Description
A comforting and creamy soup that combines chicken, orzo pasta, and fresh lemon for a cozy meal perfect for chilly nights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound chicken breast, boneless and skinless
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Juice and zest of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients: Chop the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic.
- Cook the chicken: In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the chicken and sear for about 6-7 minutes on each side until golden. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté the veggies: In the same pot, add remaining olive oil and toss in the onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic: After the veggies have softened, add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute.
- Pour in the broth: Add the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Return the cooked chicken to the pot and let it cook on low for about 10 minutes.
- Cook the orzo: Add the orzo and cook according to package instructions, about 8-10 minutes.
- Creamy time: Once the orzo is al dente, lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream.
- Add lemon magic: Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and zest. Season to taste.
- Garnish and serve: Ladle into bowls and top with fresh parsley.
Notes
For a lighter version, use half-and-half or coconut milk instead of heavy cream. This soup pairs well with crusty bread or a light salad.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: chicken soup, orzo soup, creamy soup, lemon chicken, comfort food