Description
A vibrant, garden-fresh bowl celebrating the best of spring. This soup combines the crisp textures of asparagus and snap peas with the bright, citrusy notes of fresh dill and lemon. Loaded with tender shredded chicken and silky orzo, it’s a light yet deeply satisfying one-pot meal.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded)
- 5 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 3/4 cup orzo (dry)
- 1.5 cups asparagus (chopped), 1.5 cups snap peas (chopped)
- 1.5 cups carrots (chopped), 1 leek (white part only, sliced)
- 1 cup yellow onion (chopped), 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 large leaves Swiss chard (chopped), 1/4 cup fresh dill (chopped)
- 1/2 lemon (juiced), 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large pot. Sauté onion and garlic for 5 mins until translucent.
Veggies: Stir in carrots, asparagus, snap peas, leeks, and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper; cook for 3 mins.
Boil: Add vegetable broth, cover, and bring to a rolling boil.
Pasta & Protein: Stir in dry orzo, Swiss chard, and chicken. Boil for 6 mins until orzo is tender.
Brighten: Remove from heat. Stir in fresh dill and lemon juice. Adjust seasoning and serve hot.
Notes
Asparagus Sizing: Thicker spears hold up well to the full cook time. If using very thin asparagus, add it during the final 6 minutes with the orzo to prevent it from becoming mushy.
Leek Cleaning: Always soak sliced leeks in cold water and swish them around to remove hidden grit before adding them to your pot.
Orzo Absorption: This pasta acts like a sponge. If eating as leftovers, add a splash of extra broth when reheating to restore the soup’s original consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Soup / Main Course
- Method: One-Pot Simmering
- Cuisine: American / Spring Seasonal
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 315
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 22
- Cholesterol: 45
Keywords: spring vegetable soup, lemon dill chicken soup, one pot spring recipes, asparagus and pea soup, healthy orzo soup