I can not get enough of slow cooker recipes! This Slow Cooker Orzo Chicken Soup is a staple recipe to add to your go-to meals. It is easy, as per usual with slow cooker meals. It has meat protein from the chicken, carbohydrates from the orzo, and extra flavor with all of the vegetables and fresh thyme. Slow cooker recipes can be so effortless, healthy, and efficient.
If you are loving Slow Cooker Recipes and Crock Pot Recipes like me, be sure to check out our VEGETARIAN SLOW COOKER CHILI.
Recommendations for Cooking Orzo
I would recommend using a 6 quart slow cooker or crock pot to fit all of the delicious ingredients included in this recipe. If your slow cooker is smaller, feel free to adjust the amount of broth or number of chicken breasts written in the recipe. This can be customized to fit your slow cooker! Just make sure to have all of the ratios correct still – we still want this to be the best soup ever!
Something we do differently in this soup does add a step, but hear me out. The recipe is written to make the orzo separately. If you just can’t be bothered, by all means, toss it in with the rest of the ingredients and go on with your day. However, I think this extra step is completely worth it! Think about how long orzo, or really any pasta, takes to cook – roughly 8 minutes, right? You can imagine what it would be like after 4 hours in the slow cooker. In making the orzo separately we ensure the orzo gets cooked for the right amount of time, so that it tastes as it should and has the texture that it should. Bonus, right? This step also gives this recipe the power of being awesome for leftovers – keep the cooked orzo in a separate airtight container than the Chicken Noodle Soup and add it when you are heating this up for a great leftover meal. Hello, perfectly tender noodles in a super tasty soup!
Chicken Orzo Soup Ingredients
Check out the ingredients in this Slow Cooker Soup Recipe. Basic (in the best way), and something you likely have on hand:
Vegetables – Onion, garlic, celery, carrots. These are staple vegetables in any soup, and for good reason!
Herbs and Spices – fresh thyme, cumin, salt, pepper. Super yummy and super easy. We don’t need to add all of your herbs and spices to get this soup to taste delicious. These few will do!
Meat Protein – chicken breast. Get energized with meat protein.
Broth – chicken bone broth. Bone broth can be so healing and helps maintain the immune system!
Without further adieu (wait, that’s a good Wordle word. Anyone else play that game?), Let’s get into how to make Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup.
How to make Slow Cooker Orzo Chicken Soup
If you are using frozen chicken breasts, make sure they have completely thawed prior to starting this recipe. Place the chicken breasts in a 6 quart slow cooker or Crock Pot.
Chop all of the vegetables – onion, garlic, celery, carrots – and place them around the chicken, inside the slow cooker.
Sprinkle the cumin, salt, and pepper over the chicken and vegetables in the slow cooker.
Add the bone broth and fresh thyme sprigs.
Stir gently to combine.
Cook over LOW heat for 4-6 hours, stirring occasionally. Check the chicken throughout with a meat thermometer, making sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit before serving.
Remove the chicken to a plate and shred the chicken before adding it back into the soup.
In a separate pan, cook the orzo per the package instructions.
Serve the soup adding the cooked orzo into each individual bowl.
Enjoy with crusty bread.
What to do with Orzo and Soup Leftovers
Make sure to store the orzo and soup separately for optimal reheating/reserving. Store this soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Or store in an airtight and freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to three months.
More Weeknight Dinner Ideas
If you are looking for more weeknight meal inspiration, be sure to check out this ONE POT VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE SOUP and TOMATO RED LENTIL SOUP
Slow Cooker Orzo Chicken Soup
Equipment
- 6 quart slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 3 medium chicken breasts
- 4 medium celery stalks, chopped
- 4 medium carrots, chopped
- 8-10 cups chicken bone broth
- 4-5 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 tsp cumin
- salt and pepper to taste (approx. 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper)
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in a 6 quart size slow cooker and surround with the chopped vegetables.
- Sprinkle the cumin, salt, and pepper over the chicken and vegetables.
- Add the chicken bone broth and fresh thyme sprigs and stir gently to combine.
- Cook on LOW heat for 4-6 hours, stirring occasionally, and checking the chicken throughout.
- Once the chicken is cooked and has reached a minimal internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place on a plate. Shred the chicken before adding it back into the soup.
- Cook the orzo to the package instructions.
- Enjoy with the perfect crusty bread recipe.
