Home / Soup / Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Liz DellaCroce Avatar

LIZ DELLA CROCE

Updated:

Jump to Recipe


A spin off the traditional Greek egg-lemon soup, this lemon chicken orzo soup comes together in under 20 minutes and is great for prepping ahead. Leftovers make a great lunch!

Garnishing lemon chicken orzo soup.

Soup season lasts year round at my house. It doesn’t matter if it’s freezing outside in the middle of winter or hot in the heat of summer, soup is on the menu. And there is nothing more comforting than a bowl of chicken soup. Warm, creamy broth that makes you feel full, but not bloated. Simple ingredients that cook up into a delicious meal quickly. That’s what my Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is all about.

Ingredients

  • Chicken broth: Low-sodium chicken broth is still super flavorful and a great broth for any soup.
  • Orzo: Also known as risoni, it’s a short cut pasta that resembles a grain of rice.
  • Cornstarch: Pretty much tasteless, it helps to thicken the soup as well as helps the eggs to blend without curdling.
  • Lemon juice: Zesty, bright flavor that brings freshness to your bowl.
  • Eggs: Thickens the broth and adds a creamy consistency and added protein.
  • Chicken breast: Low in fat and high in protein, chicken is affordable, moist, and delicious in this comfort soup. You could also use chicken thighs.

How to Make Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Adding orzo to boiling chicken broth

Start your soup by bringing the chicken broth to a boil; remove about 1 cup of hot broth and set aside. Add the orzo, and season with salt and pepper. Let it simmer for 15 minutes until pasta is tender.

While pasta simmers, start your cornstarch slurry. Add the cornstarch slowly to the hot broth you have set aside, and whisk until fully incorporated.

Whisking in lemon juice in a bowl

Next, slowly whisk in the lemon juice to the slurry.

Whisking egg in a bowl

Finish the slurry by slowly whisking in the egg to the hot broth mixture, allowing the eggs to slowly raise in temperature so they don’t scramble or curdle.

Pouring egg and broth mixture into pot

Slowly add your egg/broth mixture back into the large pot with the orzo, and stir until soup thickens.

Adding chicken to a pot

Add the shredded or cubed chicken to the pot. To make this dish even easier, I’ll use leftover rotisserie chicken!

Stirring everything together and seasoning

Stir together until chicken is warmed through, and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.

Lemon chicken orzo soup

Serve warm and garnish with green onion or parsley, and enjoy your Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup!

Easy Substitutions

  • Make it gluten free. Switch the orzo out for rice to make the soup gluten free.
  • Add more veggies. You could add celery, carrots, onions, or potatoes to this soup.
  • Make it vegetarian. While removing the egg and making this dish vegan drastically changes the flavor, you can swap the chicken out for tofu or seitan.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What does adding lemon to soup do?

Lemon brightens up whatever it is added to, and it also balances out the salty flavors!

Is orzo healthier than rice?

Orzo pasta is typically higher in protein and carbs than rice, so depending on what you’re looking for, it could be!

How does this differ from traditional Greek egg-lemon soup?

My recipe is simplified, using fewer ingredients and fewer eggs.
Lemon chicken orzo soup.

More Soups to Love

Eat It, Like It, Share It!

Did you try this recipe and like it? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials! Tag @thelemonbowl and #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your dish.

Liz enjoying lemon chicken orzo soup.

Whether you need a simple dinner with little prep time, or a delicious lunch made in advance, this Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is perfect.

Your spoon is waiting.

Have you tried my
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup?

Leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how you liked it in the 📝 comments and share it on Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest.

We love hearing from you! This helps us continue to provide free, high-quality recipes.

Lemon chicken orzo soup

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

4.88 stars average
Liz Della Croce
A spin off the traditional Greek egg-lemon soup, this lemon chicken orzo soup comes together in under 20 minutes and is great for prepping ahead. Leftovers make a great lunch!
PREP: 5 minutes
COOK: 15 minutes
TOTAL: 20 minutes
Pin
Servings4

Ingredients
 

  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup orzo (uncooked)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • 2 large eggs (whisked)
  • 8 ounces shredded cooked chicken breast (such as rotisserie)
  • 1 bundle green onions (optional garnish)

Instructions
 

  • In a large soup pot, bring chicken broth to a boil. Add orzo, salt and pepper and simmer until pasta is tender, about 15 minutes.
  • Remove one cup of the broth from the pot and pour into a medium bowl. Add corn starch and whisk until dissolved. Pour in lemon juice and whisk once more.
  • To temper the eggs, slowly add the whisked eggs to the broth/cornstarch/lemon juice mixture. Whisk constantly so that the eggs gradually come to temperature. Continue until all of the eggs are fully incorporated.
  • Pour the warmed egg/broth mixture back into the large soup pot and stir until mixture begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Add shredded chicken breasts and cook until heated through. Check for seasoning and adjust accordingly. Serve warm.

Last Step:

Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps us to continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.

Rate this Recipe

Nutrition

Serving: 2cups | Calories: 337kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 478mg | Potassium: 570mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 160IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 2mg


4.88 from 16 votes (13 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *






This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


5 responses to “Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup”

  1. Alane Avatar
    Alane

    I made it with more chicken and wild rice. I also like to add Lawry’s Lemon Pepper. It was great!

  2. Martha Fuller Avatar
    Martha Fuller

    Lemon-chicken soup is one of my favorites. Question: If I use quinoa instead of orzo or rice, will it hold up?

    1. Liz DellaCroce Avatar
      Liz DellaCroce

      Yes, you can use quinoa instead!

  3. Jean Avatar
    Jean

    The best recipe for this iconic Greek soup that I have ever had or made. It freezes well – doesn’t separate.

  4. Kim Avatar
    Kim

    This soup is delicious and I’ll be making this again and again this fall and winter!