Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup

This slow cooker lemony chicken orzo soup is one of our favorites! It is hearty and delicious and best of all, it’s make ahead.

This recipe was originally created as a make ahead freezer meal. The idea is while prepping, double the ingredients and use one-half for dinner that night and place one-half into a freezer bag for another day. It is a great way to get dinner on the table for yourself and create a meal for the future or to prep and gift to a friend in need.

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Make Ahead Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup

The ingredient amounts shown below are for a single recipe made in the slow cooker. It could easily be converted to prepare on the stove-top or in an Instant Pot.

Freezer meal instructions are available here.

Important tips:

If preparing as a freezer meal, you can substitute 4 teaspoons of Better Than Bouillon Chicken Flavor to the freezer bag then add 4 cups of water on cooking day rather than chicken stock.

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be substituted for part or all of the chicken breasts if desired.

Prep time: 15 min

Cook time: 4-6 hours

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

One to one and a half lbs. boneless chicken breasts, or tenders 

1 c. chopped celery (2 ribs)

1 c. sliced carrots (2 medium or 12 baby)

1/2 c. diced onion

1 tsp. dried rosemary

1/2 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

3/4 cup orzo pasta

1-1/2 tsp. lemon juice (1/4 fresh lemon squeezed) 

2 T. Fresh parsley, chopped

For Serving:

Fresh parsley and Grated Parmesan Cheese, to taste

Hot Crusty French Bread or Rolls

Directions:

Place chicken, celery, carrots, onion, rosemary, thyme, garlic and bay leaves in a 4 quart slow cooker. 

Add chicken broth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are soft.

Shred chicken with two forks. 

Add orzo and lemon juice to slow cooker.

Cover and cook on high 15-20 minutes or until pasta is cooked al dente.

Stir in fresh parsley. Adjust seasonings if desired, remembering that the parmesan will add saltiness to the final product.

Ladle into soup bowls and top with additional parsley and parmesan cheese if desired. Serve with hot crusty bread on the side.

Make Ahead Slow Cooker Lemony Chicken Orzo Soup

This slow cooker lemony chicken orzo soup is one of our favorites! It is hearty and delicious and best of all, it’s make ahead. This recipe was originally created as a make ahead freezer meal. The idea is while prepping, double the ingredients and use one-half for dinner that night and place one-half into a freezer bag for another day. It is a great way to get dinner on the table for yourself and create a meal for the future or to prep and gift to a friend in need.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 hours hrs

Total Time 6 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Course Soup

Cuisine American/Canadian

Servings 4

Calories 223 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 boneless chicken breasts or tenders
• 1 cup chopped celery 2 ribs
• 1 cup sliced carrots 2 medium or 12 baby
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1 tsp. dried rosemary
• 1/2 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
• 3/4 cup orzo pasta
• 1-1/2 tsp. lemon juice 1/4 fresh lemon squeezed
• 2 tbsp Fresh parsley chopped

For Serving:

• Fresh parsley and Grated Parmesan Cheese to taste
• Hot Crusty French Bread or Rolls

Instructions

 

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

Notes

The ingredient amounts shown are for a single recipe made in the slow cooker. It could easily be converted to prepare on the stove-top or in an Instant Pot.

Freezer meal instructions are available here.

If preparing as a freezer meal, you can substitute 4 teaspoons of Better Than Bouillon Chicken Flavor to the freezer bag then add 4 cups of water on cooking day rather than chicken stock.

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be substituted for all or part of the chicken breasts if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 223kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 15gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 136mgPotassium: 557mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 5717IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 76mgIron: 3mg

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