Lemon Chicken Soup Recipe

Lemon Chicken Soup in a white bowl with a spoon in it and garnished with lemon slices.

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup Recipe is a delicious dinner. Easy to make in the instant pot, crock pot or on the stove. Lemony and healthy! You can serve it with rice, pasta or zucchini noodles. Either way - it's SO yummy and cozy!

Prep Time15

Cook Time45

Total Time1

Servings: 1.5 cup servings

Calories: 272kcal

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

Stovetop Instructions

In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the carrots, onion, celery, and garlic for 5 minutes.
Once the vegetables have cooked, add the black pepper, parsley, thyme, salt, bay leaves, chicken breasts, and chicken broth to the pot. Stir together.
Cover the pot and bring to a boil. It should take about 10 minutes to come to a boil.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Once the soup has cooked for 15 minutes, turn the heat back to medium-high.
Remove the chicken breasts and set aside.
Remove the bay leaves.
Add the orzo to the pot and stir together. Cook for half the recommended cook time on the package.
While the orzo cooks, use 2 forks to shred the chicken breasts.
Once the orzo has cooked for half the recommended cook time, remove the soup from the heat. The pasta will continue to cook as the soup cools.
Add the chicken and lemon juice to the pot. Stir to combine.
Tip: If you prefer a firmer pasta, you can cook your pasta in a separate pot and add directly to your bowl when you’re ready to eat.

Crockpot Instructions:

In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the carrots, onion, celery, and garlic for 5 minutes.
Add the sautéd veggies to the crockpot. Add the black pepper, parsley, thyme, salt, bay leaves, chicken breasts, and chicken broth to the pot. Stir together.
Place the lid on the crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
While the soup cooks, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook your pasta per the directions.
Remove the chicken breasts and set aside. Use 2 forks to shred the chicken breasts.
Remove the bay leaves.
Add shredded chicken, lemon juice and cooked pasta to the pot. Stir to combine and enjoy!
Tip: If you prefer a firmer pasta, you can cook your pasta in a separate pot and add directly to your bowl when you’re ready to eat.

Instant Pot Instructions:

Set instant pot to Sauté mode for 5 minutes.
Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the carrots, onion, celery, and garlic for 5 minutes.
Once the vegetables have cooked, add the black pepper, parsley, thyme, salt, bay leaves, chicken breasts, and chicken broth to the pot. Stir together.
Cover instant pot and set to sealing, ‘Soup’ OR Pressure Cook for 12 minutes.
Allow the soup to come to pressure and cook. It should take about 10 minutes to come to pressure, but can take longer if your broth is cold.
While the soup cooks, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook your pasta per the directions.
Once the soup has cooked, quick release the pressure.
Remove the chicken breasts and set aside. Use 2 forks to shred the chicken breasts.
Remove the bay leaves.
Add shredded chicken, lemon juice and cooked pasta to the pot. Stir to combine and enjoy!
Tip: If you prefer a firmer pasta, you can cook your pasta in a separate pot and add directly to your bowl when you’re ready to eat.

Video

Notes

Substitutions for this Lemon Chicken Soup

Pasta - You can add orzo or pasta noodles to this and it will be delicious. Cook the pasta separately and then add it to your soup once the soup is completely cooked.

Parmesan Cheese - I recommend tossing in a parmesan cheese rind with the soup while it's cooking - it adds so much flavor!

Broth - Any broth will work in this. You can use bone broth, chicken stock, vegetable stock, etc.

Vegetarian - You could substitute beans for chicken in this recipe and it would be delicious. You'd also need to sub for vegetarian broth.

Nutrition