Name: Healing One Pot Chicken Orzo Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil; 1 Tablespoon Butter (unsalted); 3 Sticks Celery (chopped finely); 3 Large Carrots (peeled and chopped finely); 1 Small Onion (diced finely); 3 Cloves Garlic (mashed); 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch or Arrowroot Starch or Tapioca Flour (to thicken); 6 Cups Chicken Broth; 1-2 Lemons (juiced - depending on how "lemony" you like it!); 2 Teaspoons Italian Seasoning; 2 Tablespoons Turmeric; 1 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper; 1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt; 1 1/2 Cups Shredded Rotisserie Chicken (or substitute 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast); 1 Cup Orzo (uncooked); Parsley (chopped - for garnishing)

Three Reasons Why You NEED to Make Soups from Scratch

They are super easy to meal prep: Soups are one of the easiest foods to prep-ahead and store in the freezer. At any given time, no matter the season, I have at LEAST 1-2 soups stored in my freezer. Let’s face it, life can be unpredictable and you never know when you’ll have a day where you wake up feeling sick or have virtually zero time to cook a meal. When stored in the freezer, soups can stay fresh for 1-2 months, which means that you can always have a quick, nutritious meal to reheat and enjoy.

They’re healthier AND cheaper than pre-made soups: Even the most “organic” canned soups are riddled with high amounts of sodium… and, are not exactly a cheaper option. In fact, a single can of “better-for-you” soup can run you up to $8 here in San Francisco. By taking a few minutes to prep a soup from scratch, you’re not only able to tailor the soup to your unique dietary needs, but you can also reduce your cost per serving.

They’re perfect for when you’re sick: No need to spend $40 Door Dashing a bowl of chicken soup when you’re feeling under the weather. Simply prep this soup, store it in the freezer, and have a comforting and healing bowl of chicken soup ready in seconds!

A top view of ingredients for a soup recipe, including chicken broth, garlic, onion, lemon, spices, shredded chicken, celery, carrots, orzo pasta, and butter. All are arranged on a wooden cutting board and a stone surface. — To make this soup, you’ll need olive oil, butter, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, starch of choice, chicken broth, lemon, seasonings, chicken breast, orzo, and chopped parsley.

Top view of a white pot on a kitchen counter containing chopped celery, carrots, and onions with various spices, being stirred with a wooden spoon. Surrounding the pot are small bowls with lemon, garlic, orzo, and other ingredients. — Start by hearing the olive oil and butter in a dutch oven and add in the chopped celery, carrots, and onion. Sauté for 5 minutes, then dice the garlic and add it to the pot alongside the starch of choice

What You Need to Make This Perfect Orzo Soup

🧈 Olive Oil & Butter: The combination of olive oil and butter makes this soup perfectly rich and delicious.

🥕 Celery, Carrots, and Onion: Also known as mirepoix, the combination of diced carrots, celery, and onion makes for the perfect base for this soup.

🧄 Garlic: I always recommend using fresh garlic, whenever possible. It adds the best flavor!

Cornstarch or Arrowroot Starch or Tapioca Flour: This helps to thicken the soup so it achieves the perfect consistency – don’t skip this!

Chicken Broth: Of course, any good chicken soup starts with a base of chicken broth. You can also opt to use chicken bone broth, if you want, to add in some extra protein.

A saucepan filled with chopped vegetables and spices on a stovetop with broth being poured in. A knife and chopped celery are on a cutting board nearby. A lemon sits in a glass citrus juicer, and shredded chicken is in a bowl next to a yellow cloth.

Next, add in the chicken broth, lemon juice, shredded rotisserie chicken, orzo, Italian seasoning, turmeric, and ground black pepper to the pot and stir well to combine.

🍋 Lemon: You’ll need the juice of 1-2 lemons to add the best flavor to this soup. If you don’t like a ton of lemon, opt for 1. If you’re like me and prefer this soup extra lemony, use 2!

🧂 Seasonings: To season this soup, you’ll need a combination of Italian seasoning, turmeric, sea salt, and ground black pepper. Yum!

🐓 Chicken: I recommend using shredded rotisserie chicken to cut down on the cook time for this soup and make it simple and easy. However, if you prefer to use fresh chicken and cook it in the soup, you can opt for a boneless, skinless chicken breast.

Orzo: Orzo is a short-cut pasta that looks like a large grain of rice. It’s a delicious form of pasta to add to soups, because it will fill you up without making you feel sluggish!

Parsley: A sprinkle of fresh parsley adds the perfect garnish to this soup!

Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover, reduce the heat to low, and allow the soup to simmer for 15-25 minutes, depending on whether you’re using shredded rotisserie chicken or fresh chicken breast.

How to Make This Cozy & Comforting Winter Soup

To make this soup, start by heating a large pot or dutch oven, on the stove, over medium-high heat. Add in the olive oil and butter. Wash and chop the celery, carrots, and onion while the pan is heating. Then, once the butter has melted, add them to the pot and stir to combine.

Sauté the celery, carrots, and onion in the butter for 5 minutes, until the onions begin to soften. Then, dice the garlic and add it to the pot alongside the starch of choice (cornstarch, tapioca starch, or arrowroot starch) and stir to combine.

Next, add in the chicken broth, lemon juice, shredded rotisserie chicken, orzo, Italian seasoning, turmeric, and ground black pepper to the pot and stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then cover and leave the lid slightly cracked open. Then, reduce the heat to low and allow the soup to simmer. If you’re using shredded rotisserie chicken, allow the soup to simmer for 15 minutes. If you’re using fresh chicken breast, allow the soup to simmer for 25 minutes, so that the chicken is cooked through.

A pot of yellow-hued broth with vegetables, rice, and herbs. A ladle is resting inside the pot. Bowls, a spoon, and a dish of chopped herbs are visible in the background. — Once the soup is done, ladle it into bowls. This soup makes 4-6 servings, depending on how big your ladle is!

Garnish with chopped parsley, serve with a side of crusty, bread, and enjoy!

Once the soup is done simmering, remove the lid and stir well. Use a spoon to scrape the orzo from the bottom of the pot, to ensure that it’s fully incorporated into the soup. If you are using fresh chicken breast, remove it from the pot and use a fork to shred it. Then, return it back to the pot and stir to combine. Once the soup is done, ladle it into bowls. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, serve with a side of crusty bread, and enjoy!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.

** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim

Nut Free/Refined Sugar Free