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Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Pesto Orzo Soup

This soup is super easy to throw together and is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.

Course Main Dish
Keyword Crock Pot, Slow Cooker, Soup
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 20 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 203 kcal
Author Andie Thueson

Ingredients

  • 1 32 oz Box Chicken Broth
  • 2 Cups Milk You may use 1%, 2%, or Whole Mik
  • 1 small container fresh pesto Use 1/2 C reserve the rest for the last 15-20 minutes**
  • 1 1/2 cups diced carrots
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1 TBS Italian seasoning
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 large chicken breasts
  • 1 Cup Orzo
  • 1 8 oz Cream Cheese

Instructions

  1. Whisk everything but the chicken, cream cheese, milk, and orzo pasta together in a 6-quart slow cooker. Add chicken. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours (could be 4-6 depending on slow cooker). When the chicken is cooked through and easily falls apart, remove and shred.

  2. Place shredded chicken back in the slow cooker. Stir in uncooked orzo noodles, cream cheese, milk, and remaining pesto, then cook for another 15-20 minutes or until pasta is cooked.

  3. Once the pasta is cooked, serve or turn the slow cooker to a warm setting—season with kosher salt and pepper.

  4. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, fresh basil, fresh diced tomatoes, or diced red bell pepper.

Recipe Notes

  • *If you want to make this a low carb friendly soup to accommodate a low-carb diet, you could easily sub out the orzo for cauliflower rice. OR if you are not a fan of orzo, you could swap out the orzo for regular rice, cannellini beans, or any can of white beans.
  • ** You may use your own pesto recipe or try this homemade basil pesto recipe from Love & Lemons.
  • *** For a thicker soup, use cream instead of milk and add a bit more cream cheese.
Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Pesto Orzo Soup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 203 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 52mg17%
Sodium 434mg19%
Potassium 399mg11%
Carbohydrates 15g5%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 13g26%
Vitamin A 3084IU62%
Vitamin C 8mg10%
Calcium 94mg9%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.