Vegan Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup + Video

You are going to love this vegan lemon chickpea orzo soup! It’s like chicken noodle soup for grown ups, a plant-based twist on Greek avgolemono soup. 

A one pot soup filled with vegetables, garbanzo beans and orzo pasta. Finished with a generous squirt of lemon juice for a bright + bold fall soup.

this Recipe

The moment chilly weather starts to roll in, I make a big pot of this soup. It’s one of my favorite recipes, and one of yours too! Originally published in 2014 this soup has been a big hit with everyone who tries it. 

If you’re looking for a simple, healthy, hearty plant-based meal then you’ve gotta try this lemon chickpea orzo soup.

Ingredients you’ll need:

The beauty of this recipe is that you can make it from mostly pantry ingredients. Here is everything you will need:

• Orzo Pasta, preferably whole-wheat if you can find it
• A can of garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
• Carrots
• Celery
• Onion
• Garlic
• Fresh lemon juice
• A sprig of rosemary and dried thyme

That’s it! Less than 10 ingredients to create a delicious soup rich in plant-based protein.

How to make this Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup

This soup is designed for weeknight cooking. You’ll start by simmering chopped onions, carrots and celery in olive oil over medium heat until tender. This is known as a mirepoix, a flavorful soup based made from diced vegetables cooked in fat. It’s what gives this soup so much flavor!

From there, you’ll add in crushed garlic, thyme and vegetable broth of choice. Since the broth you use makes a huge difference in the flavor of your soup, I’d highly recommend tasting your broth before adding it to the soup. My favorite brands are Orrington Farms Not Chicken Broth, Veggie Better than Bouillon and Pacific Food’s vegetable broth. 

Once the vegetables are cooking, stir in the orzo pasta along with the canned chickpeas and simmer until pasta is tender. For additional flavor, I add in a small sprig of fresh rosemary and dried bay leaves to the pot as it’s cooking. 

Right before the soup is finished, add in a generous splash of fresh lemon juice. A squirt of lemon juice at the end is transformative and is the is secret ingredient that gives this soup so much flavor and makes it really special.

The secret for making good soup great

My number one tip for incredible soup? Add some acid, like lemon juice. A small amount of an acid like lemon juice or vinegar added at the end of cooking a soup really brightens the overall flavor. I do this for most of my soup recipes and it’s a chef’s tip that makes good soups taste great. 

Start with a little bit of lemon juice, taste and adjust, until your soup tastes balanced and bright. 

How to store leftovers

​If you have any leftovers, you’ll place the soup in an airtight, freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3-4 months. Soups make a fantastic freezer meal and this one is no exception. 

For easier meal prep, I often double a batch of this vegan soup. One batch to enjoy that night and the other to store in an airtight container in the freezer for dinner in a few weeks. 

How much protein does this soup contain? 

Chickpeas are a good source of plant-based protein, with 1/2 cup containing 8g of protein and 7g of fiber. It’s this combination that makes a vegan soup like this one incredibly satisfying! Protein, fiber (and fat) help to improve fullness and satiation. 

If you want to learn more about plant-based protein, including 40+ free plant-based protein recipes, make sure to grab my free 7-day course here.

Can you add spinach or kale to this soup recipe?

Yes, you can add finely chopped kale, spinach or baby spinach to this recipe if you’d like. I recommend a cup stirred in during the last 5 minutes of cooking to just wilt slightly before serving.  

If you like this chickpea orzo soup, you will love these other vegan soup recipes:

• Tuscan Kale Soup
• Red Lentil Soup
• Slow Cooker Tomato Soup
• Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup
• Vegan Miso Soup

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag your Instagram photos with #delishknowledge . I absolutely love seeing your creations. Happy cooking! 
This recipe was originally published in 2014 and updated in 2021. 

Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup

• Author: Alex Caspero
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: dinner, soup
• Method: stove top
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegan

Description

Like chicken noodle soup for grown ups. And vegetarians. A one-pot soup filled with vegetables, garbanzo beans and orzo pasta. Finished with a generous squirt of lemon juice for a bright + bold fall soup.

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Pin Recipe

• Author: Alex Caspero
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: dinner, soup
• Method: stove top
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegan

• Author: Alex Caspero
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: dinner, soup
• Method: stove top
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegan

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 large carrots, halved lengthwise and finely sliced
• 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• 6 cups vegetable broth + 1 cup water
• 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1 small sprig rosemary
• Bay leaf
• 1 cup orzo
• 1/8 cup fresh lemon juice

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Instructions

1. First, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Then, add the onion, carrots, celery and garlic. Cook for 5 minutes until vegetables are soft.
   
2. Next, add the thyme and pinch of pepper; stir together.
   
3. Then, add the vegetable broth and water and bring to a boil.
   
4. Add the chickpeas, rosemary, orzo and bay leaf. Reduce heat to a low simmer and cook for 10 minutes until orzo is cooked through.
   
5. Finally, reduce heat to low and stir in lemon juice.
   

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