Recipe

Crockpot Chicken Lemon Soup

Updated on 2 min read

Servings: 6 bowls
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours 25 minutes

Ingredients

For the Soup

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 large carrots, diced
  • 1 white onion, chopped
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup dry orzo pasta

For the Lemon Flavor

  • 2 lemons (juice and zest)

Instructions

  1. Sauté the vegetables
    Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, carrots, onion, celery, and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes, until softened.
  2. Add to crockpot
    Transfer the sautéed vegetables into the crockpot. Add salt, pepper, dried parsley, dried thyme, bay leaves, chicken breasts, and chicken broth. Stir to combine.
  3. Cook the soup
    Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4–5 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
  4. Cook the orzo
    About 10 minutes before the soup is done, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the orzo pasta according to package instructions (about 10–12 minutes).
  5. Shred the chicken
    Remove the chicken breasts from the crockpot and shred them using two forks. Discard the bay leaves. Add the shredded chicken back to the crockpot along with the cooked orzo.
  6. Add lemon juice
    Squeeze the juice of the 2 lemons into the soup and stir well. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  7. Serve
    Ladle the soup into bowls and serve hot. Garnish with extra parsley or a lemon wedge if desired.

Additional Notes

  • Meal Prep: This soup stores well for 3–4 days in the fridge and can be frozen for up to 2 months (without the orzo).
  • Make it Low-Carb: Skip the orzo or use a low-carb pasta alternative.
  • Add Greens: Throw in some spinach or kale in the last 30 minutes of cooking for extra nutrients.

Variations

  • Add Veggies: Throw in some chopped zucchini, spinach, or peas for more veggies.
  • Spicy Option: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
  • Coconut Twist: Stir in a little coconut milk for a creamy version.

Nutritional Information (Approx. per serving)

  • Calories: 345 kcal
  • Protein: 36.5g
  • Carbohydrates: 30.6g
  • Fat: 7.4g
  • Fiber: 3.1g
  • Sodium: 610mg
  • Cholesterol: 78mg

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