Chicken Spinach Orzo Soup

Chicken Spinach Orzo Soup is creamy, hearty, and delicious. There’s tender orzo pasta, baby spinach, and juicy shredded chicken in every bite! 

This recipe was originally published March 30, 2011. It has been updated from the archives with new photos and additional information.

30-Minute Chicken Spinach Orzo Soup Recipe

This comforting chicken and orzo soup reminds me of my favorite homestyle chicken noodle soup, but Greek-inspired. 

Instead of wide egg noodles, this recipe uses short-grain orzo pasta. A blend of lemon juice and fresh herbs gives the broth a pop of bright, fresh flavor and baby spinach adds color. 

To keep this a 30-minute recipe, I used leftover roast chicken from the night before to bulk up the soup. (Don’t worry, I provide all the possible protein options in the post below!) 

For an ultra rich and creamy texture, I whisked a few egg yolks into the broth too. 

This is a quick and easy soup recipe that your whole family will love to eat — and you’ll love how fast it is to make!

Make sure to try my Italian Sausage Orzo Soup recipe next! It’s packed with juicy Italian sausage, hearty vegetables, and tender orzo.

Tools You’ll Need

• Large Dutch Oven — Or use another large, heavy-bottomed soup pot. 
• Citrus Juicer — Helps you squeeze the most juice from your lemon. 
• Liquid Measuring Cup — For measuring the broth and white wine. 
• Cutting Board and Knife — For preparing the aromatics, herbs, and spinach. 
• Whisk — For whisking the egg yolks into the hot broth.
• Ladle — For serving.

Ingredients Needed

You’ll need a handful of basic ingredients to prepare this lemony chicken soup with spinach and orzo: 

• Cooked Chicken 
• Onion 
• Garlic 
• White Wine 
• Carrots
• Chicken Broth
• Orzo Pasta 
• Egg Yolks 
• Lemon Juice 
• Salt and Pepper
• Fresh Parsley and Thyme
• Baby Spinach 

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

Ingredient Notes

• Chicken — Use any pre-cooked chicken you like, including store-bought rotisserie chicken, leftover roast chicken, poached chicken, or slow cooker shredded chicken.
• White Wine — I have a detailed guide to cooking with wine. Choose a dry white wine (like Chardonnay) and pick one that you’d happily drink! 
• Chicken Broth — Use your favorite store brand, or make your own chicken broth in an Instant Pot. 
• Fresh Herbs — Can be replaced with one-third the amount of dried parsley and thyme. 
• Baby Spinach — Fresh spinach is preferred, but you may use frozen as well. If using frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge and then drain very well before adding to the soup. 

Recipe FAQs

Got questions about how to make this recipe? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.

Can I omit the egg yolk? 

A few readers have asked about omitting the egg yolks due to egg allergies. The yolks give the broth a yellow color and add some creaminess, but you can omit them if needed.

Can I omit the white wine? 

If you don’t cook with wine or have run out, feel free to replace it with an equal amount of chicken broth. 

Can I use other pasta instead of orzo?

Yes! Try using another small pasta such as ditalini, stars, small shell pasta, or mini penne for a slightly different texture.

Can This Recipe Be Made in Advance? 

Absolutely! Prep a big batch of this lemon chicken orzo soup with spinach at the beginning of the week and reheat leftovers in the microwave to have for lunch or dinner. 

However, the orzo pasta will soften and eventually become soggy the longer it sits in the soup.

To prevent this from happening, cook the orzo in a separate pot (cooking it in broth gives it more flavor than cooking it in water!). Then, add individual portions of orzo to your bowl before topping with the reheated soup.

If you store the cooked orzo and soup separately in the fridge, you can have everything made in advance but the orzo will retain its intended texture.

Storage Instructions 

Let the soup cool to room temperature before transferring to an airtight storage container.

It will last up to 5 days in the fridge, noting that the orzo pasta will continue to soften over time.

(If you think you’ll have leftovers, cook the orzo in a separate pot and then add individual servings to eat bowl and top with the soup. The orzo and soup can then be refrigerated in separate containers.)

I do not recommend freezing this soup with the orzo in it. The orzo becomes grainy once frozen and doesn’t reheat well after being thawed. 

Katie’s Tip: If you plan on freezing this for later, follow my instructions on how to freeze soup for best results.

What to Serve with This Soup

Pair your soup with a slice of bread or a simple side salad for a complete meal! 

• Bread: Potato Dinner Rolls, Rosemary Focaccia, or Rustic Rosemary Garlic Bread. 
• Salad: Spinach Pear Salad, Homemade Caesar Salad or Copycat Olive Garden Salad.

Try Making This Easy Soup at Home! 

Next time you’re looking for a quick soup recipe, give this lemony chicken spinach orzo soup a try!

Did you love how rich and creamy it was? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see a photo of your orzo soup!

More Easy Chicken Soup Recipes: 

This Chicken Tortellini Soup is made with kale, broccoli, carrots, chicken, tortellini and Parmigiano Reggiano.

Make a big batch of Italian Wedding Soup with Chicken Meatballs to warm up on a cold winter’s day! Next time you’re craving a bowl of comforting soup, give this delicious recipe a try. 

This Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup is warm and spicy. Plus, you likely have all the ingredients on hand!

This Chicken Chili Verde has tons of flavor and a surprising amount of good for you ingredients. It features chunks of tender chicken, tomatillos, peppers, and cannellini beans in a thick chili verde base.

Don’t see what you’re looking for here? You can always head over to check out the recipe index to look for more recipes.

Get More Recipes via Email

Want more quick and comforting recipes? Sign up for Good Life Eats Email Updates to get new recipes delivered right to your inbox!