Go Back

Warm Chicken Orzo Tomato Soup

A cozy crock pot soup with tender shredded chicken, orzo pasta, tomatoes, herbs, and a savory broth.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Soup
Cuisine American, Italian-American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 312 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Crock pot 6-quart or similar size
  • 1 medium saucepan for cooking the orzo
  • 1 Cutting board
  • 1 Chef's knife
  • 1 measuring cups and spoons
  • 2 Forks for shredding the chicken

Ingredients
  

For the Soup Base

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
  • 2 medium carrots diced
  • 2 stalks celery diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes 1 can
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

For the Chicken and Pasta

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 3/4 cup dry orzo

For Finishing

  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil chopped, or 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese finely grated, plus more for serving

Instructions
 

Cook the Soup

  • Add the olive oil, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper to the crock pot. Stir to combine.
  • Add the chicken breasts to the crock pot, nestling them into the broth. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
  • Remove the chicken from the crock pot and shred it into bite-size pieces with two forks.

Cook the Orzo and Finish

  • Cook the orzo in a medium saucepan according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
  • Return the shredded chicken to the crock pot. Stir in the cooked orzo, parsley, basil, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese.
  • Cover and cook on low for 10 to 15 minutes more, until heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
  • Ladle into bowls, garnish with extra Parmesan and herbs if desired, and serve warm.

Notes

Cook the orzo separately for the best texture. Add extra broth when reheating if the soup thickens. Chicken thighs can be substituted for chicken breasts.