Italian Orzo Chicken Soup
 
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small onion, peeled and diced
  • 1 cup diced carrots
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1½ cups (about 8 ounces) orzo (or 1 cup plain orzo and ½ cup whole wheat orzo)
  • 3 sprigs fresh thyme
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 chicken breast, quartered
  • 2 cups fresh spinach, torn
  • salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
  1. Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté for 4 minutes, until soft. Add carrots, celery, and garlic and sauté for 3 more minutes.
  2. Pour in chicken stock, then add tomatoes, orzo, thyme, and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine, place chicken in soup, then bring everything to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente.
  3. Remove chicken to a plate, then stir in the spinach. Meanwhile, shred the chicken, then return it to the pot. Season with salt and black pepper to taste (if needed).
  4. Serves 6
Notes
If you want to make this soup vegetarian, you could replace the chicken with a can of rinsed and drained cannellini beans (or any white bean, really), and top each serving with plenty of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Recipe by I Wish I Was a Muffin at https://iwishiwasamuffin.com/italian-orzo-chicken-soup/