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A comforting, weeknight-ready chicken noodle soup with lemon and greens. It’s cozy, fresh, and fast — packed with protein, herbs, and flavor in just 30 minutes.
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Course: Main, Soup
Cuisine: American
Calories: 315
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 medium carrot, diced small
  • 1 small fennel bulb, diced (or 2 celery stalks)
  • 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp dried thyme or Italian seasoning
  • 1–1¼ tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
  • ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins
  • 1 cup small noodles (orzo, small shells, or egg noodles)
  • 3 cups loosely packed spinach or kale, chopped
  • 3–4 tbsp juice of 1 large lemon
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or dill (optional)
  • grated cheese, for serving (optional)
  • extra lemon wedges, for serving

Equipment

  • 5–6 quart soup pot or Dutch oven
  • sharp knife
  • cutting board
  • ladle
  • airtight containers (for storage)

Method
 

  1. Dice the onion, carrot, and fennel (or celery). Mince the garlic. Chop the spinach or kale. Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onion, carrot, and fennel/celery with a pinch of salt for 5–7 minutes. Add garlic and thyme; cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Pour in chicken broth, scraping up browned bits. Add chicken and bring to boil, then simmer gently for 10–12 minutes until cooked through.
  4. Transfer cooked chicken to a board. Add noodles to the broth and cook until just tender, per package instructions.
  5. Shred or chop chicken. Add back to the pot with greens. Simmer 1–2 minutes until wilted and heated through.
  6. Turn off heat. Stir in lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or more lemon. Stir in herbs if using.
  7. Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish with cheese and herbs if desired. Serve with extra lemon wedges.

Nutrition

Calories: 315kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 28gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 940mgPotassium: 720mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 4200IUVitamin C: 22mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 2mg

Notes

For meal prep, store the soup without noodles to avoid mushiness. Add noodles fresh when reheating. For a creamy version, blend a cup of the soup or stir in yogurt or cream off the heat. Garnish with cheese, herbs, or extra lemon for a restaurant-worthy finish.

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