Sear Chicken: Bring a large dutch oven to a medium-high heat and melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Season both sides of the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Sear chicken on both sides for about 2 minutes. Then set aside on a plate.
Sauté Veggies: Return the soup pot to medium high heat, melt remaining butter and then add the onions, carrots, and celery to sauté for 2-4 minutes.
Seasoning + Broth: Add 1 teaspoon turmeric, 2 teaspoons ginger, 3 teaspoons lemongrass, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, and Better than Bouillon to the pot and mix everything together. Pour the bone broth into the pot.
Simmer: Bring the soup to a simmer and add the chicken thighs back to the pot. Let simmer for about 15 minutes or until their internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F (use a meat thermometer).
Shred + Pasta: Remove the chicken thighs from the pot, discard the skin, and shred the meat. Return shredded chicken to the pot. Keep the soup warm on a low heat and bring a separate pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the orzo pasta and cook to al dente according to the package directions. Drain pasta. (Note: orzo is optional - see Note 1).
Taste + Adjust: Taste soup and add additional salt, lemongrass, ginger or lemon - as desired.
Serve: Divide the cooked orzo between individual bowls and ladle the chicken soup on top. Option to garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
Notes
*Orzo: feel free to use another type of pasta or omit entirely.
Dairy Free: use a plant-based butter instead of regular butter.
Gluten Free: simply use a gluten-free pasta or omit.
Storage: leftover soup can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. Highly recommend storing the soup separate from the orzo, otherwise the pasta will continue to soak up the broth of the soup.