Few things comfort like a bowl of creamy chicken soup with orzo. Tender chicken, soft potatoes and tiny orzo pasta swim in a velvety broth enriched with cream cheese and finished with fresh herbs — simple, hearty and deeply soothing, in the same cozy spirit as our hearty chicken and vegetable stew.
Ingredients
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 carrot, grated
- 300 g (10.5 oz) chicken thigh fillets, cut into bite-size pieces
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 3 tbsp orzo (risoni)
- 100 g (3.5 oz) cream cheese or processed cheese
- Salt to taste
- Fresh herbs, chopped (dill or parsley)
Instructions
- Dice the onion and grate the carrot, then sauté both in a skillet until soft.
- Add the chicken pieces to the vegetables and cook, stirring, until the chicken is about half done.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the diced potatoes, orzo, and the chicken-vegetable mixture.
- Season with salt and simmer until the potatoes and orzo are tender.
- A few minutes before the end of cooking, stir in the cream cheese until fully melted, then add the chopped herbs. The finished soup should be thick, creamy, and fragrant.
Tips
- Stir the orzo occasionally while it simmers so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Add the cream cheese off the boil and stir until fully melted for the silkiest texture.
- This soup thickens as it sits — loosen leftovers with a splash of water or broth when reheating. For another creamy one-pot dinner, try our creamy rice skillet with chicken and zucchini.
Nutrition: per 100 g: 60 kcal, protein 2 g, fat 2.05 g, carbs 8 g. For safe poultry handling and cooking guidance, see the food safety resources at USDA, and browse more cozy recipes at Allrecipes.