This Avgolemono Soup recipe is an unforgettable silky, tangy, Greek Lemon Chicken Soup laced with fragrant rice, lemon and fresh herbs, thatโs as equally cozy as it is refreshing!
Avgolemono Soup is a uniquely cozy, lemony, chicken soup loaded with refreshing, comforting, nutritious, feel-good ingredients. It’s made with juicy shredded chicken (or shortcut rotisserie), tender jasmine rice, carrots and celery, aromatic onions and garlic in a vibrant lemony broth infused with fresh dill and parsley. What sets Greek Lemon Chicken Soup apart, is itโs prepared Greek-style with avgolemono sauce (lemon-egg sauce) so the broth is extra silky, luxurious, vibrant and satisfying! Serve your Avgolemono Soup with dinner rolls and a Greek salad for a complete feast!
Warming up to a big bowl of chicken soup not only fills the belly and warms the soul, but makes great meal prep and/or leftovers. Donโt miss some of our favorite comforting chicken soup recipes such as Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup, Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, Lemon Chicken Tortellini Soup, Chicken Tortilla Soup.
How to Make Avgolemono Soup Video
WHY YOUโLL LOVE this Avgolemono Soup recipe
Silky.ย Avgolemono Soup may begin like any ordinary chicken rice soup with onions, carrots, celery and broth, but the broth is enriched with lemon and eggs for an unforgettable rich, luxuriously silky, tangy broth thatโs extra comforting.
Lemony. The avgolemono is generous with the sunny, bright lemon juice that enlivens the cozy soup with refreshing tanginess.
Well-seasoned.ย Garlic, onions, dried herbs, fresh dill and fresh parsley, plenty of salt and pepper and a pinch of red pepper flakes combine along with the sunny lift from the citrus, for an alluring tapestry of aromatics, citrus and herbs.
Extremely versatile. Swap the jasmine rice for brown rice, orzo, quinoa or barley (see notes), add any veggies you like and use shortcut rotisserie chicken.
Crave worthy ingredients.ย The tender rice combined with the vegetables and juicy shredded chicken in the silky broth creates a crave-worthy medley of good-for-you textures.ย
What is Avgolemono Soup?
Avgolemono, (pronounced ah-vgo-le-mono with a light g or sometimes silent g) refers to a classic silky, Greek sauce made of eggs, lots of lemon and warm chicken broth.ย Itโs used throughout Greece (and the Mediterranean under various names) to thicken and infuse dishes with richness and bright notes of lemon.ย The addition of more chicken broth, juicy shredded chicken, rice, vegetables and herbs transforms the sauce into a rich, satisfying Greek Lemon Chicken Soup.
Just like chili in the United States, there are untold versions of Greek Avgolemono Soup. ย Some laboriously begin with a whole chicken and homemade chicken stock, others are as simple as adding additional broth to avgolemono, some use a few eggs, others many eggs, some whip the egg whites separately, some use a moderately amount of lemon, most are heavy on the lemon. The constant key, however, is the avgolemono sauce in some form.
Greek Lemon Soup ingredients
Avgolemono Soup boasts rich and complex flavor, but itโs made with very basic ingredients you likely have on hand already! Letโs review what youโll need to make this Greek soup (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):
Can I use rotisserie chicken in this Greek Lemon Rice Soup?
Absolutely! Rotisserie chicken is so easy to use in this recipe for Avgolemono Soup and tastes fantastic (I recommend it over chicken breasts). Rotisserie chicken comes lightly seasoned for a depth of flavor and is a mix of both light and dark meat. It also comes perfectly tender and ready to shred.
To use rotisserie chicken, shred the chicken, discard the bones, and add about 3 cups of shredded chicken to the soup after you’ve added the egg-lemon sauce, just to warm through. ย
Can I Use Brown Rice?ย
You can technically use brown rice, but be aware it takes about three times longer to cook in the soup, so be ready to add additional broth and waiting time or you can cook the rice separately:
-Rice cooker: Pop the brown rice in your rice cooker while you make the rest of the soup, then add it at the end.
-Microwave: Microwavable brown rice packets or quinoa work perfectly.
-Leftovers: Add leftover brown rice at the end of cooking, no need to warm first.
How to make Avgolemono Soup
Tips for Greek Chicken Soup
Can I make Greek Lemon Rice Soup in advance?
Yes! The flavors of this Avgolemonoย Soup are fantastic the next day but the rice will soak up some broth while it sits so may need to stir in additional broth to reach desired consistency. Now, just reheat per below instructions.
What can I prep in advance for Greek Chicken Lemon
The ingredients for this Greek Lemon Chicken Soup can be prepped ahead of time, making dinner come together quickly. You can choose to complete all or just a few of the steps ahead of time:
-Chicken: trim, season and refrigerate or proceed to sear, then refrigerate.
-Vegetables and aromatics: chop and refrigerate, or sautรฉ and refrigerate in the pot with the chicken, broth and seasonings.
-Lemons: can be juiced, zested and refrigerated.
-Eggs: whisk the eggs and egg yolks together with the lemon juice. Bring to room temperature before tempering.
-Fresh herbs: mince ahead of time and refrigerate.
Greek Chicken Lemon Soup variations
What to serve with Greek Chicken Soup
This Avgolemono Soup recipe is hearty and comforting, full of protein, carbs and veggies, so it doesnโt need much as far as sides go. However, we love serving it with:ย
How to store Greek Lemon Soup
Let the soup cool to room temperature, cover and store in your Dutch oven or transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Can you freeze Avgolemono Soup?
Yes! Because Greek Lemon Chicken Soup is creamy without any cream, it’s great to freeze! Freeze in a large freezer safe container or in smaller airtight containers for up to 3 months. Place in the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
How to reheat this Avgolemono Soup Recipe
-Stove: The eggs will not scramble when reheated! Just make sure to reheat gently over medium low heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through, adding additional broth as needed.
-Microwave: For smaller batches or individual servings, transfer soup to a microwave-safe dish, add additional broth as needed, cover with a microwave-safe lid or paper towel. Microwave for 90 seconds, stir, then continue to microwave for 30-second intervals, if needed.
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Greek Lemon Rice Soup
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, patted dry (OR see notes for breasts or rotisserie chicken)
- salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 stalks celery, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 2-3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped (about 1 cup)
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- pinch-¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons granulated chicken bouillon, cubes or bouillon better than bouillon (see notes)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp EACH dried basil, dried thyme, salt
- 1 bay leaf
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
ADD LATER
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain jasmine rice (see notes for brown)
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 large eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon dried)
Instructions
- Sear chicken: Heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven/soup pot. Season chicken with ยฝ teaspoon salt and ยฝ teaspoon pepper then sear until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Remove to a plate but leave drippings.
- Saute vegetables: Melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat in the drippings. Increase to medium-high heat and add onions, carrots and celery; sautรฉ until tender, scraping up the golden bits on the bottom of the pan. Add garlic and red pepper (if using) and sautรฉ for 30 seconds.
- Add ingredients: Add chicken back to the pot along with lemon zest, bouillon, all seasonings and chicken broth.
- Simmer soup: Cover the soup to bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Simmer the soup (covered) until the chicken is tender enough to shred, about 12-15 minutes (longer for breasts). Meanwhile:
- Make avgolemono: While the soup is simmering, whisk together the lemon juice, eggs and egg yolks in a medium liquid measuring cup or mixing bowl; set aside.
- Shred chicken: Once chicken is tender, remove to a cutting board; shred once cool enough to handle, donโt add back to the pot yet.
- Simmer rice: Add the rice to the soup, cover, and bring to a simmer. Simmer gently until rice is almost tender, about 8-10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. ***NOTE: Cooking time may vary depending on your rice and how long it takes to bring your soup to a simmer so I suggest checking the rice often until done. Don't cook until completely tender (should have a little "bite" to it) because the rice will continue to cook while the hot soup sits.
- Temper eggs: Using a ladle, slowly drizzle some of the hot soup into the egg and lemon mixture while whisking CONSTANTLY in order to temper the eggs. Repeat about 4 times, whisking constantly.
- Add eggs to soup: Off-heat, whisk the tempered egg mixture into the soup, whisking constantly.
- Add chicken and herbs: Stir the shredded chicken, fresh parsley and dill into the soup. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper if desired.
Video
Notes
- Chicken: I recommend juicier, more flavorful, boneless, skinless chicken thighs.ย However, you may swap out for chicken breasts (they’ll take longer to cook, but make sure not to overcook or they will be dry!) or better yet, use rotisserie chicken.ย To use shredded rotisserie chicken, add about 3 cups of shredded chicken to the soup after you’ve added the egg-lemon sauce. ย
- Omit protein: You can also omit the chicken completely, and/or even the vegetables for a simple Avgolemono Soup recipe.
- Brown rice: You can use brown rice, but it will take about 3 times longer to cook, so be prepared to add additional broth. Alternatively, use leftover cooked rice, cook it in your rice cooker or use microwavable packets and add it to the soup at the end of cooking.
- Pre-cooked rice: Add any pre-cooked rice or grain to the soup after the eggs are tempered. You will need less broth because it won’t be absorbed by the rice when cooking. I suggest starting with 6 cups broth then adding more as needed.
- Chicken bouillon:Use bouillon powder, bouillon cubes or better than bouillon. Add it to the soup without dissolving in liquid first. If using cubes, you will need 2, which you crush up and add directly to the broth.
- Add more or less lemon: As written, this recipe is heavily scented with lemon and quite tangy. You can start with less if you wish and add more to taste.
- Vegetables: Add any veggies you like!ย See post for lots of variation ideas!
- Prep ahead: The chicken can be trimmed, seasoned and refrigerated or seared, the vegetables can be chopped or and even sauteed, the lemons can be juiced and zested, the eggs can be whisked with the lemon juice and refrigerated and the herbs can be minced and refrigerated.
- Storage: Let the soup cool to room temperature, cover and store in your Dutch oven or transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.ย To freeze, transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.ย Place in the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
- To reheat: The eggs will not scramble when reheated! Just make sure to reheat gently over medium low heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through, adding additional broth as needed.ย You can also microwave individual servings.
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Robin Barr says
This looks wonderful, and I know Greek Lemon soup is one of my mother’s favorites. What are your thoughts about using cauliflower rice instead of rice / brown rice / orzo / barley in the soup? Would you just add it later to keep the cooking time down?
Jen says
It would work great! I would just add it the last 4-5 few minutes of cooking.
Desiree says
Hi Jen! Another winner of a recipe of yours! I made this exactly as you directed, just delicious!!
Thank you ๐ xo
Jen says
That’s awesome you made it already, so pleased you loved it! Thanks Desiree!
Natalia says
Jen, I prepared tonight this soup and it is so delicious. I used 3 tablespoons of lemon juice and it was perfect. I highly recommend it. Thank you so much.
Jen says
Thanks for your awesome review, Natalia! I am so pleased this soup was a winner!
Valerie says
I substituted lime for lemon, and the soup was still SO amazingly DELICIOUS! Thank you!
Jen says
Mmmm, sounds delicious!
Greg says
Def a lot of work and def chop all veggies beforehand. This recipe requires a lot of prep. Having said that itโs the most delicious chicken soup Iโve ever made. If I were to change anything Iโd add another half cup rice for sure.
I have three quarts of leftovers and they will be amazing.
Once again CC recipes just work.
Jen says
Thank you Greg, I’m honored this is the best chicken soup you’ve ever made!!!!
Nora Lee says
Wow this soup is amazing! So rich and flavorful. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!
Jen says
Thank you! I’m so glad you love it!
Gillian says
We canโt do egg whites but can do yokes. Will it mess up the recipe to omit the whites? Would you still add 4 yokes? Iโm going to try this with orzo once I hear your take on the yokes! Thanks!
Jen says
I think omitting them would be just fine! I would just use the 4 yokes. Hope you enjoy!
Lara says
Iโm obsessed with this recipe. Thank you so much. I only have one question. Do you have the nutritional values? Wondering if you do so that I donโt have to calculate it.
Jen says
Thanks Lara! I’m so glad you love it! I don’t have the nutritional values, sorry for the inconvenience!