Comfort swirls through every spoonful of this hearty chicken orzo soup that promises warmth and nourishment.
Tender chicken pieces nestle among delicate pasta pearls, creating a symphony of flavors and textures.
Mediterranean-inspired ingredients dance together in a light, fragrant broth that feels like a culinary embrace.
Aromatic herbs and vegetables lend depth to this soul-soothing dish, making each bite a celebration of simple, wholesome cooking.
Nutritious and satisfying, this soup stands as a testament to the magic of home-cooked meals.
Let’s find out this delightful recipe and let its comforting essence chase away the chill of any day.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Calories: 210 kcal
Servings: 7
What You’ll Need for Chicken Orzo Soup
For Base Flavor:
Yellow Onion: Provides a sweet, aromatic foundation that deepens the soup's overall taste profile.
Garlic: Adds a pungent, warming kick that enhances the soup's complexity and boosts immune-supporting properties.
Olive Oil: Creates a silky base for sautéing ingredients and adds a rich, smooth undertone to the dish.
For Protein and Substance:
Rotisserie Chicken: Offers tender, pre-cooked meat that saves time and ensures consistent flavor throughout the soup.
Chicken Broth: Delivers a robust, savory liquid base that infuses the entire soup with comforting chicken essence.
For Texture and Freshness:
Orzo Pasta: Provides a delightful, small grain-like shape that adds hearty texture and absorbs the soup's flavors.
Fennel Bulb: Introduces a subtle licorice-like crunch and brings a sophisticated, slightly sweet vegetable element.
Escarole: Contributes a mild, slightly bitter green that wilts beautifully and adds nutritional depth to the soup.
Finishing Touches:
Lemon Juice: Brightens the entire dish with a zesty, tangy note that cuts through the richness.
Kosher Salt: Balances and heightens all the ingredients' natural flavors.
Black Pepper: Adds a gentle warmth and subtle spiciness that complements the other ingredients.
Soup Tools That Help You Simmer and Serve with Ease
Large pot: Essential for simmering and cooking the entire soup.
Chef's knife: Perfect for finely chopping onion, fennel, garlic, and escarole.
Cutting board: Provides a clean surface for chopping ingredients.
Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring and sautéing vegetables.
Measuring cups: Helps accurately measure broth and orzo.
Ladle: Convenient for serving hot soup into bowls.
Directions for Making a Cozy Chicken Orzo Soup
Veggie Base A flavor-packed foundation of aromatic onions, fennel, and garlic creates the soul of this comforting soup. Gently cook these ingredients in golden olive oil until they become soft and translucent, releasing their deep, rich essences.
Broth Boost Pour in warm chicken broth and let the liquid come to a gentle rolling boil, building layers of delicate flavor.
Protein and Pasta Introduce tender rotisserie chicken pieces and delicate orzo into the simmering liquid. Allow these ingredients to dance together, with the pasta slowly becoming perfectly tender and absorbing all the surrounding flavors.
Leafy Green Finale Fold in fresh, crisp escarole and a splash of bright lemon juice. Let the greens soften slightly while adding a vibrant, fresh dimension to the soup.
Final Touch Taste your creation, adjusting the seasoning with a pinch of salt or an extra squeeze of lemon to make the flavors sing.
Serving Ladle the steaming soup into warm bowls, creating a comforting meal that speaks directly to the soul.
Ideas to Add Greens or Grains to Your Bowl
Control the soup's consistency by adjusting orzo amount. Less orzo creates a brothy soup, while more makes it heartier and more filling.
Swap rotisserie chicken with grilled shredded turkey, poached chicken breasts, or leftover roasted chicken for variety and different flavor profiles.
Replace escarole with other tender greens like spinach, kale, or Swiss chard. Each green adds unique texture and nutritional benefits to your soup.
Enhance the soup's brightness by adding fresh herbs like chopped dill, parsley, or thyme just before serving. These herbs provide a vibrant, aromatic finish that elevates the entire dish.
For a richer soup, stir in a splash of heavy cream or a dollop of Greek yogurt right before serving. This adds luxurious depth and a silky smooth texture to the classic chicken soup.
How to Present Soup for Comfort Food
Rustic Bread Companion: Slice a crusty baguette or sourdough and serve alongside the soup for dipping, soaking up all those delicious brothy flavors.
Herbal Garnish Delight: Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley or dill on top just before serving to add a bright, aromatic finish that enhances the soup's overall taste profile.
Cheese Elegance Touch: Grate some parmesan or pecorino romano over the hot soup, allowing the cheese to slightly melt and create a creamy, rich layer of flavor that complements the chicken and orzo.
Zesty Side Kick: Pair the soup with a quick mixed green salad dressed in a light lemon vinaigrette to echo the citrusy notes already present in the soup and provide a refreshing contrast.
Store This Soup and Bring It Back Just Right
Smart Portioning: Divide leftover soup into individual airtight containers for easy grab-and-go lunches during the week, perfect for busy professionals and meal preppers.
Refrigerator Lifespan: Store cooled soup in sealed containers for 3-4 days, ensuring maximum flavor and food safety by keeping it chilled at 40°F or below.
Freezer Friendly: Transfer soup to freezer-safe containers, leaving one-inch space at the top for expansion, and freeze up to 2 months for quick future meals – just thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheating Magic: Warm soup gently on stovetop, adding a splash of extra chicken broth to restore original consistency and prevent orzo from becoming mushy during reheating.
Mediterranean comfort shines through this chicken orzo soup, bringing warmth and nourishment to your table. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, offering you a delicious journey through classic Greek culinary traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
3 cups cooked and diced chicken (from about 1 rotisserie chicken)
1 tbsp (15 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 0.5 lemon), plus more as needed
1 tsp kosher salt, plus more as needed
0.25 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preparation: Uniformly chop onion, fennel, and garlic into fine, consistent pieces to promote even flavor infusion and cooking.
Sautéing Aromatics: Warm extra-virgin olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat, adding chopped vegetables and seasoning with kosher salt and black pepper. Sauté until ingredients become translucent and release their aromatic essence, roughly 6-8 minutes.
Liquid Foundation: Stream chicken broth into the pot, elevating heat to generate a vigorous boil. Introduce rotisserie chicken and orzo pasta, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook until orzo achieves perfect al dente consistency, approximately 8-10 minutes.
Leafy Integration: Transform escarole into delicate ribbons and cascade into the simmering liquid alongside freshly pressed lemon juice. Allow ingredients to meld for 2-3 minutes, ensuring escarole wilts gracefully while maintaining its vibrant green character.
Flavor Refinement: Conduct a final taste assessment, calibrating seasoning with additional salt or lemon juice to harmonize the soup’s complex flavor profile.
Serving: Elegantly ladle the steaming soup into pre-warmed bowls, guaranteeing each portion showcases a balanced symphony of chicken, pasta, and vegetables.
Notes
Prep Precisely: Cut vegetables uniformly to guarantee consistent cooking and balanced flavor in every spoonful.
Sauté Strategically: Cook vegetables until translucent and aromatic to develop a rich, deep flavor foundation for the soup.
Choose Chicken Wisely: Use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for convenience and enhanced taste, saving time without compromising quality.
Finish Thoughtfully: Taste and adjust seasoning at the end, adding salt or lemon juice to brighten and balance the soup’s overall flavor profile.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO
Degree: Diploma in Culinary Arts
Focus: Hands-on training in classic and modern culinary techniques, emphasizing sustainable cooking practices, kitchen professionalism, and real-world restaurant experience through externships.
Oregon State University
Degree: B.S. in Nutrition and Food Management
Focus: In-depth study of human nutrition, food safety, meal planning, and food-service operations, with a strong foundation in public health, dietetics, and community-based nutrition programs.
Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café.
Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.
Sophie Reynolds
Co-Founder, Recipe Curator & Culinary Educator
Expertise
Education
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO
Oregon State University
Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café.
Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.