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How to make Chicken Orzo Soup

Made with pantry staples in only 30 minutes, this chicken orzo soup recipe is comfort food at its finest. Filled to the brim with tender orzo, savory chicken, colorful veggies, and aromatic herbs, all simmered in chicken broth, it’s an effortless cure for all those pesky winter blues.
  • cook TIME 22 mins
  • prep TIME 8 mins
  • total TIME 30 mins
Course: Main dishCuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe, how to make Chicken Orzo Soup
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 493 kcal

Ingredients (14)

  • 26 oz boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 4 oz orzo uncooked
  • 4 oz celery sliced
  • 12 oz carrot sliced into large chunks
  • 3 oz onion coarsely diced
  • 1 tbsp garlic minced
  • 1 tsp thyme chopped
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 tbsp parsley finely chopped
  • 2 cups unsalted chicken broth
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

1

Sweat the aromatics: In a pot over medium heat, add ​3 tbsp unsalted butter, ​1 tbsp olive oil, ​3 oz onion, and ​1 tbsp garlic. Stir constantly for 1 minute.

diced onion, minced garlic and butter cooking in a glass pot
2

Cook the vegetables: Add 4 oz celery, ​12 oz carrot, ​1 tsp thyme, and ​1 bay leaf. Cook and stir constantly for 2 minutes.

carrot slices, celery slices with thyme and bay leaves in a pot
3

Briefly cook the chicken: Add ​26 oz boneless skinless chicken thighs, ​1/2 tsp salt, and ​1/2 tsp black pepper to the pot. Cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

chicken and salt pepper in a pot
4

Cook the soup: Add ​2 cups unsalted chicken broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Once bubbling, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.

hand holds a bowl of chicken broth on top of a pot of cooked chicken and carrot cubes
5

Cook the orzo: Add ​4 oz orzo to the pot and cook for another 5 minutes. When the pasta is tender and slightly chewy, turn off the heat.

hand holds a bowl of orzo pasta on top of a pot of soup
6

Garnish and serve: Sprinkle ​2 tbsp parsley over the top of the soup. Transfer the soup to serving bowls and enjoy.

sprinkling chopped parsley from a small bowl onto a pot of chicken orzo soup

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 493 kcal | Fat 21 g | Saturated Fat 8 g | Trans Fat 0 g | Polyunsaturated Fat 3 g | Monounsaturated Fat 8 g | Cholesterol 196 mg | Sodium 568 mg | Potassium 866 mg | Carbohydrate 35 g | Fiber 5 g | Sugar 6 g | Protein 42 g | Vitamin A 14825 IU | Vitamin C 11 mg | Calcium 78 mg | Iron 3 mg