Rustic Chicken Cacciatore Orzo Soup
Italian Chicken Tomato Orzo Soup is a hearty one-pot meal combining tender chicken, savory tomato broth, and perfectly cooked orzo. It's simple, satisfying, and full of bold Italian flavors!
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients
- 1-½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 bell pepper any color, sliced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 can diced tomatoes with juices (or one 28 ounce can)
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1-¼ cup orzo pasta
- ⅓ cup pitted Kalamata olives halved (optional)
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl, mix the flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Dredge the chicken pieces in the seasoned flour, shaking off any excess. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3–4 minutes, until browned but not cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pot, add the onion and bell pepper. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato paste then add the canned tomatoes (along with the juices) and chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Return the chicken to the pot. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Add the orzo and cook for another 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and the chicken is cooked through.
- Stir in the Kalamata olives, if using, and taste to adjust seasoning.
Notes
- Stir the soup occasionally while the orzo cooks to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Feel free to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for a richer flavor, or save time by using pre-cooked shredded chicken... just add it during the last few minutes of cooking.
- You can substitute the bell pepper with zucchini, carrots, or mushrooms for a different twist.
- If the soup thickens too much as it sits, add a splash of chicken broth or water when reheating.
- Add the Kalamata olives at the end to preserve their bright flavor.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 224kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 846mg | Potassium: 460mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 449IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 3mg
