Avgolemono Greek Lemon Chicken Soup Recipe

Greek avgolemono redefines humble ingredients into a comforting culinary experience that warms both body and soul.

This silky soup blends tangy citrus notes with rich, creamy textures that dance across your palate.

Generations of home cooks have perfected this classic Mediterranean recipe, passing down techniques that elevate simple chicken and rice into something extraordinary.

Whisked eggs create a luxurious, velvety base that gives the soup its signature smooth consistency and bright, vibrant flavor profile.

Ancient Greek kitchens understood the magic of combining just a few quality ingredients to create something truly remarkable.

Each spoonful tells a story of tradition, family, and the incredible alchemy of cooking.

You’ll fall in love with this soul-soothing soup that connects modern dining to centuries of culinary wisdom.

What’s Special About Avgolemono Soup

• Savor Silky Comfort: This soup creates a luxurious, creamy texture through the unique avgolemono technique, which transforms simple ingredients into a smooth, velvety dish that hugs your taste buds with warmth.
• Elevate Everyday Ingredients: Using basic pantry staples like chicken, vegetables, and lemons, this recipe magically turns humble components into a restaurant-quality meal that feels sophisticated yet incredibly approachable.
• Master a Classic Technique: Learning the art of tempering eggs for the sauce teaches a professional culinary skill that can be applied to multiple recipes, making you a more confident and versatile home cook with just one delicious method.
• Quick and Nourishing Weeknight Win: From start to finish, this soup comes together in under an hour, providing a nutritious, protein-packed meal that's perfect for busy families or anyone craving a comforting, healing bowl of goodness.

Ingredients for Authentic Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

Main Ingredients:

• Chicken Breasts: Lean protein that provides the hearty base of the soup, best when fresh and boneless.
• Chicken Stock: Rich, flavorful liquid that creates the soup's foundation, homemade or low-sodium store-bought works best.

• Onion, Carrot, Celery: Classic mirepoix that builds a deep, aromatic flavor profile for the soup, fresh and crisp vegetables recommended.
• Garlic: Adds a warm, pungent base note to enhance overall soup flavor, choose firm and fragrant cloves.

• Orzo: Small pasta that adds texture and substance to the soup, provides a comforting element.

• Egg Yolks: Creates the signature creamy and silky texture of avgolemono, use fresh, room-temperature eggs.
• Lemon Juice: Provides bright, tangy flavor that defines the Greek soup, fresh lemons preferred over bottled juice.
• Fresh Dill: Offers a delicate herbal note that complements the soup's citrusy profile, choose vibrant green sprigs.

• Bay Leaves: Adds subtle depth and complexity to the broth, remove before serving.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings to balance and enhance the soup's overall taste, adjust to personal preference.
• Olive Oil: Used for sautéing vegetables, provides a smooth base for building soup flavors.

Making Avgolemono at Home

Step 1: Sauté Aromatic Vegetables

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onions, carrots, and celery. Cook until vegetables become soft and slightly translucent, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.

Step 2: Build Soup Base

Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add bay leaves, whole chicken breasts, and chicken stock. Bring liquid to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until chicken is completely cooked through, about 15-20 minutes.

Step 3: Cook Pasta

Remove chicken and bay leaves from pot. Add orzo pasta and cook until tender, approximately 8-10 minutes.

Step 4: Prepare Chicken

Using two forks, shred cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return shredded chicken to the pot.

Step 5: Create Creamy Lemon Sauce

In a separate bowl, whisk egg yolks with fresh lemon juice. Carefully ladle hot broth into egg mixture, whisking constantly to prevent scrambling.

Step 6: Finish and Serve

Pour tempered egg mixture back into soup pot. Stir in chopped fresh dill. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer for additional 3-5 minutes. Ladle into warm bowls and garnish with extra dill if desired.

Tips to Master Greek Chicken Soup

• Prevent Curdling: Slowly add hot broth to egg mixture while whisking constantly to create a smooth, silky sauce without scrambling the eggs.
• Choose Quality Ingredients: Select fresh, organic lemons for bright, zesty flavor and use homemade chicken stock if possible for deeper, richer taste.
• Shred Chicken Perfectly: Let chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking to make shredding easier and retain maximum moisture.
• Control Soup Thickness: Add orzo gradually and watch carefully to achieve desired consistency, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
• Optimize Herb Freshness: Add fresh dill just before serving to maintain vibrant color and maximize aromatic flavor profile.

How to Store and Heat Avgolemono Properly

Store in Airtight Container: Transfer leftover soup to a sealed glass or plastic container, ensuring it cools completely before refrigerating.

Refrigerate Properly: Keep the soup in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, maintaining its fresh flavor and preventing bacterial growth.

Gentle Reheating: Warm the soup slowly on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent separation and preserve the creamy texture. Add a splash of chicken stock if the soup appears too thick.

Best Complements for Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Select a zesty Assyrtiko from Santorini or a light Sauvignon Blanc to complement the soup's bright lemon notes and enhance its delicate flavors.
• Serve Alongside Greek Salad: Create a refreshing side with chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and feta cheese drizzled with olive oil to balance the soup's creamy texture.
• Match with Crusty Bread: Grab a rustic sourdough or traditional Greek pita to soak up the rich, lemony broth and add a delightful crunchy element to your meal.
• Create Herbal Herbal Tea Finish: End your dining experience with a warm cup of chamomile or mint tea to soothe the palate and continue the Greek culinary journey.

Versions of Avgolemono to Explore

• Mediterranean Herb Fusion: Replace dill with a blend of fresh oregano, parsley, and mint for a vibrant herb-infused variation that captures Greek countryside flavors.
• Spicy Aegean Edition: Add red pepper flakes and a dash of smoked paprika to introduce a warming kick that complements the lemony broth, creating a bolder soup profile.
• Protein Power Upgrade: Substitute chicken breasts with shredded rotisserie chicken or swap in tender lamb pieces for a richer, more robust protein experience that elevates the traditional recipe.
• Vegetarian Greek Option: Remove chicken and replace with cubed tofu or white beans, using vegetable stock and maintaining the classic avgolemono technique to create a plant-based version of this comforting soup.

Avgolemono Greek Lemon Chicken Soup Recipe

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4.9 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Silky avgolemono weaves Greek culinary magic with tender chicken, zesty lemons, and creamy egg-enriched broth. Comforting Mediterranean flavors invite warm memories of family kitchens and sunshine-kissed coastal villages you’ll want to savor slowly.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts (about 12 ounces / 350 grams total)
• 6 cups (1.5 liters) chicken stock
• ¾ cup (175 grams) orzo

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 medium carrot, diced
• 2–3 celery stalks, diced
• 2–3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 handful of fresh dill, chopped

Seasoning and Binding Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 egg yolks
• Salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Warm olive oil in a spacious stockpot over medium flame. Sauté diced onion, carrot, and celery until they transform into tender, translucent morsels.
2. Introduce minced garlic and allow its aromatic essence to release. Incorporate bay leaves, whole chicken breasts, and rich chicken stock. Elevate to a rolling boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover and let the liquid dance with the ingredients for approximately 15 minutes.
3. Extract chicken breasts and bay leaves from the fragrant broth. Sprinkle orzo into the liquid, allowing it to soften and absorb the savory essence for 10 minutes.
4. Using two forks, deconstruct the chicken breasts into delicate, tender strands. Return the shredded meat back into the simmering pot.
5. In a separate vessel, whisk egg yolks with bright lemon juice. Carefully ladle hot broth into the mixture, whisking continuously to prevent curdling. Gradually reintroduce the tempered mixture into the soup, stirring with precision.
6. Fold in freshly chopped dill, seasoning with salt and pepper to elevate the flavor profile. Allow the soup to harmonize for an additional 5 minutes.
7. Distribute the velvety soup into serving bowls. Garnish with a sprinkle of extra dill fronds for a touch of visual elegance. Serve immediately while piping hot.

Notes

• Tempering is crucial for preventing scrambled eggs, so slowly add hot broth to egg mixture while whisking continuously.
• Fresh lemon juice and dill transform this simple chicken soup into a bright, tangy Greek classic with complex flavors.
• Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts for quick cooking and easy shredding, ensuring tender meat throughout the soup.
• Precise vegetable chopping ensures even cooking and balanced texture, creating a harmonious base for the soup.
• Orzo provides a delightful, hearty element that absorbs the rich broth while maintaining a pleasant al dente texture.
• Room temperature eggs help create a smoother, more stable avgolemono sauce without risking curdling.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Greek

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg