If you’re craving something light yet satisfying, this chicken and spinach lemon soup is just the thing. It’s a fresh take on classic chicken soup, brightened with lemon juice and loaded with healthy greens. Perfect for chilly evenings or whenever you need a comforting bowl of something wholesome.
This soup begins with tender pieces of chicken, usually simmered until juicy and flavorful. You can use leftover chicken, rotisserie, or poach your own, it’s flexible depending on what you have on hand. The broth is key: chicken stock gives the soup a deep, savory base, while fresh lemon juice adds a bright, tangy finish that lifts the whole dish.
Spinach is stirred in at the end, giving the soup a vibrant green color and a nutrient boost. It wilts quickly in the hot broth, keeping its texture light and delicate. You can also use baby kale or other leafy greens if you prefer, but spinach pairs beautifully with the citrus notes here.
Some versions of this soup also include rice, orzo, or even a beaten egg stirred in (similar to Greek avgolemono) for extra richness. But even in its simplest form – chicken, broth, lemon, and spinach – it’s incredibly satisfying. A touch of garlic or dill can add another layer of flavor, but the lemon is the real star here.
What makes this soup special is how it manages to be both comforting and refreshing at the same time. It’s perfect when you’re feeling under the weather, but it’s also great for lunch or dinner when you want something light yet flavorful. It’s a one-pot meal that feels nourishing without being heavy.
Serve it with a slice of crusty bread, a sprinkle of Parmesan, or just as-is. This chicken and spinach lemon soup is easy to make, full of clean ingredients, and a great addition to your weeknight rotation.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts boneless, skinless, thinly sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 3/4 cup orzo pasta
- 3 cups spinach fresh
- 1 Lemon juice
- 1 Lemon zest
Instructions
- Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until browned, about 4-5 minutes. Remove chicken from pot and set aside.
- In the same pot, add onion and garlic. Cook until onion is translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add chicken broth and water to the pot. Bring to a boil.
- Stir in orzo pasta and let cook for 8-10 minutes, until pasta is al dente.
- Add cooked chicken back to the pot. Stir in spinach, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until spinach is wilted.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Made it for dinner tonight and it came out great. Orzo texture was spot on and the chicken stayed juicy. Will absolutely cook again.
This soup is amazing! So refreshing and perfect for a cold day. My family loved it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The soup tasted bland before I added more salt at the end. Once I adjusted seasoning, it was tasty. Good base recipe!
I’m skeptical about cooking the chicken first then re-adding—it can get dry, but mine was still juicy since I sliced it thin. Would recommend not overcooking the chicken step.
I tried this and yeah it got a little dry for me. Maybe my chicken slices weren’t thin enough? Also I think 8-10 minutes for orzo might be too long in broth—next time I’ll pull it earlier and add chicken/spinach sooner.
Totally agree—cooking the chicken first is fine, but only if you don’t overdo the browning. I do thin slices too and it stays juicy. That “2-3 minutes” back in with the spinach is key.
This tastes super bright and comforting. The lemon really makes it pop—added a pinch of chili flakes too and it was perfect.
I love how easy this is! Perfect for a weeknight dinner. My family devoured it! 👍
More like ‘Chicken and Spinach Meh Soup’! Didn’t impress the kids, sorry.
This is too complicated for me. Why do we need to add zest? What even is zest?
I get that it seems hard, but zest is really just the outer peel of citrus fruits. It adds great flavor! You just need to grate it! 🙌
Zest is stupid! Can’t we just use juice? Who has time for that? This recipe sounds okay but too much work for me. 😩
Not bad but kinda bland for me. I had to add more salt and some dried oregano. Lemon helps, but it needed more seasoning overall.
Pretty good, but my orzo took longer than the 8-10 minutes. I had to add a splash more broth/water so it didn’t get too thick. Still tasty though.
Made this tonight and it’s seriously bright and cozy. The lemon really wakes up the broth—perfect with a little extra pepper.
I added some carrots and celery for more veggies. Turned out great! Yum!
That’s a great addition! Carrots and celery really boost the flavor and nutrition. I’ll try that next time!
I dunno, adding too many veggies could mess with the soup’s flavor, right? But I’m glad you liked it.
Not bad, but I thought it would be more flavorful with only lemon juice and zest. I ended up adding more salt and some dried oregano. Wouldn’t call it mind-blowing, but it’s solid.
SO YUMMY. Even my picky kids liked it!!! 💖
I used dried spinach by accident (don’t do that). Still edible, but fresh spinach is definitely the move. Learn from me 😅
never made soup before. But this was easy and turned out good!
Sorry but lemon + chicken soup sounds kinda weird to me. Also 6 cups broth and 1 cup water feels like too much liquid—mine ended up a little thin before the orzo finished cooking.
Five stars! Lemon chicken soup is my new thing 😋
Too salty! I must’ve added too much chicken broth, oh well. Kinda edible.
What’s the point of using lemon? It tastes fine without it. Cooks these days…
Pretty tasty, but mine got a little too thick by the time the orzo was done. Next time I’ll add a splash more broth/water.
Made this tonight—so bright and cozy. The lemon really lifts the whole soup, and the orzo is perfect. I used a little extra garlic and it was great.
So glad it worked for you! Lemon + orzo is such a great combo—extra garlic sounds perfect 😄
I followed it mostly, but I used chicken thighs instead of breasts. Still turned out great—orzo was cooked perfectly and the spinach didn’t get weird.
This soup is amazing! So flavorsome and refreshing with the lemon. Definitely a keeper!
Is orzo just pasta? I thought it was rice??? I’m confused.
Nice and simple—loved how quickly it came together. I added a little extra garlic because I’m that person, and it turned out great.
I dunno about the lemon. Seems weird for soup.
I actually think lemon can add a nice zest to the soup! It wakes up the flavors. Give it a try!
Pretty good, but I think 8-10 minutes for orzo might be slightly long depending on the brand. I’d start checking at 7 minutes next time so it doesn’t get mushy.
My kids liked it but they said it’s too lemony. Maybe half the lemon next time? 🤷♂️
I think there were too many ingredients. Dificult to prepare as a beginner.
Made this tonight—bright, comforting, and the lemon really wakes everything up. The orzo texture was perfect and my spinach wilted just right. 10/10 will repeat.
Nice soup, but the spinach wilted too quickly. I like it a bit crunchy.
I’m skeptical about cooking orzo directly in soup for only 8-10 minutes—mine ended up slightly softer than al dente. Flavor is solid, but I’d adjust the timing.
Mine cooked fine at 9 min 🤷♀️ but I’m also using a thin-sliced orzo (idk if that’s a thing). Maybe your broth was boiling harder than mine? Either way the lemon chicken soup combo sounds great.
Totally agree—8–10 min for orzo in soup feels a bit optimistic depending on the brand and how fast it’s boiling. I’ve had the same “not quite al dente” problem. Next time I’ll probably pull it a minute early or reduce the cook time.
Pretty good, but I think 6 cups broth felt a little too much for the amount of orzo. Mine turned more soupy than I expected, so next time I’ll reduce the water a bit. Still tasty though!
Totally agree—6 cups broth + 1 cup water with only 3/4 cup orzo can get soupy fast. I’ve done something similar and just use less liquid or simmer uncovered a bit.
Maybe your orzo was a little different size? But yeah, I’ve noticed orzo drinks up broth. Next time try 4-5 cups total liquid and see!
Made this tonight and it’s seriously comforting. The lemon zest really brightens everything, and the orzo texture is perfect. I’ll definitely make it again.
Chicken browned well and the whole thing smelled amazing. I wish it had more depth—maybe next time add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
I think 8-10 minutes might be long depending on the orzo brand. Mine turned soft fast, so keep an eye on it.
Good call! Orzo timing really depends on the brand. Mine goes mushy fast too, so I’ll start checking around 7 minutes.
Too much lemon for my taste, it overtakes everything. I like lemon but not this much.
Lemon’s supposed to be tangy but too much can ruin it… I might cut it down next time.
I thought the lemon really brightened up the soup! Maybe you just used too much? 😅
This soup is a game changer! So fresh and delicious. 5 stars!
I tried this recipe last night and it was sooo good! My family loved it. Gonna make it again for sure!
I had a tough time getting the orzo to cook properly. It turned mushy. Any tips?
Yummy!
This is so simple to make! I’m not a good cook, but I managed to pull it off. Thank you for the step-by-step instructions!
Solid recipe, though I found 6 cups broth + 1 cup water made it a bit too thin for my taste. Next time I’ll use less water.
I didn’t have orzo, so I used rice instead. Still turned out good. Thanks!
Not bad, but I think it needed some more spices. It was a bit bland for my taste.
Yum!! Perfect for a chilly night! This recipe is going in my favorites! 🤩
Haha I forgot where I put the chicken, used beef instead. Still tasted great!
Bleh. Didn’t like it. Tasted like hot lemon water. Never making again.
I don’t know about this recipe, it seems like too much lemon. My husband thought it was way too sour, but I thought it was just ok. Maybe I’ll try less lemon next time.
Easy to make and delicious! I used left over rotisserie chicken and it turned out great.
This soup is amazing! The lemon gives it a perfect zing. Will definitely make again!
I don’t know, lemon in soup? Sounds weird! Is it really that good? I might just stick to tomato soup.
I agree! That lemon really does make it pop! I’ve been looking for something fresh and easy to make. Gonna try this for dinner tonight.
OMG, I’m not a cook, but this was super easy! I added a bit of chili flakes for kick.
Sounds delicious! I’m not great in the kitchen, but your experience gives me hope. Can’t wait to try it! 🌟
So easy! It only took me 30 mins to make. Perfect for busy nights.
Uh, where’s the love? I made it but it didn’t taste like much. It was like soup but something was missing. Maybe I needed more spices? Not a fan.
This soup is a game changer! So fresh and zesty. My family loved it!
Quick and easy recipe, but I think there are better chicken soups out there. Just okay. ⭐⭐⭐
Nah, I make a better one with a lot more spices and veggies. This sounds too basic for me.
I actually loved this soup! The lemon really brightens it up. I wouldn’t say it’s the best ever, but for a quick meal, it does the job!
eh it was ok, not wow. i think the orzo took over the flavor. Could be just my cooking though 😅
Not gonna lie, it was good but bland until I added more salt. Also I forgot to thinly slice the chicken, so it took longer to cook. Still, it worked out.
This was pretty good, but my orzo kept soaking up all the liquid before it was done. Next time I’ll simmer a little less or add more broth/water. Flavor is solid though.
Too lemony for my taste, but the chicken was cooked great! Maybe cut back on the lemon juice? 🤔
Too much lemon? How can that be? It’s a lemon soup! 😅 But I guess everyone likes it different.
I think the lemon gives it a nice zing! Maybe you just need to balance it with some more spices? 🌿