This Lemon Chicken and Chard Orzo Soup is a fantastic filling meal that is somewhere between a stew and a soup – a stew if you like! It’s full of veggie, herby and chickeny goodness. I use an Italian technique to add a deeper flavor to this soup by adding some parmesan rind to the orzo when it’s cooking. This allows the cheesy umami to infuse the broth. Delicious!
In this recipe I start by searing the chicken which brings extra flavor. Then I start to assemble the soup by first frying the veggies and then pouring in stock, herbs and salt before adding chicken, orzo and parmesan rind. At the end of the cooking process I remove the parmesan rind, add some chard and the secret ingredient: zest and juice of a lemon.
To make Lemon Chicken and Chard Orzo Soup, you will need the following ingredients:
Pound each chicken breast until it is about ½ inch thick. Season the meat on both sides with salt and pepper to taste.
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat 3 tbsp of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until it has browned lightly all over.
Remove the chicken and set to one side. Leave the remaining oil in the pot.
Add the onion, carrots and celery to the oil and fry them for about 3 minutes. Then add the garlic and continue to cook for another minute.
Add the chicken broth to the pot along with the basil, oregano, thyme and rosemary. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Chop chicken into little pieces. then return it to the soup pot and allow it to come to a simmer.
Stir in the orzo and the parmesan rind. Turn the heat down to medium-low. Cover the pot and simmer for about 8-10 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked.
Keep the soup on the heat. Remove the parmesan rind. Discard it.
Add the lemon juice, lemon zest and chard, simmer for another 5 minutes.
Serve this soup warm with some Parmesan cheese on top to garnish.
This Lemon Chicken and Chard Orzo Soup recipe is a delicious, fresh and healthy soup. Try it out soon and don’t forget to come back here and leave a review for me.
Dude, this Lemon Chicken and Chard Orzo Soup is crazy good! Made it for the fam last weekend, and they couldn’t get enough. The lemon zest kicked it up a notch for sure!
Me encanta esta sopa, ¡la hice para mi familia y les encantó! 🍋🐔
Superb! I made this delicious soup on a rainy day, and it warmed my heart and my stomach. The flavors blended perfectly, especially with the lemon zest. My wife loved it too! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe.
OMG! This soup is a total comfort dish! Made it during a rainy day & loved it!
I made this soup for my family last Sunday and they loved it. The lemon adds a fresh touch that's perfect. It's simple but so flavorful, we felt like we were in Italy.
Estoy muy agradecida por esta receta de sopa. La preparé un domingo y a mis niños les encantó. El toque de limón realmente hace la diferencia. La parmesano rind le da un sabor especial. Definitivamente la haré de nuevo para toda la familia. ¡Excelente receta!
Tasty soup, my kids loved it on a chilly night
Superb comfort food!
Superb. I made this soup last week after a long day, and it warmed our hearts. The lemony zing brought freshness, and the orzo was so comforting. Perfect for cozy nights in with my wife. I can still taste the rich flavors, and it was simple to make.
OMG, this Lemon Chicken and Chard Orzo Soup was a hit at our fam dinner! Kids devoured it, I felt like a chef! Super easy too.
Absolutely loved it! My kids gobbled it up.
I can’t believe how amazing this Lemon Chicken and Chard Orzo Soup turned out. My kids loved it and asked for seconds. It was a chilly day, so we gathered around the table, and the warm flavors brought us together. The parmesan rind made the broth so rich. This is a new family favorite for sure
Delicious! The family loved it and I added extra lemon zest.
Absolutely love it! This Lemon Chicken and Chard Orzo Soup warmed me up on a chilly day. I made it for my husband and he couldn’t stop raving about the flavors. It’s a hit in our home! Yum!
This soup is so good and easy to make. My kids loved it, and I felt proud serving such a nutritious meal. Thank you for the recipe
