Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.
One-pot Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup is the best bright and flavorful soup to warm you up in the colder months. All you need is 11 simple plant-based ingredients. Vegan, Oil-free and gluten-free option.
This Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup is loaded with veggies, plant protein, and wholesome orzo pasta that’s simmered until tender. Finish with a sprinkle of bright and zesty gremolata and dig in. It’s a 35 minute meal the whole family will crave.
Table of Contents
All About this Bright and Cozy Soup
If my One Pot Vegan Chicken Noodle Soup makes you feel warm and nostalgic, you’ll love this lemon chickpea orzo soup. It’s also made in 1 pot in just over 30 minutes and is filled with comforting pasta and plant-based protein. The first spoonful of this bright and flavorful soup is the best cure for cold, dreary weather.
I’ve made this soup as easy and budget friendly as possible, using just 11 ingredients that are likely stocked in your kitchen right now. It’s another recipe that will make weeknights easier, while nourishing your body and soul at the same time.
Ingredients for Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup
As with most soups here on the blog, we’re sticking to the classic pantry staples here! You’ll need:
- Aromatics: The classic blend of onion, celery, carrots, and garlic creates a flavorful soup base.
- Chickpeas: The plant-based substitution for chicken in the more traditional lemon chicken orzo soup.
- Broth: I recommend vegan chicken broth for a more flavorful broth, but vegetable broth works well too!
- Orzo: A small, thin pasta that looks similar in shape to long-grain rice. It’s a popular addition to soups and salads because it cooks quickly and instantly turns a soup into a filling meal. Try orzo in some of my other favorite recipes such as this Triple Tomato Basil Orzo Salad and this Spring Orzo Salad with Peas and Lemon Vinaigrette.
- Lemon: Of course! As always, freshly squeezed is best. You won’t regret it.
How to Make Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup
- In a large dutch oven over medium-high heat, sauté the onion, celery, and carrots until golden. Stir in the garlic and Italian seasoning.
- Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and cook for another minute, stirring frequently.
- Add chickpeas and broth and stir, dissolving the flour. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Once boiling, stir in the orzo and simmer until the orzo is tender.
- While simmering, make the gremolata. Combine parsley, lemon zest, and salt in a small bowl.
- Stir in the spinach and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately while warm as desired.
Caitlin’s Cooking Tips
- Use the weighted orzo measurement when possible. If you own a baking scale, I highly recommend using the weighted pasta measurement. This will ensure you add the correct amount and thicken the soup to the correct consistency. Too much pasta and the soup will be very thick. Too little and it will be thin.
- Add additional lemon zest. If you can’t get enough of the bright lemon flavor, stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon zest at step 6. This will help the flavor pop even more so and satisfy your taste buds.
- Add additional broth as needed. If you’ve found your soup has thickened more than expected, feel free to add additional broth to thin it out again to your desired texture. This can be especially helpful when reheating as the pasta tends to absorb additional liquid overnight.
Serving Suggestions
This Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup is hearty and filling on its own thanks to the protein-rich chickpeas and wholesome pasta, but you can’t go wrong serving it with a side of crusty bread. This plant-based soup also pairs well with a light salad such as my classic Everyday Kale Salad recipe or this cozy Kale & Cranberry Salad with Tahini Cider Dressing.
If you’re looking for more comforting vegan soup recipes, you’ll also love this Healthy Stuffed Pepper Soup and this Quick Vegan Minestrone Soup. Or, browse my ever-growing collection of Vegan Soups and Stews and find a new favorite today!
How to Store Lemon Orzo Soup
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Allow the soup to cool completely to room temperature before covering and storing.
Reheat leftovers in a microwave-safe bowl or in a saucepan on the stovetop until warmed through. If frozen, allow the lemon orzo soup to thaw completely in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days before reheating and serving as normal.
Substitutions and Variations
- Gluten-free option: Swap wheat-based orzo for gluten-free orzo or another short cut pasta and replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Alternatively, skip step 2 and make a cornstarch slurry by dissolving 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in 2 tablespoons of water. Add the cornstarch slurry to the lemon orzo soup in recipe step 6 and continue to simmer until the soup has thickened to your liking.
- Oil-free option: Sauté the onion, celery, and carrots in ¼ cup (60 ml) water instead of oil. Add additional splashes of water to the pot as necessary to prevent sticking.
- Italian seasoning blend substitution: If you do not have a pre-mixed Italian seasoning blend, substitute ¼ teaspoon each of dried basil, oregano, parsley, and dried rosemary.
- Chickpea substitute: Another hearty legume such as cannellini beans or even shredded vegan “chicken” strips, soy curls, or seitan.
Recipe FAQs
Adds an acidity and brightness that lightens the soup and makes it taste incredibly fresh and flavorful.
The best way to add depth and flavor to any soup is to sauté the vegetables (mirepoix) really well. Cooking these vegetables for several minutes allows them to brown and develop deep flavor. Next, make sure to season your soup well to create enough umami flavor. If your soup is under seasoned, the flavor will fall flat.
Although this soup broth is not creamy, it is slightly thickened with flour and the starches from the orzo pasta. This adds a richness and comforting flavor to the soup. No watery broth here!
While most store-bought chicken broths are neither vegetarian or vegan friendly, there are a few vegan “no chicken” broths you can purchase. Better than Bouillon, Orrington Farms, and Edward & Sons make versions that are easy to find in both grocery stores and online.
Yes! If you’d like to reserve the liquid from your canned chickpeas, it is commonly used as a vegan egg replacer and is typically referred to as “aquafaba.” Give it a try in my Roasted Rosemary Pecans and Toasted Coconut Baked Donuts!
Enjoy! If you make this recipe and decide to share it on Facebook or Instagram, don’t forget to tag me @FromMyBowl + #FromMyBowl! I would also love it if you could leave a comment below with a recipe rating! Thank you for the support 😊
Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup
Ingredients
For the Soup:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegan butter
- 1/2 yellow onion chopped
- 3 sticks celery finely chopped
- 2 carrots peeled and finely chopped
- 3-5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 15.5 ounce cans chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 6 cups imitation "chicken" broth or sub vegetable broth
- 1 cup dry orzo
- 4 ounces Baby spinach
- Juice of 1/2-1 lemon
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Gremolata: (optional)
- 1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
- Zest of 1/2–1 lemon start with less
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Aromatics: Warm the oil or butter in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, celery, and carrots and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, until the onions are golden. Stir in the garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for about 30 seconds.
- Thicken the Soup: Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook for another minute or so, stirring frequently. (Note: see recipe notes for a gluten-free option)
- Bring to a Boil: Add the chickpeas and broth and stir well, until the flour has dissolved. Cover and bring the soup to a boil over high heat.
- Simmer: Uncover, add the orzo and stir well; reduce the heat to medium and simmer for another 10 minutes, or until the orzo is tender. Stir frequently to prevent the orzo from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Make the Gremolata: While the soup is simmering, combine the parsley, lemon zest, and salt together in a small bowl to make the gremolata. Set aside.
- Final Touches: Turn the heat to low once the orzo is cooked and stir in the spinach and lemon juice. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste, if necessary.
- Serve: Divide the soup into serving bowls and garnish with gremolata and a drizzle of olive oil, or as desired. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or the soup can also be frozen for up to 2 months.
Recipe Notes
- Gluten-Free: use gluten-free orzo (or pasta) in place of regular orzo and refer to the package instructions for simmer time. Use a gf flour blend instead of all-purpose flour, or skip step 2 and dissolve 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in 2 tablespoons of water; add this to the soup and add with the spinach in step 6.
- Oil-Free: Sauté the vegetables in 1/4 cup (60 ml) water in step 1, adding more water as necessary. Proceed with the rest of the recipe as written.
Was looking for a way to use up celery and chickpeas, and this absolutely hit the spot. I used lemon pepper seasoning instead of fresh lemon and used celery leaves instead of parsley. Loved how simple yet flavourful it was. Thanks Caitlin!
You’re so welcome, Sam!
This soup was so good! For anyone debating on making the gremolata, it’s a must! It adds another dimension to the soup, and it’s so refreshing.
Thank you!
Simply AWESOME AND EASY‼️
Thank you, Sandra!
Hi! I’m excited to try this recipe tonight. However, I was wondering if I can use normal-sized brown rice/quinoa noodles (spiral or penne) in place of the orzo? And how much would you recommend?
Also, does it have to be cooked in a Dutch oven?
Thanks!
Hi Bethany, you can definitely use a different pasta. I’d suggest using between 1 1/2-2 cups of a larger pasta shape. And you can cook this in any large pot!
Wow, really delicious!
Thank you so much!
Super yummy, easy, and light-tasting soup. I didn’t bother with the gremolata and reduced sodium overall and still very tasty. I used arugula instead of spinach. I think any green (or zucchini or broccoli would work well.
Happy you loved it, Aimee! Thank you so much.
I make this soup every opportunity I get! Today is raining & cold in NY so guess what’s on the menu for dinner?
♥♥♥ Thank you for always making this!
Absolutely fantastic! This was the most comforting and delicious soup I’ve had in a long time. Have been sick with the flu and all I wanted was some chicken noodle soup. You’ve truly outdone yourself with this one! It’s so simple, but took me straight back to childhood. Thank you for this. I will have my husband make this for me every time I’m sick now. 😉
Everyone not sure about the gremolata – MAKE IT! It’s a delightful addition that will brighten your spirits. 🙂
Thank you so much for your review, Amber! We’re happy you love the recipe!
Delicious! I ended up adding a few more cups of veg broth, and omitted the spinach because I did not have any. This soup was very hearty, and had a comfort food type of feel/flavor to me. Loved the lemon. Will definitely make again, and hoping to add the spinach next time. Thanks for the recipe!
You’re so welcome, K! Glad you loved it.
Loves this recipe, thank you!
Honestly so good!
It’s the first time I try lemon juice in a soup and it blew my mind. Great recipe, and so balanced in nutrients, I loved it.
Made it gluten free (as I have coeliac disease) by using a super tiny shape of pasta instead of the orzo. The the gf option in the recipe is greatly appreciated ♥️
Can’t wait to prepare this again for family and friends, thank you!
Thank YOU, Giada! ♥
Disclaimer, I did make a lot of changes based on what I have and like. I didn’t have any celery so I chopped up some green cabbage instead and added celery salt along with the Italian seasoning. I deglazed with white wine and used white kidney beans instead of chickpeas. Also used barley instead of orzo (yes, i changed a lot, but I think it kept the essence!). Just added the spinach in to individual servings. Really hearty and I love the zip of the lemon. Would add a bit more broth next time. Thanks!
Glad it still turned out great, Kelsey!
In the four years I’ve been vegan, I have been SEARCHING for a soup that hits the spot the way homemade chicken soup used to, and this is it. If I could give this six stars, I would.
Happy you found it here, Allie!
Loved this, thank you for the recipe. Will definitely make again!
You’re so welcome, Amanda!
Loved this one! I followed it very closely, using Better than Bouillon No-Chicken broth. I didn’t have parsley so I chopped up carrot top greens for the gremolata. The seasoning was perfect. Super filling and even better the next day. Will definitely make again! Thanks!
Glad you loved it, Brianne!
My husband had food poisoning earlier today, and this was the *perfect* recovery meal for him! Next time I would sauté the veggies just a little longer in the beginning so there’s less crunch at the end. Thanks for another great recipe!!!
We hope your husband has recovered fully, Rachel! Thank you so much for leaving a review. ♥
This was so good! I’m usually not a big fan of soups but this one hit the spot. Super creamy and delicious. Will definitely be making this again!
Glad you liked it, Laurel! Thanks for leaving a review.
This was a great way to upgrade a classic chickpea noodle soup. The lemon was a great touch
Glad you liked it, Liya!
This was so easy and incredibly delicious. The soup is hearty and filling while still tasting fresh. Definitely going in my rotation.
Thank you! Glad you loved it, Momo!
My family LOVED this! Normally, I don’t like to try new meals because my family never likes them, but not true with this soup! I had to leave the spinach out as not all of my kids are wild about it. I think the orzo hooked them, and the lemon was so good! I am going to make this for our Lenten church pot luck meal, it will be sure to please!
That’s fantastic to hear! I’m thrilled to know that you and your family loved the soup, especially since it can be challenging to find new meals that everyone enjoys. Leaving out the spinach was a great idea to cater to your kids’ preferences, and I’m glad that the orzo and lemon flavors stood out. I’m sure your Lenten church pot luck meal will be a hit with this delicious soup on the menu! Keep on cooking and experimenting with new recipes!
Even my chef husband loved it
So glad, Liz!
PERFECTION!! This soup practically shouts hello spring. Thanks Caitlin 🙂
It totally does! Glad you like it.