Quick & Creamy Greek Lemon Chicken Soup Recipe for Cozy Evenings

When summer’s heat starts to simmer down, this classic avgolemono soup becomes a comforting embrace of Mediterranean flavors.

Silky broth and tender chicken dance with bright lemon zest, creating a magical Greek lemon chicken soup recipe that warms from the inside out.

Delicate eggs fold into the rich liquid, lending a creamy texture that feels like a gentle hug.

Fragrant herbs whisper stories of sunny Greek islands and traditional kitchens.

Tangy and light, this soup balances robust chicken with zesty citrus notes that sparkle on your palate.

Simple ingredients come together with surprising elegance, turning an ordinary meal into a memorable culinary experience.

You’ll fall in love with every spoonful of this soul-soothing classic.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 320 kcal

Servings: 5

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup Ingredients

• Olive Oil: Provides a rich, smooth foundation for sautéing and enhancing flavor depth.
• Onion: Adds sweet, subtle undertones and creates a flavor-packed starting point for the soup.
• Carrot: Brings a subtle sweetness and vibrant color to the soup base.
• Celery: Contributes a delicate, earthy crunch and traditional soup vegetable profile.
• Garlic: Infuses intense, pungent notes that elevate the overall taste experience.
• Bay Leaves: Impart a subtle herbal complexity and aromatic depth to the broth.

• Chicken Breasts: Tender, lean protein that provides substantial texture and wholesome richness.
• Chicken Stock: Creates a robust, flavorful liquid foundation with deep, comforting chicken essence.

• Orzo: Adds delightful pasta pearls that create a satisfying, hearty soup consistency.
• Lemon Juice: Brings bright, zesty acidity that cuts through richness and creates a refreshing balance.
• Egg Yolks: Provide creamy, luxurious thickness and silky smoothness to the soup.
• Fresh Dill: Offers a delicate, feathery herb that introduces fresh, aromatic notes.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential for enhancing and harmonizing all the soup's complex flavors.

Cooking Tools for This Comforting Soup

• Large Stock Pot or Dutch Oven: Essential for cooking soup, provides ample space for ingredients and even heat distribution.
• Cutting Board: Needed for chopping vegetables and preparing ingredients.
• Chef's Knife: Sharp knife for precise vegetable and chicken cutting.
• Two Forks: Perfect for shredding cooked chicken easily.
• Whisk: Crucial for blending egg yolks and creating smooth soup texture.
• Ladle: Helps transfer hot soup when tempering egg mixture.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient proportions.
• Wooden Spoon: Great for stirring and mixing ingredients while cooking.

Steps to Make Avgolemono Soup

• Aromatic Veggie Base

Warm up a large pot and gently transform onions, carrots, and celery into a soft, fragrant foundation for your soup. Let them dance and soften for about 10 minutes.

• Chicken and Broth Symphony

Introduce garlic, chicken, and rich stock into your cooking vessel. Allow everything to mingle and create a delicious harmony, simmering gently until chicken becomes tender.

• Orzo Magic

Remove the chicken and shred it lovingly. Add orzo to the pot, letting the pasta absorb all the delightful flavors while becoming perfectly al dente.

• Creamy Lemon Transformation

In a separate bowl, blend egg yolks with bright, zingy lemon juice. Carefully marry this mixture into the soup, creating a luxurious, silky texture that will make taste buds sing.

• Final Flourish

Sprinkle fresh dill throughout the soup, season with salt and pepper, and serve this comforting Greek classic. Garnish with extra dill for a pop of color and freshness.

Tips for Creamy & Tangy Balance

• Soup Savvy Tips
• Broth Boost: Homemade chicken stock elevates the soup's richness and depth of flavor compared to store-bought versions. Fresh ingredients make a world of difference in this classic Greek recipe.
• Egg Technique: Tempering prevents egg yolks from scrambling by gradually warming them with hot soup liquid. This delicate process ensures a smooth, creamy texture throughout the soup.
• Lemon Love: Select fresh, ripe lemons for the brightest, most vibrant citrus notes. Roll the lemon on the counter before juicing to release maximum juice and enhance flavor intensity.
• Protein Flexibility: Swap chicken breasts with rotisserie chicken or leftover roasted chicken for a quick weeknight meal. Shredded turkey works wonderfully as an alternative protein option.
• Herb Harmony: Replace dill with fresh parsley or oregano if preferred. Dried herbs can substitute fresh ones, but use half the quantity to maintain balanced seasoning.

Serving the Soup the Greek Way

• Comfort Bowl Companion: Pair this Greek lemon chicken soup with a crisp slice of crusty bread to soak up the zesty broth and add a delightful textural contrast.
• Mediterranean Meal Matcher: Serve alongside a simple Greek salad with feta cheese, cucumber, and kalamata olives to create a complete and authentic Mediterranean dining experience.
• Protein Power-Up: Top each serving with a sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese or toasted pine nuts for extra protein and a nutty, rich flavor that complements the soup's bright lemony notes.
• Wellness Warm-Up: Perfect for chilly days or when feeling under the weather, this soup offers a nourishing and comforting meal that helps boost immunity and provides gentle, healing warmth.

Saving Leftovers Without Losing Flavor

• Smart Portioning: Divide the soup into individual meal-sized containers for quick weekday lunches or dinners. Each portion stays fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Cool the soup completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers. Sealed properly, it maintains excellent taste and texture for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating gently.
• Reheating Magic: Warm the soup slowly on the stovetop, adding a splash of chicken stock to restore its original creamy consistency. Avoid microwave reheating to prevent egg mixture from separating.
• Ingredient Refresh Tip: When serving leftovers, sprinkle fresh dill and squeeze extra lemon juice to brighten the flavors and restore the soup's vibrant taste profile.

Creamy Greek Lemon Chicken Soup Recipe

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4.8 from 37 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Home cooks adore Avgolemono soup, a classic Greek lemon chicken soup with silky egg-enriched broth. Mediterranean comfort shines through tender chicken, fragrant herbs, and tangy citrus that welcome diners to Greece’s culinary warmth.

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Ingredients

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• 2 chicken breasts (12 oz / 350 g)
• 2 egg yolks
• 6 cups (1.5 L) chicken stock
• ¾ cup (175 g) orzo
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1–2 medium carrots, diced
• 2–3 celery stalks, diced
• 2–3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lemon (juice)
• 1 handful fresh dill
• 2 bay leaves
• salt to taste
• freshly ground black pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. Sauté Aromatics: In a spacious pot over medium heat, combine olive oil with diced onions, carrots, and celery, transforming them into a tender, translucent flavor base while releasing their aromatic essence.
2. Build Flavor Foundation: Incorporate minced garlic and whole chicken pieces into the vegetable mixture, then pour in chicken stock and add bay leaves, creating a robust soup foundation, and bring to a vigorous boil before reducing to a gentle simmer.
3. Poach and Prepare: Cover the pot and allow chicken to poach tenderly for 15 minutes, then remove chicken pieces and bay leaves, and sprinkle orzo into the simmering broth to cook and absorb the delicate flavors.
4. Create Creamy Texture: Whisk egg yolks with lemon juice in a separate bowl, then carefully temper the mixture by gradually adding warm soup liquid while whisking continuously to prevent curdling, and gently fold the tempered eggs back into the soup to create a luxurious, silky consistency.
5. Finish and Serve: Shred the cooked chicken into rustic pieces, return to the pot, stir in freshly chopped dill, and season with salt and pepper, then ladle the soup into warm bowls and garnish with additional dill sprigs for a vibrant, aromatic presentation.

Notes

• Protect Egg Mixture: Slowly add hot broth to eggs while whisking to prevent scrambling and maintain a smooth, creamy texture.
• Chicken Poaching Timing: Cook chicken exactly 15 minutes to ensure tender, juicy meat without becoming dry or tough.
• Flavor Building Technique: Sauté vegetables at medium heat to develop deep, rich foundational flavors before adding other ingredients.
• Herb Freshness Matters: Add fresh dill at the end to preserve its bright, aromatic qualities and maximize its delicate flavor profile.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Greek

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 9 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg