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Chicken Orzo Tomato Soup Recipe

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★★★★★

4.1 from 31 reviews

This comforting Chicken Orzo Tomato Soup combines tender shredded chicken, flavorful tomato paste, and creamy heavy cream with hearty orzo pasta in a savory chicken broth base. Enhanced with Italian seasoning, garlic, and fresh lemon juice, this quick 30-minute soup is perfect for a nourishing meal served with crusty bread and optional pesto for dipping. It’s a rich yet balanced soup that’s both satisfying and easy to prepare on the stovetop.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons DeLallo Private Reserve Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or minced
  • 1/4 cup DeLallo Tomato Paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • Salt to taste (start with 1/2 teaspoon)
  • 1 cup DeLallo Orzo Pasta
  • 2 cups chopped or shredded cooked chicken (pulled rotisserie chicken recommended)
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1–2 cups water as needed for desired consistency

For Serving

  • Grated Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh herbs (such as parsley or basil)
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
  • Bread (warm crusty bread)
  • Pesto (optional, for dipping bread)

Instructions

  1. Sauté Garlic: Heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the thinly sliced or minced garlic and sauté gently for 1 to 2 minutes until soft and fragrant, making sure it does not brown to avoid bitterness.
  2. Cook Tomato Paste and Seasoning: Stir in the tomato paste and Italian seasoning. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, allowing the tomato paste to caramelize and deepen to a rich red color, which enhances the overall flavor of the soup.
  3. Add Broth and Season: Gradually pour in the chicken broth while stirring to combine into a smooth mixture. Add salt starting with 1/2 teaspoon and adjust to taste depending on the saltiness of your broth.
  4. Cook Orzo: Add the orzo pasta to the pot and bring the soup to a gentle simmer. Cook for approximately 10 minutes, or until the orzo is tender. Stir occasionally and add 1 to 2 cups of water or additional broth as needed to achieve your preferred soup consistency. Once orzo is cooked, stir in the heavy cream to create a creamy texture.
  5. Add Chicken and Lemon: Stir in the chopped or shredded cooked chicken. Squeeze a generous amount of fresh lemon juice into the soup to add brightness and awaken the flavors.
  6. Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese, fresh herbs, and red pepper flakes to taste. Serve with warm crusty bread, and optionally, pesto for dipping the bread alongside the soup.

Notes

  • Use pulled rotisserie chicken for a quick and flavorful protein addition.
  • Adjust the water or broth amount to make the soup thicker or thinner based on preference.
  • Be careful not to brown the garlic to keep the soup’s flavor delicate and avoid bitterness.
  • The tomato paste caramelization step significantly deepens the flavor, so don’t skip it.
  • Pesto is optional but adds a nice herbaceous layer when served with bread.
  • Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Keywords: chicken soup, orzo soup, tomato soup, creamy soup, Italian soup, quick dinner, comfort food, rotisserie chicken soup

Find it online: https://epicrecipebox.com/chicken-orzo-tomato-soup-recipe/