Rosemary, Lemon, & Chicken Orzo Soup in Slow Cooker
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Make rosemary, lemon, and chicken-orzo soup in a slow cooker for a warm, soul-nourishing soup.
Soup season is back and in full swing here at my place. There’s something about a good, hearty, warm bowl of soup that nourishes the soul and offers a cozy vibe. I try to add a new soup to my cookbook every year. I still have my favorites but also love the thrill of trying something new. The recipe I’m sharing pairs one of my favorite meals with soup season. Lemon Chicken and Orzo! This soup serves well with crackers or even a fresh loaf of rosemary, French, or Italian bread. I hope you enjoy this addition to soup season as much as my family and I do.
Ingredients
- 3 quarts chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1-1/2 pounds chicken breast (boneless), thawed, and rinsed
- 3 cups chopped carrots
- 2 cups chopped celery
- 4 cloves garlic, minced or chopped
- 16-ounce package of orzo pasta
- Lemon zest from 1 large lemon
- 4 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped rosemary
- Salt and pepper to taste
Slow and steady … here we go!
Directions
- In a large slow cooker, add chicken stock, olive oil, chicken breast, garlic, chopped carrots, and celery. Cook on low for 6 to 7 hours. Chicken should be cooked and tender.
- Remove chicken and gently shred into bite-sized pieces. Return to slow cooker.
- Add in orzo, rosemary, lemon zest, and lemon juice and continue on high heat for 30 minutes. Orzo will swell and be soft to chew when completely cooked. (In a boiling pot of water, orzo cooks in about 10 minutes.)
Note: This can cook longer than time suggested. Orzo will absorb the chicken stock if left for too long, which is why it gets added last. You can precook the orzo separately and add in precooked orzo 10 minutes before serving if you’re crunched for time.
I sure hope y’all enjoy!
Hannah McClure is an old soul homemaker and mother of four from Ohio. Gardening, keeping bees, sewing, raising chickens and seasonal hogs, and baking and cooking from scratch are a few things she enjoys in her homemaking. She’s always learning and always chasing her littles. Find Hannah on Instagram@muddyoakhennhouse.
Originally published in the December 2024/January 2025 issue of Backyard Poultry and regularly vetted for accuracy.
