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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.
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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
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
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
This recipe is absolutely delicious!! I do have to say though that it took me more than five minutes to prep. Well worth it. My husband loved it and my sister is going to love it too.
Thank You!!!!
Hey Lynn,
Happy Friday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
This recipe was extremely easy to follow, delicious and filling! Great for a meatless Monday!
Hey Lisa,
That’s great!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for making it! xxT
This has gone into heavy rotation in my house and everyone loves it! Even my picky kids and my picky dad!! But also the foodies. Perfect recipe.
Hey Pam,
Wonderful!! Thank you so much for trying this recipe out, I am so glad to hear that it was a winner! xxT
I’m not sure if I added a comment before but this recipe is an amazing go to dish.
Savory and wholesale…delicious ?
Not to mention easy!
Hey Sofia,
Wonderful!! Thank you so much for trying this recipe out, I am so glad to hear that it was a winner! xxT
This is the PERFECTTT soup for spring! love it! don’t live biting into the white beans I had, so I just blended them with some of the broth/onion mixture and added back in. Adds some creaminess!
Hey Ashley,
Perfect!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a go, I am thrilled to hear that it was a winner! Have the best week!? xT
I mean…what can I say that I haven’t already said before for your other recipes? This was just uber delicious! The lemon zest and juice and the fresh herbs just WOKE up this soup and gave it that wow factor! The best part? There was enough leftover for our Suhoor (Ramadan pre-sunrise meal) and we all just devoured it. Although the orzo had absorbed all of the broth and it was more of a chili consistency, we still enjoyed it!
Hey Nazish,
Happy Friday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a lot for trying it out! Thanks so much for your kind message:) ☀️xx
Absolutely perfect. Served with crusty homemade sourdough and this was a hit!
Hey Patti,
Fantastic!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! ?Tieghan
I have made this at least three times now and I love it! Also passed it on to my brother who added sautéed ground pork ( I was actually surprised by his creativity). Such a great soup I double it so I can stock the freezer. Thank you!
Hey Betsy,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it. Have the best week:) xx
I love a good soup and this is AMAZING!
Definitely making this on a regular basis. Thank you!
Hey Lisa,
Happy Friday!! Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xx
This is a great new soup recipe to add to my rotation! Definitely hardy, a meal on it’s own.
Hi Helen,
Fantastic!! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for trying it out! xTieghan
This is definitely one of my favorite soups! I wasn’t sure about using coconut milk, but all the flavors blended beautifully! So yummy!
Hey Caroline,
I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for trying it out! Have the best day:) xT
Hi. Looking forward to making this! Should I drain the beans? Thanks!
Hi Caroline,
Yes, go ahead and drain the beans. Please let me know how the recipe turns out, I hope you love it! xx
Made this today with spinach. WOW! Such a delicious soup and perfect for soup and sandwich dinner night this week. It was easy to throw together and I had most of the ingredients on hand already. Thank you for this! Tmrw I plan to make the Tinga Chicken tacos you posted on IG today 🙂
Hi Michelle,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for sharing your feedback, I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed! xx
Another great addition to our soup rotation that even leans into early spring. I add some asparagus and roasted chicken breast for an even heartier meal!!!
Hey Chris,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed!! Have the best week:) xTieghan
I made this today for a cool, Autumn day’s lunch. It was so delicious! I had to supplement spinach for kale, and orecchiette for orzo (shortages) and it was still amazing. It has gone in our best ever recipe book at home. I can see this becoming a go-to for the cool days ahead and also as a veg alternative to the classic chicken soup when someone has a head cold. My husband kept saying “this is great!” the whole way through lunch ?
Hey Michaela,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed!! Have the best week:) xTieghan