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Fresh Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup with Spinach and Parmesan

fresh lemon chicken orzo soup - featured image
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A bright and comforting chicken soup featuring fresh lemon, tender orzo pasta, spinach, and a creamy Parmesan finish. Perfect for cozy dinners and quick weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped (rotisserie chicken works great)
  • 1 cup dry orzo pasta
  • 4 cups loosely packed fresh spinach, roughly chopped
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • Juice and zest of 1 large lemon
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme or oregano (optional)

Instructions

  1. Dice the onion finely, mince the garlic, zest and juice the lemon. Chop the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and roughly chop the spinach. Set aside. (10 minutes)
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until translucent and soft, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and dried herbs, stirring for 30 seconds until fragrant. Avoid burning the garlic. (5-6 minutes)
  3. Pour in 6 cups chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil. (5 minutes)
  4. Stir in dry orzo pasta. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Orzo should be tender but hold its shape. (10 minutes)
  5. Add shredded chicken and chopped spinach. Cook for 2-3 minutes until spinach wilts and chicken is heated through. (3 minutes)
  6. Remove pot from heat. Stir in lemon juice and zest, then add grated Parmesan cheese. Stir gently to melt cheese into the broth. Taste and season with salt and freshly cracked pepper as needed. (2-3 minutes)
  7. Let soup rest off heat for a few minutes to meld flavors. Serve warm, garnished with extra Parmesan or fresh herbs if desired.

Notes

Add lemon juice at the end to keep the fresh zing bright and avoid bitterness. Stir Parmesan in off the heat to prevent clumping or curdling. Adjust orzo cooking time to achieve a slightly al dente texture. Use gluten-free orzo or quinoa for gluten-free version. Substitute Parmesan with nutritional yeast or omit for dairy-free. Frozen spinach should be thawed and drained before adding.

Nutrition

Keywords: lemon chicken soup, orzo soup, spinach soup, Parmesan soup, easy chicken soup, quick soup recipe, healthy soup, comfort food

Find it online: https://eliplate.com/fresh-lemon-chicken-orzo-soup-recipe-easy-homemade-spinach-parmesan-soup/