Best 8 Lemony Chicken Soup Recipes

SLOW-COOKER LEMONY CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• In a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker, combine the stock, chicken, leeks, carrots, celery, garlic, red-pepper flakes, onion powder and several generous grinds of black pepper. Add 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt if using salted stock, 1 teaspoon kosher salt if using low-sodium stock or 2 teaspoons kosher salt if using unsalted stock. Cover and cook on low until the chicken and vegetables are very tender, about 7 hours.
• Increase the heat to high. Using two forks, tear apart the chicken into bite-size pieces. Add the lemon juice, asparagus, peas and tortellini, if using, to the soup. Cover and cook until the vegetables are tender to crisp-tender, and the tortellini is cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the herbs; season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide among bowls to serve.

LEMONY CHICKEN SOUP WITH FARRO, WHITE BEANS, AND KALE

Steps:

• Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large pot over medium-high. Cook carrots, half of the onion, and 3 sliced garlic cloves, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add chicken carcass, if using, and broth; cover and simmer 30 minutes. (If you're not using carcass, simmer 15 minutes.)
• Meanwhile, toast farro in another large pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it starts to brown and smells nutty, about 3 minutes. Stir in 1 tsp. salt and 3 cups water. Cover and simmer until farro is tender and liquid evaporates, about 30 minutes; strain any remaining liquid, if necessary. Set aside 2 cups farro for Dill-Crusted Pork Tenderloin or reserve for another use.
• Strain chicken broth mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl; discard carcass and vegetables. Set aside 2 cups broth for Potato, Leek, and Pea Pot Pie or reserve for another use.
• Wipe out pot, then heat remaining 1 Tbsp. oil over low. Cook remaining onion and 9 sliced garlic cloves, stirring occasionally, until tender and light golden, 8-10 minutes. Add remaining broth left in bowl, increase heat to medium-high, and bring to a simmer. Add reserved chicken meat, beans, kale, lemon juice, pepper, and remaining 1 1/2 tsp. salt and farro left in pot; cook until vegetables are cooked through, 3-5 minutes.
• Divide soup among bowls. Stir 1 Tbsp. salsa verde into each bowl, if using, and sprinkle with dill. Serve with baguette slices and lemon wedges alongside.
• Do Ahead
• Soup can be made 2 days ahead. Chill in a resealable container.

LEMONY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, saute onion in oil and butter until tender. Add chicken; cook and stir until chicken is lightly browned and meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer., Stir in the broth, carrot, peas and basil. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the noodles. Cover and simmer until noodles are tender, 8-10 minutes. Stir in lemon juice.

LEMONY CHICKEN-FETA MEATBALL SOUP WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, add the chicken, feta, 1/4 cup oats, the grated onion, most of the dill (reserve about 2 tablespoons for garnish), the cumin, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric and 1 teaspoon salt. Gently combine without squeezing too hard or overworking the meat. Lightly wet your palms and shape the meat into small balls, a little smaller than the size of a golf ball, about 1 1/2 inches. (You will have approximately 25 balls.)
• Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or wide pot over medium until shimmering. Add the diced onion, season with salt, and cook until it begins to soften, about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon turmeric and the red-pepper flakes, and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Push the onions to the sides as best you can, then add the meatballs. (They will be close together, and that's OK.) Cook until browned on two sides, 5 to 7 minutes total.
• Pour in the broth and remaining ½ cup oats, then gently tilt the pot to the right and left to distribute the oats and broth without disturbing the meatballs. Bring to a gentle boil, then immediately reduce the heat to maintain an active simmer. Season with salt. Cook, gently stirring occasionally to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom, until the oats have softened and the meatballs are cooked through, about 4 minutes more.
• Stir in the spinach and lemon juice until the spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes more. Adjust the seasoning to taste. Spoon into bowls, top with pepper and the remaining dill. Serve with lemon wedges.

LEMONY CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually whisk in broth, milk and cream. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. , Stir in chicken, lemon juice and seasonings; heat through over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Serve with lemon wedges.

LEMONY PESTO CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring stock to a simmer. Add orzo and cook 1 minute less than per package instructions. Add chicken and heat through, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice. Divide among bowls. Add 1 tablespoon pesto to each. Serve with lemon wedges, grated Parmesan, pea shoots or other delicate greens, and fresh basil.

LEMONY ORZO CHICKEN SOUP IN A JAR

Steps:

• Combine the carrots, celery and onions, chicken stock and 2 cups water in a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Add the orzo and 1/2 teaspoon salt, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the vegetables and orzo are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Toss the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper, then add to the soup along with the peas. Simmer until the chicken is just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the spinach and cook, stirring, until just wilted.
• Off the heat, stir in the lemon juice and zest and season with salt and pepper to taste. Divide the soup between 4 pint-size Mason jars.

LEMONY CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• Combine chicken broth and canned chicken in a pot; bring to a boil. Add rice; simmer until rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in cream of chicken soup and lemon juice. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soup is hot, 5 to 10 more minutes.