Greek Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is cozy and comforting, yet light and healthy all at the same time. Ready in just 30 minutes, the broth is the stuff dreams are made of. This wonderfully flavorful soup is also hearty enough to fill up the hungriest of bellies. It's a tried and true favorite around here!
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This Greek-inspired Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is all of the flavors of a classic chicken noodle soup, but so much better because of the brightness of the fresh lemon juice and addition of the fresh dill. I love, love the orzo because this soup becomes so perfectly spoonable. So much flavor in every, single bite!
Another reason to fall in love with the soup is that it easily comes together in about 30 minutes. The ingredients are very simple and basic and take very little in the prep work area. Everything goes into a single pot. I use a rotisserie chicken for the chicken breasts and it makes my life so much easier and with less work. That's always a good thing!
What You'll Need
Carrot, Celery, Onion, Garlic - The usual suspects in any good soup recipe. They create a wonderful flavor base and they are full of vitamins and minerals that also taste good.
Chicken Broth - Use a good quality one or make it yourself. There isn't much to this recipe, so we need to use the best ingredients possible. I recommend my homemade Instant Pot Chicken Bone Broth if you want an easy from-scratch version.
Dried Thyme Leaves, Dried Oregano, Bay Leaves - For the wonderful herbaceous notes.
Cooked Chicken Breast - I like the lightness of the chicken breast here. I prefer it from a rotisserie chicken, but use your favorite!
Orzo - I love orzo, but any small pasta will do!
Fresh Dill Weed and Lemon - These two ingredients make this soup special. I highly recommend not skipping out on it. They add a fresh brightness and a wonderful hit of acid that enhances all the wonderful flavors of this recipe.
Substitutions and Variations
Use any small pasta you love or have on hand instead of the orzo or leave it out all together.
Substitute for a GF version of orzo if you have a dietary restriction.
For a lower-carb version, use cauliflower or broccoli rice.
Rice or quinoa would be a wonderful substitution for the Greek Lemon Chicken Soup.
Make it spicy. Calabrian chilis are quickly becoming a favorite for me. Be mindful they are HOT, but I love the flavor. Red chili flakes are also an easy way to add heat.
The herbs. If you don't like dill, use any fresh herb you like. Thyme, rosemary, chives, basil, and even a bit of tarragon would make a lovely soup. If using a dried herb, be mindful that dried herbs can be stronger than fresh. Use a little to begin and go up from there.
Make it creamy. Add a bit of heavy cream or stir in some sour cream to add a silky richness to this lemon chicken orzo soup.
Tips and Tricks
Cut the veggies and chicken into small, similar sizes so that you can get a little of everything in each spoonful.
Season with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper in layers, after each addition of ingredients.
If not eating all of the Greek Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup at once, consider cooking the orzo separately and storing it separately in the fridge. If stored together, the orzo will soak up a lot of the broth.
Add lemon to your taste and serve a few wedges alongside the bowls of soup.
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup carrot, diced
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 5-6 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoon fresh dill, minced
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded I used a rotisserie chicken
- juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 1 cup orzo
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a dutch oven over medium-high heat, add a drizzle of olive oil. To the oil, add the carrot, celery, and onion.
- Sauté the veggies until they begin to soften - about 5 minutes. Next, add the garlic, stirring continuously and just until it becomes fragrant.
- Add the broth along with the bay leaf, oregano, and thyme. Let this simmer for about 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
- Taste for salt and pepper levels. If you need more, add more.
- After the vegetables become tender, add in the shredded chicken breast and fresh dill.
- Bring the soup back up to a simmer and add the orzo. Cook until the pasta becomes al dente.
- Stir in the lemon zest and squeeze in the lemon juice.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Serving Ideas
A hearty soup like this needs little to go along with it. It's a full meal in a bowl, but I always serve mine with some sort of bread for dipping.
Serve this lemon chicken orzo soup with my Dutch Oven No Knead Bread. It's so easy and it's perfect to soak up this lovely broth!
If a side salad sounds good, my simple green salad is fantastic and perfectly light.
Need a little sweet treat after?
Storage and Reheating Instructions
- In an airtight container in the fridge, this soup will last for up two 3 days.
- To reheat, simply warm in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Freezing Instructions: If you plan to freeze this soup, do so without the orzo. Pasta in soup does not freeze and reheat well. Once you're ready, simply thaw out the soup base, bring it up to a simmer, and cook the orzo just before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use dried dill instead of fresh?
Of course! However, if you use dried, you'll only need 1-2 teaspoons. Dried herbs are much stronger than the fresh versions. Add it to your taste.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free? Dairy-free?
Yes! All you have to do is swap out the orzo for a GF version. You can also leave out the pasta all together.
This recipe is naturally dairy-free. No worries there!
Can I make this soup ahead of time?
You can make this lemon chicken orzo soup ahead of time, but be mindful the orzo will soak up a lot of broth after it cooks. Consider adding the orzo only just before serving.
Is lemon chicken orzo soup healthy?
This soup is also a perfect recipe to take to someone feeling under the weather because it's so incredibly healthy. The garlic and lemon are so good for the immune system. Fresh herbs have a ton of vitamins and minerals. -it's like showing up with a very tasty vitamin shot. Your friends, sick or not, will be very, very happy to see you when roll up with this.
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Greek Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok!
Please leave a comment or star rating below. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
Other Fantastic Soup Recipes
And, if you're in the mood for more easy soup recipes like this lemon chicken orzo soup, you've come to the right place! Try my:
Creamy Vegetable Soup - This one will surprise you. It's very similar to a cream of celery soup, but the flavor is just over-the-top incredible! And, it's quick and easy, too!
Manhattan Clam Chowder - The classic tomato-based chowder, but made with cauliflower to lighten it up a bit. This is such a great spin on this dish and it's so good!
White Chicken Lasagna Soup - A 30-minute, quick and easy version of a lasagna soup that is too good not to add to your rotation during soup season!
Pastina aka Italian Penicillin - Another amazing recipe to make when you crave comfort. It's fantastic anytime of year and perfect when someone is under the weather!
Rachel McLaughlan says
This recipe came across my phone when I was looking up something else totally not related lol. I have now made this soup twice and it is soooo delicious! My boyfriend is a very picky eater and he loves it as well. The dill really adds to the flavor. We are definitely going to try some more recipes. Thanks! 🙂
Rufus says
Hi, Rachel! I am so very glad you let me know. This truly makes my heart so very happy. Have a wonderful day!
Vince S says
Awesome recipe, a must try! The lemon really sets this apart from your standard chicken noodle soup. Only tweak I made was waiting until after the orzo was almost al dente before adding the chicken to avoid overcooking. I also added the juices from the rotisserie chicken in with the broth for an extra boost of chicken flavor!
Rufus says
I am so happy!!! Love your tweak! Have a wonderful day!