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Warming 20 minute Creamy White Bean Lemon Pesto Orzo Soup. Kind of like creamy risotto, kind of like soup, and so DELICIOUS. This is wholesome but comforting and the easiest to make using just one pot and 20 minutes. It’s warm and creamy, swirled with basil pesto, and finished with parmesan and a pinch of black pepper. Doesn’t get simpler or more delicious.
Sometimes it’s the simplest of recipes that really do turn out the most delicious. And that’s definitely the case with today’s recipe. It’s perfect for this time of year when we’re still craving comfort food on these cold winter days, but also wanting something lighter. It also makes for a nice Valentine’s Day recipe too.
This is a great mix. Originally when I set out to make this I was thinking it would be more of a soup. And it is, but this is an ultra-creamy soup.
A bit of a cross between soup, creamy pasta, and rice stew. So just as you would expect, it’s delicious.
When my sister-in-law Lyndsie was in town over Christmas, she pretty much begged for a white bean soup. It’s one of her favorites and she said I never make anything with beans, which isn’t a lie. The family that’s here is not the biggest fan of beans. But I do love to experiment with them when Lynds and/or my cousins are in town.
Anyway, I never got around to making the soup over Christmas. But once I had this idea, I knew it would be delicious, Lyndsie fully agreed.
The details
With a 20 to 30 minute start to finish time, you can imagine the steps are pretty simple. First up, you only need one pot. No sauces, nothing extra, just one pot.
Start with olive oil, shallots, and garlic. To keep things simple, I just used smashed garlic cloves to infuse the oil. Then some butter goes in and then the orzo.
Any time I’m cooking with orzo, I love to toast it in butter before adding in any liquid. This just adds another layer of flavor as the butter cooks around the orzo.
Then comes the chicken broth or veggie broth, along with white beans, and kale. You could easily use spinach in place of kale. From here, simply simmer until the orzo is al dente and things are becoming very creamy.
Stir in the pesto and lots of parmesan and finish it off with lemon.
That’s it. Absolutely nothing fancy, but totally delicious.
For serving
I usually add a little fresh dill and black pepper, but parsley or basil work really well too.
Then, some crusty bread on the side is a must.
It’s different, but so, so good. And who couldn’t love such an easy Monday recipe? Especially after the Super Bowl. I feel like we need this today! Happy Valentine’s day!
Looking for other quick recipes? Here are my favorites:
Baked Sesame Orange Cauliflower
One Pot Stove-Top Mac and Cheese
Skillet Chicken Adobo with Coconut Rice
Lastly, if you make this Creamy White Bean Lemon Pesto Orzo Soup, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Creamy White Bean Lemon Pesto Orzo Soup
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 1331 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 4-6 cloves garlic, smashed
- red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 cups dry orzo pasta
- 6 cups low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 can white beans
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1/2 bunch kale, finely shredded
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 1/2 cup whole milk or canned full fat coconut milk
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- zest and juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- 1. Heat the olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the shallot, garlic, and chili flakes and cook until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Drop in the butter, then stir in the orzo. Cook until golden, 1-3 minutes. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the beans and kale. Season with salt and pepper. If you have one, add a parmesan rind. Simmer 8-10 minutes until the orzo is al dente, stirring often. It should become very creamy.2. Stir in the pesto, milk, parmesan, and lemon, cook another few minutes until warmed through. 3. Divide the orzo and broth among bowls and add additional parmesan and black pepper. I like to add some fresh dill, parsley, or basil too!
Notes
Thickening: the orzo will soak up the broth over time. If eating leftover, add additional broth to thin. It should be creamy, but with just a touch of liquid.
Hi! If you could add a meat to this soup, do you have any recommendations? Sausage? I will be making for my very carnivorous family this weekend haha.
Hey Julia,
Lol totally understand! Yes, I think sausage would be a great addition here. I hope your family loves this recipe! xx
Which cookbook is this from?
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks recipe is only on the blog:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
My daughter made this for us and it is amazing! I had to hunt for Parmesan cheese with rind for extra flavor. I have made it a few times but would like it to be more like soup than pasta. I may decrease the orzo and increase the chicken broth.
Hey Holly,
Yay!! So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thanks so much for trying it! Have a great weekend! x
Will this freeze well? Love this soup
Hey Nancy,
Sure, that should work well for you! xT
I used only 1 cup orzo, 7 cups broth, 1 cup water. I added a little fresh rosemary (minced) to the garlic, onion and oil mixture.
2 cups orzo turns it into a pasta stew.
Wow, this was delicious, although I’d call it more of a pasta dish than a soup since most of the liquid was absorbed by the orzo. I basically followed the recipe, although I used spinach instead of kale, which worked out perfectly. Definitely one I’ll be making again!
Hey Helen,
Amazing! Thanks a bunch for trying this dish and your comment, so glad it turned out well for you! xT
So delicious and easy to make! I added more beans for a little more protein and it was perfect.
Hey Farrah,
Happy Wednesday! I appreciate you trying this recipe and your comment:) Love to hear that it turned out well for you! Xx
So yummi!!!
Thanks so much, Pernilla!!
My favorite new recipe! I added less orzo and 2 cans of beans and little more pesto than called for. SO delicious!
Hey Christina,
Happy Sunday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for trying it out! Xx
Do you drain the beans?
Hi Nancy,
Yes, you can go ahead and drain the beans. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
Delicious! I didn’t have orzo so I added cooked rice just before adding the milk etc. Still amazing!
Hey Karla,
Happy Friday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, I love to hear that it turned out nicely for you! Xx
This was delicious! The flavors were wonderful. However as others have said the amount of orzo was too much. It soaked up all the broth and made it more of a pasta dish. Next time I will only use 1 cup orzo. Otherwise it’s a winner!
Hey Jennifer,
Awesome! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xT
How many cups is half a bunch of kale?
Hey Jennifer,
I would say it’s about 2 cups. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
This was so delicious! Love the flavor the lemon and pesto add. Just curious if it would be okay to freeze?
Hey Kathryn,
Fantastic!! Love to hear that this dish turned out well for you, thanks a lot for making it! Sure, you could definitely freeze this. Have a great weekend! xx
This recipe is SO good! I’ve made the soup several times in the past few months. It is so full of flavor and cozy. I would have never thought to put pesto in a soup, but it’s a game-changer! Can’t wait to make it again.
Hey Hannah,
Thanks so much!! I’m so glad you have been enjoying this recipe and appreciate you making it often:) xT
My family LOVES this soup! It’s become a staple in our home. I have shared it with several friends. So delicious. I add an extra can of beans. Delicious!
Hi Lorna,
I appreciate you making this recipe so often and sharing your feedback, love to hear that it is always enjoyed! xT