Description
Greek Lemon Chicken Soup is a delicious, cozy, and lemony dinner that’s easy to make in the Instant Pot, crockpot, or on the stovetop. Serve it with orzo, rice, or zucchini noodles for a healthy, hearty meal.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups diced carrots
1 cup finely chopped onion
½ cup finely chopped celery
1 tablespoon minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon dried parsley
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon salt
2 bay leaves
1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
6 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 cup dry orzo pasta
½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the carrots, onion, celery, and garlic for 5 minutes.
2. Add the black pepper, parsley, thyme, salt, bay leaves, chicken breasts, and chicken broth to the pot. Stir together.
3. Cover the pot and bring to a boil, about 10 minutes.
4. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Remove the chicken breasts and set aside. Remove the bay leaves.
6. Add the orzo to the pot and stir. Cook for half the recommended cook time on the package.
7. Shred the chicken using two forks. Return shredded chicken to the pot.
8. Remove the soup from heat. Stir in lemon juice and combine.
9. Serve hot. Optionally, cook the pasta separately and add it just before serving for firmer texture.
Notes
You can substitute beans for chicken and use vegetarian broth for a vegetarian version.
Add a Parmesan rind while cooking for deeper flavor.
Use any type of broth—chicken stock, bone broth, or vegetable broth.
For firmer pasta, cook it separately and add directly to bowls when serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 272
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 364mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 73mg
Keywords: lemon chicken soup, Greek lemon chicken soup, healthy chicken soup