This easy soup is always a crowd pleaser. Using standard ingredients in your fridge and pantry, it comes together without an extra trip to the grocery store!
Up until this summer, I had given up all hope of my boys showing any interest in playing a musical instrument. As a former music major and someone who started playing the flute when I was nine, I secretly hoped for a family trio. Unless you count the thump of a soccer ball against the side of the house as music, my secret hope was not meant to be.
Until this year.
At the end of elementary school in June, my youngest son (T) announced that he wanted to play the trombone in the middle school band. First, I did a not-so-silent fist pump, then reflected on the fact that T had picked the perfect instrument for his personality. Trombonist friends that I knew in college collectively described themselves as "trouble looking for a place to happen", but "funny and friendly". Anyone that knows T and his mischievous, but well-intentioned, ways would say, "Yep, that's him."
I also distinctly remember my trombonist friends being able to consume copious amounts of food and beer. Thankfully, we're not at the beer stage with T, but the boy does love his food. So, I see it as my motherly duty to keep my little brass player well-fueled with healthy meals for his musical endeavors.
This easy soup is on of those recipes that involves rummaging around in your fridge and pantry for some staple items: chicken breasts, whole wheat pasta, crushed tomatoes, carrots and so forth. Nothing fancy. Just good, hearty comfort food, perfect for trombonists or any other "funny and friendly" types.
Other healthy chicken recipes:
Cookin' Canuck's Hearty Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash & Quinoa
Cookin' Canuck's Baked Hummus Chicken Tenders
Healthy Seasonal Recipes' Healthy Chicken Piccata
Gimme Some Oven's Skinny Orange Chicken
Healthy Delicious' Baked Chicken & Spinach Flautas
Easy Chicken, Tomato & Orzo Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 teaspoons olive oil divided
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into ¾ –inch pieces
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ yellow onion chopped
- 3 carrots cut into half-circles
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¾ teaspoon ground oregano
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 5 ¼ cups low sodium chicken broth
- â…” cup whole wheat orzo pasta
- 1 14 ounce can of chickpeas, drained & rinsed
- ¼ cup minced flat-leaf parsley
Instructions
- Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a large saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, salt and pepper, and sauté until just cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a bowl.
- Turn the heat to medium and heat the remaining 1 teaspoon of oil in the saucepan. Add the onions and carrots, and cook until the vegetables are starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, oregano and red pepper flakes, and cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the orzo and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Stir in the chickpeas and heat for about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the parsley. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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Tanya
Making this now and looks delicious! When do you add the chicken back in though?
Amanda @ The Kitcheneer
This soup looks so good to me right now! I want a mug full! And you are right, I do have all of these ingredients floating around my kitchen!
Nikki @ Nik Snacks
This reminds me of a current commercial where the boy is fueling up on pasta to play the tuba in his school band. Way to go for your future brassy guy!
Angela
This was soo good. Thank you for the recipe. Very happy I found your blog. Going to try your shrimp and zucchini recipe next.
Rose | The Clean Dish
I don't know any trombonists but it sure is an interesting instrument to be playing! Mmmm chicken tomato soup -- I wish I could have a bowl full right now! I love all the ingredients in this. It's still not soup weather in NC but we're getting there 😉
Samantha
This soup looks amazing. I love how it is tomato soup but loaded with other pretty great ingredients! It's really great that he is picking up the trombone! I played the flute in the middle school band but I was not so good and it didn't "stick" 🙂