Description
This classic recipe for good old fashioned chicken soup is a comforting and nourishing dish filled with tender chicken, vegetables, and orzo pasta. It’s a family favorite that is easy to make and perfect for cold days or when you’re under the weather.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 whole organic chicken (about 2-3 pounds), washed and dried
- 1 pound carrots, cut into chunks
- 1 large onion, cut into chunks
- 1 stalk celery, sliced
- 32 ounces chicken broth (organic)
- 2 cups water
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons dried basil
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 2 tablespoons dried tarragon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup orzo pasta
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry inside and out and place it into a large stockpot.
- Pour in the chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- While the broth is heating, chop the carrots, onion, and celery into chunks.
- Once the broth is boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the chopped vegetables, bay leaves, basil, parsley, tarragon, salt, and pepper to the pot. Stir well.
- Let the soup simmer for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the chicken is tender.
- Add the orzo pasta and cook for an additional 15 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked.
- Remove the chicken from the pot, shred the meat from the bones, and return the chicken pieces to the soup.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- For a quicker version, you can use chicken breasts or thighs instead of a whole chicken.
- If you prefer a gluten-free option, replace the orzo pasta with gluten-free pasta or rice.
- Leftover soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days or frozen for up to 6 months.
- For extra creaminess, add a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half at the end of cooking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 190 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 541mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 40mg