon, salt, or oil to adjust to taste and serve immediately.Â
