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Easy Greek Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup with Feta and Spinach

Greek Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup - featured image
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A comforting and bright Greek-inspired soup featuring tender chicken, orzo pasta, fresh spinach, tangy feta, and a fresh lemon zing. Ready in under 40 minutes, perfect for cozy dinners or busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 cups chicken broth (preferably low sodium)
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced (about 280g)
  • 3/4 cup orzo pasta (about 120g)
  • 3 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped (about 90g)
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (about 75g)
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (60ml)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons fresh dill or parsley, chopped for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients: mince the garlic, finely chop the onion, roughly chop the spinach, and shred or dice the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Set aside. (10 minutes)
  2. Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent and soft, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Add the minced garlic and dried oregano. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
  4. Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. (5 minutes)
  5. Add the orzo pasta, stir well, and reduce heat to medium. Let simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until orzo is tender but still slightly firm, about 8-10 minutes.
  6. Stir in the cooked chicken and chopped spinach. Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until everything is heated through and spinach is wilted.
  7. Remove the pot from heat. Stir in the fresh lemon juice and crumbled feta cheese gently. The feta will melt slightly but retain some texture. (2 minutes)
  8. Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste, keeping in mind the feta and broth add saltiness. (1 minute)
  9. Optional: Garnish with fresh chopped dill or parsley before serving.

Notes

Add lemon juice at the end off heat to preserve brightness and prevent curdling. Stir orzo occasionally to prevent sticking and overcooking. Use homemade or good-quality chicken broth for best flavor. If soup thickens too much, add more broth or water to loosen. Fresh spinach preferred over frozen for better texture and color. Feta added off heat keeps crumbly texture; add earlier for meltier cheese.

Nutrition

Keywords: Greek lemon chicken soup, orzo soup, feta soup, spinach soup, easy chicken soup, lemon chicken soup, Mediterranean soup, quick soup recipe

Find it online: https://zorbmeal.com/easy-greek-lemon-chicken-orzo-soup-with-feta-and-spinach-recipe/