This simple lemon hen orzo soup is made in a single pot with healthful elements like tender shredded hen, savory herbs, egg yolks, and lemon. The broth is silky and the orzo pasta makes it additional satisfying!
I really like a fast stovetop soup recipe like this Mediterranean-inspired hen orzo soup with lemon. For one more cozy soup full of contemporary elements, give this Greek tomato feta soup a strive.
What Makes This Lemon Hen Orzo Soup So Good
This lemon hen orzo soup recipe places a vivid and zesty twist on traditional chicken noodle soup. It combines brined hen, savory herbs, veggies, and orzo pasta within the creamiest broth thickened with egg and lemon. You’re going to like the flavors! Right here’s why it’s one of the best:
Lemon and egg yolks. This hen orzo soup mixes egg yolks and lemon juice into the broth, just like the way you’d make Greek avgolemono soup. The egg yolks enrich the broth whereas actual lemon zest and juice add tanginess. Collectively, they make a flavorful, creamy soup with out including any cream.
Brined hen. Soaking the hen in salted water is an non-obligatory first step, however it seasons the hen and provides the flavors within the soup a serious increase.
One pot. I prepare dinner the hen, sauté the veggies, and put together the soup in the identical pot. It’s handy and creates layers of taste in a brief simmer time. As a bonus, clean-up is straightforward.
Soup Substances
I’ve included some notes on the elements you’ll want for the soup. Scroll all the way down to the printable recipe card for a full record with quantities.
Hen – I take advantage of boneless, skinless hen breasts as a result of they’re simple to shred, however any hen works. Use hen thighs, or you can also make this orzo soup with leftover cooked hen (extra on this later).
Aromatics – Diced carrots, celery, and yellow onion type the flavour base of the soup. I additionally embody freshly minced garlic to bulk up the aromatics.
Hen Broth – This may be store-bought low-sodium hen broth, or I’ll typically use homemade chicken stock.
Recent Dill – I really like how savory contemporary dill performs off the lemony flavors.
Seasonings – Salt, pepper, and dried oregano.
Orzo – Orzo is a short-cut pasta that appears like giant grains of rice. You can also make this recipe with any pasta you like, it simply received’t technically be orzo soup on this case. You could possibly even use homemade egg noodles.
Egg Yolks – Identical to making avgolemono soup, you’ll mood egg yolks and add them again into the soup to assist it thicken.
Lemons – Juiced and zested. You’ll need to use contemporary lemon on this recipe!
Why Add Lemon Juice to Hen Soup?
Including lemon juice is a straightforward strategy to elevate hen soup, whether or not it’s on this recipe or in any other case. The acidity brightens the flavors the identical means lime juice does in my spicy Mexican chipotle lime chicken soup.
Easy methods to Brine Hen
NOTE: You don’t need to brine the hen!! BUT it’s a means so as to add one other layer of taste to the soup as an entire! You prepare dinner the hen in broth, so it’s undoubtedly not vital, however it’s a straightforward step to take whilst you prep your different elements!
Brine the hen breasts in salt water.Dry the hen nicely.
To brine the hen, add your hen breasts to a big pot of salt water and go away them to soak for quarter-hour. It’s high-quality to go away the hen within the answer for longer, although in that case, make sure to transfer it to the fridge. Afterward, pat the hen dry earlier than you sear it.
Let’s Make Hen Orzo Soup With Lemon!
If you happen to’ve by no means made hen soup with lemon earlier than, you’ll be blown away by how wonderful the broth seems. The lemon freshens up the flavors whereas the egg makes the broth silky (just like how egg yolks emulsify to create a creamy, flavorful sauce in carbonara recipes).
Listed here are the steps. Scroll to the recipe card after the submit for printable directions.
Brown the hen.Sauté the diced veggies.
Prepare dinner the elements. Begin by browning the hen breasts in a big Dutch oven, then set them apart. In the identical pot, sauté the carrots, celery, onion, and garlic.
Mix the elements and simmer.Add the orzo.
Make the soup. Now, you’ll add the hen breasts again to the pot together with the broth. Sprinkle over the dill and oregano, and season the soup to style whereas it involves a simmer. After 10 minutes, add the orzo and let that prepare dinner by means of.
Shred the hen. Take out the hen breasts and shred or cube them earlier than returning the items to the soup.
Mood the egg yolks with broth.Add the egg yolks into the soup.
End the soup. In a separate bowl, mood the egg yolks with a little bit of scorching broth earlier than stirring them into the soup. Lastly, the lemon juice and zest get stirred in earlier than you’re able to serve.
Can I Use a Rotisserie Hen As an alternative?
Certain! Whereas brining the hen and cooking it within the broth makes for an particularly flavorful hen orzo soup, if I’m pressed for time, I’ll add 3-4 cups of shredded rotisserie hen as an alternative. On this case, add the hen on the very finish, concurrently the lemon juice, and let it warmth by means of.
Refrigerate. Retailer any leftover lemon hen orzo soup in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
Reheat. Heat the soup within the microwave or on the stovetop. If you happen to discover that the soup has thickened up, add slightly extra hen broth when reheating.
Freeze. You may also freeze this orzo soup hermetic for as much as 2 months. Defrost the soup within the fridge in a single day after which reheat.
This lemon hen orzo soup is made in a single pot with healthful elements like juicy shredded hen, tender orzo pasta, veggies, and herbs. Egg yolks and lemon make the broth additional silky!
4 quarts of heat water
1/4 cup kosher salt
1 1/2 kilos boneless, skinless hen breasts
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 medium carrots, peeled and diced
2 ribs celery, diced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups hen broth
2 tablespoons finely chopped contemporary dill
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon contemporary black pepper
3/4 cup dry orzo
2 giant egg yolks
Juice of 2 medium lemons (about 1/4 cup)
Non-obligatory – Zest of 1 lemon
Extra salt and pepper to style
Brine the hen: *See notice. Dissolve salt in 4 quarts of heat water. Place the hen into the salt water for quarter-hour at room temperature. You’ll be able to brine the hen for as much as an hour, however any longer than quarter-hour you could place the hen again within the fridge.
Take away the hen from the brine and pat it utterly dry.
Prepare dinner the hen: Warmth the olive oil in a 7-quart pot (or Dutch Oven) over medium warmth. Add within the hen breasts and prepare dinner for 3 minutes on all sides till golden brown. Take away the hen from the pot and put aside.
Add the diced carrots, celery, and onion into the pot and prepare dinner for five – 7 minutes till tender, stirring often. Add within the garlic and prepare dinner for a further minute.
Make the soup: Return the hen again to the pan and add within the hen broth, dill oregano, salt, and pepper, and produce to a boil. Flip the warmth to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add the orzo into the pot and simmer for 10 extra minutes, or till the orzo is cooked.
Take away the hen from the pot and shred it with a fork or lower it into cubes. Return the hen again to the pot.
Individually, whisk the egg yolks in a small bowl whereas slowly including in 1/2 cup of the recent broth. Add the egg combination to the soup and stir to mix and thicken.
Stir within the contemporary lemon juice and zest, if desired, and add extra salt and pepper if vital.
Serve heat.
Notes
*Brining notice: This step is non-obligatory, however it’s an effective way so as to add one other layer of taste to your soup. If you happen to select to not brine the hen skip forward to set #3.
You may also use shredded rotisserie hen when you choose. You will want 3 – 4 cups of cooked hen and can add this to the soup in step #7 to warmth the hen.
Storing directions:
Retailer hermetic within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Reheat within the microwave or on the stovetop.
If the orzo absorbs an excessive amount of of the liquid and the soup has thickened an excessive amount of you’ll be able to add extra hen broth if desired.
Freeze hermetic for as much as 2 months. Thaw within the fridge in a single day and reheat on the stovetop.
