Near my workplace, I used to enjoy this Lemon Chicken Orzo soup at Corner Bakery and Panera. I always wanted to make this at home to share the goodness with my family. I have missed the soup even more since I am not working at that company. So here is my take on this cozy and comforting soup!
Watch How to Make Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
Greek Lemon Chicken Soup with Orzo Ingredients
If you have made Chicken Noodle soup, this is similar but not the same. I use orzo pasta in place of noodles. Orzo is shaped like rice grains and is great as a side or in salads. They are a perfect carb addition to this soup. Chicken: I used boneless chicken breast, but chicken thighs can also be used in this recipe. Orzo pasta: I love to use orzo pasta, shaped like rice grains. It is easy to add to any soup. Kids love it too. However, if you don’t have orzo, feel free to use other types of pasta. Onion & Garlic: Add the perfect flavor and aroma to this soup. I use yellow onions in this recipe. Carrots & Celery: We love to add these veggies to any soup for extra nutrition. Lemon juice: This is the star ingredient to get the perfect flavor in this lemon chicken soup. Broth: I use chicken broth in this soup. I used Better than Bouillon to make the broth. Adjust the amount of broth based on how thick or thin you like the soup. Spices: This soup needs the most basic spices – salt, pepper, and thyme. Parsley: fresh parsley leaves to garnish. You can also use dill leaves.
How to make Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup?
Sauté Veggies: Start the instant pot in SAUTE mode and add oil, onions, and garlic. Stir and sauté for 2 minutes. Add carrots, celery, salt, pepper, thyme, and broth. Stir well.
Add chicken and pressure cook: Place chicken breast on top and gently push it under the liquid. Press Cancel and close the lid with the vent in the sealing position. Set the instant pot on high-pressure cook mode for 6 minutes.
Open & Shred Chicken: When the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure manually and open the lid. Remove the chicken breasts from the soup and shred them with two forks.
Cook the pasta: Add the orzo and shredded chicken to the instant pot. Set the instant pot on sauté mode for 6 minutes or until the pasta is cooked. Then press cancel. (Note: if the chicken is already well cooked, hold off and add the chicken once the orzo pasta is almost cooked).
Garnish & Serve: Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Taste and adjust seasonings. The soup is ready to be served.
This is not a super thick soup, unlike my Creamy Broccoli Cheddar soup (If you haven’t already, you must try it!). In the Broccoli Cheddar soup, I make a roux before pressure cooking. In this soup, as we are cooking pasta along with the soup, it naturally thickens a bit. And if you refrigerate it to enjoy the next day, it thickens even more.
Make it on the Stovetop
In a large pot, sauté the onions and garlic in butter or oil for 2-3 minutes over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and celery. Then pour the chicken broth with the salt, pepper, and spices. Place the chicken in the pot, and bring the pot to a boil. Then reduce the heat, cover with a lid, and cook for about 15 minutes. Open the lid, add the orzo pasta, and cook for another 8-10 minutes. The time will depend on the cooking time on the package of orzo. Stir often. Remove the chicken when the orzo is almost cooked, shred it with two forks, and add it to the soup. Add the lemon juice, and garnish with parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve and Enjoy!
How to serve?
This soup is great to serve as is topped with some lemon wedges. It has amazing immunity-boosting ingredients. To make it heartier, serve it with some crusty bread to dip in the broth or a salad.
Pro-Tips
Use thickly cut carrots & celery so that the veggies don’t overcook during pressure cooking. Use freshly minced garlic and fresh parsley to garnish for maximum flavor. Add a rosemary sprig to the instant pot before pressure cooking for extra flavor. You can still make this soup if you don’t have boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. After pressure cooking, discard the bones and skin when shredding the chicken. You can also make this a Lemon chicken orzo soup with spinach. Just add spinach at the end when the orzo is almost cooked. Stir it well until the spinach wilts in the soup.
Common Questions
Here are other Instant Pot Soups you might enjoy:
Sweet Corn Soup Instant Pot Lentil Vegetable Soup Minestrone Soup Chicken Fajita Soup Roasted Pumpkin Soup
