⭐ Mediterranean Chicken Orzo Soup

Bright • Comforting • Nourishing • One-Pot

🥣 Ingredients (4–6 servings)

Chicken & Broth

• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 lb (450g) boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs

• 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

• 1 cup water

Aromatics & Vegetables

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 medium carrots, sliced

• 2 celery stalks, sliced

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (or 1 cup diced tomatoes)

• 1 small zucchini, diced (optional)

• 2 cups fresh spinach or kale

Orzo & Flavor

• 1 cup orzo (whole-wheat if preferred)

• Zest of 1 lemon

• Juice of 1 lemon

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• ½ tsp dried thyme

• ½ tsp paprika

• ¼ tsp turmeric (optional, for color and anti-inflammatory boost)

• 1 bay leaf

• Salt & pepper to taste

Mediterranean Enhancements

• ⅓ cup crumbled feta

• 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill or parsley

• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional, for savoriness)

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👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Cook the Chicken

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
Season chicken lightly with salt & pepper.
Sear 3–4 minutes per side until lightly golden.
Remove and set aside (it will finish cooking in the soup).

2. Sauté Aromatics

In the same pot, add onion, garlic, carrot, and celery.
Cook 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.

3. Build the Soup Base

Add broth, water, tomatoes, oregano, thyme, paprika, turmeric, and bay leaf.
Bring to a gentle boil.

Add chicken back into the pot.
Cover and simmer 15 minutes until chicken is cooked through.

4. Shred the Chicken

Remove chicken, shred with two forks, and return to the pot.

5. Add the Orzo

Stir in orzo and cook uncovered for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t stick.

6. Add Spinach & Mediterranean Touches

Stir in spinach, lemon zest, lemon juice, and zucchini (if using).
Simmer 2–3 minutes.

7. Finish the Soup

Turn off heat and stir in:

• feta

• dill or parsley

• nutritional yeast (optional)

Taste and adjust salt/pepper and lemon.

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🍋 Nutrition (per serving)

Approximate (without feta):

• Calories: ~320

• Protein: ~28g

• Filled with Mediterranean antioxidants, herbs, and healthy fats.

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🌿 Mediterranean Variations

• Add ½ cup cooked chickpeas for extra protein & fiber.

• Replace chicken with shrimp (cook in last 4 minutes).

• Add artichoke hearts or roasted red peppers for more Mediterranean flair.

• Make it creamy: stir in ¼ cup Greek yogurt off-heat.