Chicken Soup with Dill

As soon as the temperature dips and the nights cool off, my soup cravings kick in hard. It’s my favorite soul-warming comfort food, reserved almost exclusively for the cold season. There are exceptions, though: soups with zesty, bright herbal and veggie flavors, like this chicken soup with dill. Loaded with summer ingredients like green peas and spinach, and brought to life by the vibrant punch of fresh dill, garlic and lemon juice, this soup breaks through the cold-weather barrier. It’s a perfect option all year round, no matter what the thermometer reads. This easy dill chicken soup recipe also uses leftover rotisserie chicken, so dinner can be ready in just 30 minutes.

Dill Chicken Soup Ingredients

• Canola oil
• Carrots
• Onion
• Garlic
• Whole wheat orzo
• Shredded rotisserie chicken
• Reduced-sodium chicken broth
• Frozen peas
• Baby spinach
• Fresh dill (or dried)
• Lemon juice
• Ground pepper (optional)

Directions

Step 1: Saute the vegetables

In a 6-quart stockpot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the carrots, onion and garlic, then saute them until the carrots are tender,  about four to five minutes.

Step 2: Finish the soup

Stir in the orzo, chicken and broth and bring the pot to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for five minutes. Stir in the peas, spinach and dill and return the soup to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the orzo is tender, about three to four minutes. Stir in the lemon juice.

Step 3: Serve

Ladle the soup into bowls. If desired, top each serving with coarsely ground pepper and serve the soup with good crusty homemade bread.

How to Store Chicken Soup with Dill

Let any leftover soup cool completely, then store it in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to four days. When you’re ready to enjoy your chicken soup with dill again, reheat it in the microwave or simmer it on the stovetop until it’s heated through. You can also freeze leftover soup in freezer-safe containers or zipper bags for up to four months. Just let the soup thaw in the refrigerator before reheating it.

Dill Chicken Soup Tips

What vegetables can I add to chicken soup with dill?

To really capitalize on the fresh flavors of summer, try adding roasted sweet corn, bell peppers or summer squash to this recipe. There’s no wrong way to dress it up, so use up that haul from your recent trip to the farmers market.

What can I serve with chicken dill soup?

Since this soup contains pasta, there’s no reason it can’t be a meal on its own. However, like many of our chicken soup recipes, adding a fresh garden salad and a thick slice of bread completes the perfect dinner trifecta.

Should I use fresh or dried herbs for chicken and dill soup?

If you have the choice to use fresh dill in this chicken soup recipe, give it a whirl. Fresh dill is bright, lemony and vibrant and it will really make this soup feel fresh and summery. On the other hand, dried dill is less potent, with a deeper, more concentrated and slightly astringent flavor. While both work very well, fresh dill is often better for quick recipes, while the dried herb will hold up better over longer cooking times. To convert fresh to dried herbs, use a 3-1 ratio of fresh to dried.