Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup

This healthy dinner recipe for Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters! Not only delicious, this dish is also healthy and easy to prepare. The recipe calls for healthy ingredients such as boneless chicken breast, orzo pasta, celery, carrots, and lemons.

This wholesome soup is a great alternative to take-out or pre-made meals. Suitable for any occasion, Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup will quickly become a family favorite!

The recipe for Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup makes dinner a breeze!

The dinner hour can often be a stressful and overwhelming time for a busy family. But dinner doesn't have to be difficult - the recipe for Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup makes dinner a breeze! This healthy dinner is simple to put together and helps make dinner time effortless. Just layer all of the ingredients including chicken, orzo, carrots, celery, lemon juice, and broth in the slow cooker, set it on low and dinner is ready in 6-8 hours! It's an easy dinner that tastes delicious and guarantees smiles around the dinner table.

This was inspired by my other recipe on this site, and pairs well with this amazing sidedish recipe.

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 4-6 hours
Serves: 4

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• The recipe for Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup makes dinner a breeze!
• Ingredients needed to make Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup
• Instructions for making Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup
• Variations on the Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup recipe
• Equipment
• Storage for the Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup
• Top tip for the Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup
• Related
• Pairing
• Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup

Ingredients needed to make Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup

• 1 – 1-½ lbs. boneless chicken breasts, or tenders 
• 1 c. chopped celery (2 ribs)
• 1 c. sliced carrots (2 medium or 12 baby)
• ½ c. diced onion
• 1 tsp. dried rosemary
• ½ tsp. dried thyme
• 1 clove garlic, minced 
• 2 small bay leaves
• 1 qt. low sodium chicken broth
• Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste
• ¾ cup orzo pasta
• 1-½ tsp. lemon juice (¼ fresh lemon squeezed) 
• 2 T. Fresh parsley, chopped

For Serving:

Fresh parsley and Grated Parmesan Cheese, to taste

Hot Crusty French Bread or Rolls

Instructions for making Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup

1. Place chicken, celery, carrots, onion, rosemary, thyme, garlic and bay leaves in a 4-quart slow cooker. 
2. Add chicken broth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are soft.
4. Shred chicken with two forks. 
5. Add orzo and lemon juice to the slow cooker.
6. Cover and cook on high for 15-20 minutes or until pasta is cooked al dente.
7. Stir in fresh parsley. Adjust seasonings if desired, remembering that the parmesan will add saltiness to the final product.
8. Ladle into soup bowls and top with additional parsley and parmesan cheese if desired. Serve with hot crusty bread on the side.
9. Enjoy!

Variations on the Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup recipe

The great thing about the Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup recipe is that you can make a variety of variations for a delicious and healthy dinner. In the basic recipe, chicken, vegetables, and lemony broth are cooked together in a slow cooker. Some variation options for this warm and comforting soup include adding potatoes and other root vegetables or topping it with feta cheese, parsley, dill, or extra lemon juice for a Mediterranean flair. If you’re looking for something on the heartier side, substituting skinless, boneless chicken thighs instead of breasts will add more flavor and texture to the soup. For a vegan variation, you can eliminate the chicken altogether! With all these options plus others that you can come up with yourself, your variation of Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup will definitely be unique.

Equipment

SlowCooker

Storage for the Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup

Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup is a healthy, delicious recipe that can provide you and your family with a nutritious dinner night after night. When it comes to storage, this soup can be kept in the refrigerator for up to four days without it going bad. Additionally, any leftovers should be stored away from raw meats in a tightly sealed container if they are not consumed immediately after they have been cooked. Keep in mind that you should always discard any food item once it has been stored six days or more; this makes sure the Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup is safe and still tastes great meal after meal.

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Pairing

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