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Lemon Chicken Soup Recipe

Lemon Chicken Soup Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 9 reviews

A bright and soothing Lemon Chicken Soup featuring tender chicken breasts, fresh vegetables, and tangy lemon juice, balanced with orzo pasta for a comforting and refreshing meal perfect for any season.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cups diced carrots
  • 1 cup finely chopped onion
  • ½ cup finely chopped celery
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried parsley
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup dry orzo pasta
  • ½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Sauté Vegetables: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add diced carrots, chopped onion, celery, and minced garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
  2. Add Seasonings and Chicken: Stir in black pepper, dried parsley, thyme, salt, bay leaves, chicken breasts, and chicken broth. Mix well to combine all ingredients.
  3. Bring to Boil and Simmer: Cover the pot and bring the soup to a boil, which should take about 10 minutes. Then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Remove Chicken and Bay Leaves: Increase heat back to medium-high, remove the chicken breasts and set aside. Also remove and discard the bay leaves from the soup.
  5. Cook Orzo: Add the dry orzo pasta to the simmering soup pot. Cook the orzo for half of the package’s recommended time, stirring occasionally.
  6. Shred Chicken: While the orzo cooks, use two forks to shred the cooked chicken breasts finely.
  7. Finish Soup: Remove the soup from heat before the orzo is fully cooked to allow the pasta to finish cooking as the soup cools. Add shredded chicken and fresh lemon juice to the pot. Stir well to combine and serve warm.

Notes

  • For a firmer pasta texture, cook orzo separately and add it to individual bowls when serving.
  • You can prepare this soup using a crockpot or instant pot with adjusted cooking times for convenience.
  • Use low sodium chicken broth to keep the soup light and healthy.
  • Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds vibrant flavor; avoid bottled lemon juice for best taste.
  • This soup freezes well, but it’s best to add pasta and lemon juice fresh when reheating.

Nutrition

Keywords: lemon chicken soup, chicken soup with lemon, orzo chicken soup, healthy chicken soup, comfort soup, easy chicken soup recipe

Find it online: https://mixitwitjoe.com/lemon-chicken-soup-recipe/