One Pot Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Easy One Pot Dinner

This easy one-pot lemon chicken orzo soup is a cross between traditional chicken noodle soup and chicken and rice soup, both of which my family loves. It’s the best of both worlds and a good one to keep handy now that we’re entering cool weather season.

It’s an immune-boosting soup made with loads of veggies, juicy shredded chicken, and orzo pasta in a deliciously seasoned broth with refreshing lemon juice to brighten it up. It’s quick and easy and in just 35 minutes dinner is done!

You can’t beat a flavorful comforting bowl of soup like this one or my chicken and dumpling soup recipe. As far as one pot meals and healthy dinners go, this one checks all the boxes!

Why This Recipe Works

1. So much flavor. With the lemon, Italian seasoning, chicken broth, orzo, and veggies, you’ve gone from a regular chicken soup to something more like a Greek lemon chicken orzo soup. It’s delicious! 
2. Healthy. The antioxidants from the aromatic onions and garlic, the vitamins and minerals from the veggies, the protein from the chicken the vitamin C from the lemons make this a nutrient-dense and super tasty soup.
3. Flexible. Adjust the amount of citrus, use leftover chicken, clear out your fridge and toss in extra veggies, to make this lemon chicken soup recipe your own!

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

• Chicken: I use uncooked chicken breast, to begin with, and cook it in the broth, but you can use leftover rotisserie chicken if you have it. You’ll just add it in during the last 5 minutes of cooking. 
• Orzo: This is a little tiny pasta that looks very similar to rice. It’s much softer than rice, but it does absorb the liquid much the same way. If you use too much, it will bulk up your soup and slightly overpower it. When you use just the right amount, it’s amazing!
• Lemon: Fresh lemon juice adds a hint of beautiful tartness and vibrancy, however, if you want even more lemon flavor, here are tips on how to zest a lemon while your soup is cooking. Don’t forget to season with lemon pepper too!
• Aromatics: When dicing an onion, you need to know how to cut an onion first. My tips can make this process easier, but it’s also something you can do ahead of time. Same with my learning how to mince garlic. They’re both something you can do ahead of time, freeze in bulk, and have on hand ready to toss into your soups, stews, and anything else!

Variations + Substitutions

• Seasoning: Instead of homemade Italian seasoning, use store-bought or substitute with thyme or oregano.
• Chicken: Use chicken thighs instead of breasts. You won’t get as much meat, but it is darker meat and will have loads of flavor. You could also substitute the chicken for homemade meatballs, similar to Italian wedding soup.
• Vegetables: We’re sticking with the classic carrots and celery, but you can add in other veggies too if you’d like. Mushrooms and red pepper are great options. If you want to throw in some leafy greens, add spinach in the end and let it wilt in the heat.
• Pasta. If you can’t get your hands on orzo, swap it for a different small pasta like ditalini or stelline.
• Stock. Swap out the store-bought chicken stock for homemade turkey stock.

1. Cook the chicken in the broth. In a large pot over medium heat, heat the olive oil then sauté the onion, carrots, and celery for 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic for another minute followed by the broth, water, lemon juice, chicken, and seasoning. Toss in the lemon zest and bay leaf, is using it. Simmer covered for 12 minutes. 
2. Shred the chicken. Remove the breasts from the pot and place the pieces on a cutting board or in a medium bowl. Add the orzo to the pot and while it cooks, shred the chicken. 
3. Continue simmering. Add the shredded meat back into the soup pot for another couple of minutes until the pasta is cooked through.
4. Garnish and serve. Remove the lemon chicken orzo soup from the heat, stir in the fresh parsley (or your favorite fresh herbs) and a bit more lemon juice, and season to taste. Enjoy while it’s warm!

Expert Tips

• For low sodium soup consider using homemade broth. If using store bought, buy low-sodium chicken broth that way you can control the amount of salt you add in.
• To finish it off with a bit of umami flavor, sprinkle your soup with Parmesan cheese!
• If you like your soup with more liquid, use 2 cups of water along with the broth. If not, 1 cup is enough.
• Be careful not to overcook the chicken. When you boil it, it can become tough and rubbery if you’re not careful. Twelve minutes should be the max.
• Shred the chicken using a knife and fork, two forks, or even a handheld mixer if desired.

Storing, Freezing + Reheating

To store: Store any leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

To freeze: Orzo doesn’t freeze well without changing texture once thawed. It can become quite mushy. If you know you’re making the soup to freeze it for later, I suggest making it without the orzo and adding that in when you’re reheating the soup. 

To reheat: If frozen, allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight. You can reheat this soup on the stovetop or in the microwave.