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Chicken, Vegetable, Orzo Soup

Super flavorful comforting chicken soup.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings 8

Equipment

  • 1 Stockpot
  • 1 Baking sheet lined with foil

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1/4 cup or so olive or canola oil
  • 1 tsp celery salt
  • 1 tsp celery salt
  • 1 cup uncooked orzo
  • 1 small bulb fennel, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 2-3 medium carrots, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3-4 ribs celery, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 2 leeks, white parts diced (about 1 cup)
  • 2 Tbsp garlic, chopped fresh
  • 8 cups chicken stock
  • 3 cups baby spinach leaves or other soup greens
  • 1 Tbsp parsley, dried or 2 Tbsp fresh
  • 2 Tbsp kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
  • Line a sheet pan with foil and place chicken thighs on it. Brush with oil. Season with some celery salt and fresh ground pepper. Bake for 30 minutes, Remove from the oven and left cool. Cut into a dice and set aside.
  • In a large stockpot, heat about 6 cups water to boiling. Add orzo and cook until al dente or about 10 minutes. Drain and lay out on a tray or sheet pan to cool. Drizzle with some olive oil and mix in, so the orzo doesn't stick together.
  • In the same stockpot that you made the orzo in, heat remaining tablespoon or so oil over medium heat, and add the fennel, carrots and celery. Saute until the vegetables are soften, about 5-6 minutes.
  • Add the leeks and garlic and cook until leeks are translucent or begin to soften.
  • Add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
  • Add the diced chicken meat and orzo, and return to simmer. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
  • Add in parsley, salt and pepper to taste.
  • Add the spinach or other soup greens and simmer until cooked.

Notes

You may need to add additional chicken stock if soup get too thick at any stage. Especially if you refrigerate leftovers as the orzo may absorb some of the broth. 
Orzo tends to hold up better than noodles or rice.  
Keyword chicken, chicken vegetable orzo soup, comforting soup, fennel, leek