Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and thinly diced
- 2 small celery stalks, chopped
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 7 cups chicken stock or broth
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- 1 cup dry orzo
- 3 cups cooked, shredded rotisserie chicken (about 1.5 lb, skin removed)
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 1 large lemon, juiced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Garnish: chopped fresh parsley, 2 sprigs fresh thyme, 1 small lemon sliced
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large stock pot or Dutch oven. Add onion, carrots, celery, garlic powder, and onion powder. Season with salt and pepper. Cook 5 minutes over medium-high heat until softened. Add minced garlic in the last 2 minutes.
- Pour in chicken stock and scrape browned bits. Add thyme. Bring to boil and simmer briefly. Reserve ⅓ cup stock and let cool.
- Stir in orzo and shredded chicken. Cook 8-10 minutes until orzo is almost tender, stirring frequently.
- Whisk cornstarch with reserved stock to make a slurry. Stir into soup and simmer 5 minutes.
- Add spinach and half the lemon juice. Cook 2-3 minutes until spinach wilts.
- Remove from heat. Gradually add remaining lemon juice to taste. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Serve warm, garnished with parsley, thyme, and lemon slices.
Notes
- Chicken: Use shredded rotisserie chicken, leftover cooked chicken, or cook raw chicken in broth before shredding.
- Pasta: Orzo works best; substitute with ditalini or small elbows if needed.
- Lemon: Add gradually to avoid overpowering the soup.
- Optional add-ins: mushrooms, a touch of dried ginger, green onions, Parmesan, or red pepper flakes.
- Meal prep: Cook orzo separately for make-ahead meals to prevent sogginess.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 287
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 368 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 46 mg