Published 9/5/2023 If you make one soup recipe this year let it be this creamy chicken orzo soup. The flavor is like chicken pot pie meets chicken noodle soup. Does it get any better? Start by sautéing the veggies. Then add the chicken and broth and bring to a boil to cook the chicken. Meanwhile, cook the orzo and then add that in after you shred the chicken. Finally, make a simple roux and add that into the soup to thicken things up and top it off with a little heavy cream!
What You Need for this Chicken Orzo Soup Recipe
Chicken: chicken breast is a no-brainer for this creamy chicken noodle soup. Feel free to swap it for boneless chicken thighs or even omit if you are vegetarian. You can supplement the protein for a can of beans, instead! Veggies: this soup is veggie-packed and rightfully so! We used classic chicken noodle soup veggies in this recipe but added russet potatoes and peas to add color and texture. Here’s what you need: carrots, celery, garlic, onion, potato, and peas. Spices: classic chicken noodle soup spices really do the trick for this creamy variation. We recommend using a coarse Italian seasoning similar to our homemade Italian seasoning because the spices are whole and so flavorful! Feel free to add any other fresh spices such as rosemary or basil. Roux: a roux is our secret weapon for thick and creamy soup. Our is simple and made with butter, flour, and a little heavy cream. Orzo: of course this orzo soup wouldn’t be orzo soup without the orzo!
Orzo Soup Variations
Chicken: Feel free to swap the chicken breast for boneless chicken thighs or even omit them if you are vegetarian. You can supplement the protein with a can of beans, instead! Veggies: When it comes to chicken soup and veggies, you can really use whatever you have on hand. I’ve made this recipe with the addition of chopped mushrooms and it was delightful. Broth: not a huge creamy soup fan? Feel free to leave this soup brothy and skip the roux and cream.
Can you freeze creamy chicken orzo soup?
Chicken orzo soup is not the BEST soup to freeze as is, but it can be done! Often times when you freeze a soup that has either noodles or dairy in it, you risk squishy noodles when reheating and curdling dairy.
Chicken Soup Recipes
Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup Chicken Noodle Soup Ultimate Chicken Soup Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie Soup Golden Curry Chicken Soup
So, what is the fix? Make the recipe as-is, but do not add the orzo or heavy cream. Then, you can move forward and follow our soup freezing tutorial. When ready to serve: Thaw the soup and reheat on the stovetop. Assess if you need to add more broth (you likely will) and then add cooked orzo and heavy cream.
Serving Suggestions
We loved eating this creamy chicken orzo soup with a squeeze of fresh lemon and a side of Italian bread. You can serve this soup as a main meal or as a side next to your favorite protein such as whole roasted chicken, air fryer salmon, or cast iron steak.
