This super food orzo soup with kale, chicken, garlic and more is perfect to chase away that winter cold or just give yourself a boost! Not only is it full of everything that helps you beat a cold, it’s also seriously delicious, even the kids will eat it!
We were so fortunate on our five-week-long vacation that we only caught a bad cold literally the last day of it! How on earth that happened I don’t know, but I suspect it was my militant hand washing regime that I enforced on the kids plus a pack of hand wipes in my backpack at all times. I knew the not-getting-sick honeymoon was over, however, when we were standing in line at Roger Rabbit and had a family of six literally coughing on our backs. Oh you guys, I wanted to bathe in hand sanitizer. A small, dark enclosed line up and a whole family just filling the air….I’m a not a germaphobe, but that just made me literally shiver in squeamishness.
And sick we did get. Horrible sore throats, runny noses, aches. Blech. We most certainly had our flu shots this year, there was no way we were travelling all over the place without it. So most likely we just picked up a cold – or because we had our shots, a milder flu which I suspect since Mike was achy and feverish one night- but we came home sick, sick, sick!
So sick the kids spent another three days at home recuperating instead of going back to school.
During that time, no matter how sick I was, I was so happy to get back into my kitchen. The first thing on my list was a cold butt kicking, nutritional powerhouse soup.
Orzo Soup Ingredients
- Onions and garlic – Allium superfoods. Garlic has allicin, a powerful antioxidant.
- Carrots and sweet potatoes: beta-carotene that our body converts into vitamin A, which is essential for maintaining a strong immune system.
- Mushrooms: immune-boosting antioxidants, along with potassium, B vitamins, and fiber.
- Chicken – we need protein to build antibodies and fight infection in the body
- Kale- Vitamin K, C and A and so much more that I can’t list all the benefits here.
- I added orzo to get some carbohydrates into the soup, something else our body needs while fighting a cold. So this is a one bowl meal for colds.
How to Make Orzo Soup
This is literally the easiest soup ever!
- Place all of the ingredients into your slow cooker except for the cooked chicken, kale and the orzo.
- Cook for 4-5 hours on low or 7-8 on high.
- Add in the orzo and cook for another hour.
- Add in the chicken and the kale, let the chicken heat up and the kale wilt, then serve!
It was also absolutely delicious and I would make this again and again, especially during cold season, to keep your immunity boosted. Not only that, it’s great for work and school lunches!
So how has everyone been this cold/flu season? Did you get your shots this year and are they keeping the flu at bay?
Happy cooking! Let me know if you make this one and what you think!
Love,
Karlynn
“Kick Your Cold’s Butt” Kale & Chicken Orzo Soup
Ingredients
- 6 cups vegetable stock
- 1/2 large sweet potato diced
- 3 carrots chopped
- 1 onion chopped finely
- 3 cloves garlic sliced
- 1 cup mushrooms of choice
- 2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
- 3/4 cup orzo
- 1 cup kale washed and trimmed
Instructions
- Place the first six ingredients into a crock pot.
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours. You can either cook the orzo according to the package instructions and add to the crock pot OR place uncooked orzo into the crock pot one hour before serving and cook for one hour.
- Add in the kale and the cooked chicken ten minutes before serving, cover the crock pot again and let it cook until wilted and soft. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Les McGuire says
Every F-ing year there is a new magic remedy. None work except for the magic elixir of time.
The Kitchen Magpie says
Did you bother to read, or just complain? Don’t make it then.
Les McGuire says
I’m not arguing that it is good food, but there is not cold remedy.
The Kitchen Magpie says
Les McGuire No, but science had proven that certain things helps recovery! Like hot liquids and protein to help your body fight off illness aka chicken soup.
Heather Pollock says
I have the cold but I don’t see me eating that\U0001f606
The Kitchen Magpie says
Oh it’s sooooo goooooood! Trust me!
Heather Pollock says
Planning on making the macaroni cheeseburger soup this weekend when the kids are home to help eat it
Pam says
Does this soup have to be cooked in the crockpot? Or could it be made on the stovetop as well?
thekitchenmagpie says
@Pam Stovetop is fine as well!
The Kitchen Magpie says
No! Try rice instead.
Linda Lauritzen says
I love orzo … but does it need it. Been off of white flour …
Tracey L Bureyko says
Thanks, ladies, I now have a mission. \U0001f495
The Kitchen Magpie says
For sure. Food heals us, you just have to eat the right stuff!
Shauna Cowley Filtz says
I also think between the fluid in the broth and salt also help in getting bacteria to move along. Tryptophan make us sleepy (from the chicken) and the steam makes the nose run. Add a dash of tobasco to your serving or Siracha to really get the nose running and stave off the shivers.
Shauna Cowley Filtz says
Tracey, don’t be afraid of soup. It is unique every time and an easy way to use up leftover meats from roasts. I have even used basic Lipton Chicken noodle, added frozen mixed veg and stirred in a beaten egg to add nutrition to that. Or used the leftover ramen flavour packet for a broth base (we do double noodles around here) Lol! Sometimes whatever you have on hand will work to make a hearty, warm meal.
The Kitchen Magpie says
It’s very easy and this soup is seriously good for you. Do it!
Tracey L Bureyko says
So looking forward to trying this recipe! I must admit that the idea of making soup, any soup, so far, scares me.
The Kitchen Magpie says
It’s a good way to use Kale!
Tiffany Mary Rose-Anne says
I made a similar one all last winter! It’s the only way I enjoy kale lol
CharlotteX says
This is such a great recipe; it’s got me and my fiance through multiple colds this year, and it’s so tasty! Thank you so much!
Jodee Weiland says
This soup looks wonderful…my kind of soup. I love the ingredients and how healthy it is! Thanks for sharing!
thekitchenmagpie says
@Jodee Weiland You are so very welcome! Thanks for stopping in!