Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
With tender chicken and orzo in every bite, this simple soup comes together fast. Lemon juice makes it a fresh twist on classic chicken noodle soup.
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Total Time50 minutes mins
Course: Soups/Stews
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken soup, easy recipe, easy soup, instant pot, instant pot soup, soup recipe, winter recipe
Servings: 6
Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
Cost: $10.00
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups diced carrots (to save time, substitute pre-shredded carrots)
- 3 cloves garlic, grated or minced
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup uncooked orzo pasta
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken (like from a rotisserie chicken)
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- chopped parsley, plain yogurt, and / or freshly grated parmesan cheese, for topping
Heat olive oil in a saute pan or in the bowl of an Instant Pot over medium heat. Add the onion and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook the onion, stirring frequently, until soft, 5 to 6 minutes.
Add the carrots, garlic, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and uncooked orzo.
If using an Instant Pot, close and lock the lid. Set the steam valve to Sealing. Cook on manual / high pressure for 2 minutes. (Note: Because there is a large amount of liquid in the Instant Pot, it may take up to 25 minutes for the machine to come to pressure.) Manually release the pressure. (Tip: Cover the valve with a dish towel first to prevent hot liquids from spraying out as the pressure releases.)
If cooking on the stovetop, bring the broth to a simmer. Simmer until the orzo is tender, 5 to 7 mimutes.
Stir in the chicken and lemon juice. Taste the soup and season with some salt and black pepper, if needed.
Serve with parsley, yogurt, and / or parmesan cheese on top.
Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 1327mg | Potassium: 396mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 7158IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg