Traditional Chicken Avgolemono Soup

Avgolemono soup is a hearty, comforting Greek soup that is really lemony, creamy, and honestly so dang good. It’s great for when you’re sick, for a chilly day, or when you need something to warm you from the inside out.

Why you’ll love this avgolemono soup:

• Comforting: Nothing says comfort food more than a big, warming bowl of soup
• Flavorful: I LOVE the combination of flavors in this traditional Greek soup. The lemon is so tasty
• Versatile: You can make this soup vegan too to fit your dietary needs

Ingredient Notes:

Chicken Breasts: You can also use chicken thighs here if you prefer darker meat, or you only have thighs on hand.

Lemon Juice: You’ll want to use freshly squeezed lemon juice here. It’ll produce the best, authentic flavor vs. the stuff bought in a bottle at the store.

How to make avgolemono soup:

1. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and set aside. Into a large stock pot add olive oil and turn to medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear, 2 minutes per side, then remove to a bowl or plate.
2. Turn the heat to medium and add the chopped onion. Cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
3. Stir in the chicken stock paste and bay leaf. Then, add the water and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, once simmering add the chicken breasts (along with any juices) and the rice. Stir and then keep at a simmer at medium-low heat with the lid mostly on the pot and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken breasts and rice are cooked.
4. Once the chicken breasts and rice are cooked, turn the heat off and remove the chicken breasts to a cutting board. Leave the lid on the pot to keep the soup warm and use two forks to shred the chicken. Stir the shredded chicken back into the soup along with the fresh dill.
5. Remove the soup pot from the heat completely. Scoop out 1 cup of stock into a measuring cup and set aside (try to scoop out just the liquid stock).
6. Make the avgolemono: Separate the egg whites and egg yolks into two separate bowls. Whisk the egg whites vigorously until they develop a foamy consistency on top. Gradually add egg yolks to the egg whites and continue to whisk to combine. Keep whisking and gradually pour in the lemon juice until combined.  Slowly pour the 1 cup of stock into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to combine.
7. Add the egg mixture into the pot of soup, constantly stirring until combined. Taste and adjust seasong with salt and pepper, a big pinch of each if desired! Serve in bowls topped with fresh dill, pinch of salt and pepper and drizzle of olive oil.

Expert Tips & FAQ:

What are avgolemono made of? Avgolemono is a Greek soup that is creamy, lemony, and contains both chicken and rice to make it a hearty, well-rounded dish.

What is avgolemono in Greek to English? The translation is egg-lemon which perfectly describes two of the main ingredients in this creamy soup.

Is avgolemono good for colds? For Greeks (like me), this soup has gotten me through so many illnesses. It’s hearty, comforting, and perfect for when you are sick as it’s packed with nutrients to help get you better quick.

Is avgolemono good for you? Definitely. Avgolemono soup is made with whole, hearty ingredients. It can make a great, well-rounded dish.

Other soups you’ll love:

• Vegan Gnocchi Soup
• Greek Lemon Rice Soup (the vegan version of this chicken soup)
• Vegan Dumplings
• Curry Potato Soup

Chicken Avgolemono Soup

4.91 from 10 votes

This delicious chicken Avgolemono Soup is the perfect comfort food. It's creamy, lemony, and hearty.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Soup

Cuisine Greek-Inspired

Servings 4 -5

Calories 373 kcal

Ingredients

  

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• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 tbsp chicken stock paste
• 8 cups water
• 2 chicken breasts
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup uncooked jasmine rice or other rice of your choice (i.e. basmati)
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped dill

For the avgolemeno

• 4 eggs, separate egg yolks and whites
• juice of 3 lemons
• 1 cup soup stock

Garnish

• fresh dill
• salt and pepper
• olive oil

Instructions

 

• Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and set aside. Into a large stock pot add olive oil and turn to medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and sear, 2 minutes per side, then remove to a bowl or plate.
• Turn the heat to medium and add the chopped onion. Cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
• Stir in the chicken stock paste and bay leaf. Then, add the water and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, once simmering add the chicken breasts (along with any juices) and the rice. Stir and then keep at a simmer at medium-low heat with the lid mostly on the pot and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken breasts and rice are cooked.
• Once the chicken breasts and rice are cooked, turn the heat off and remove the chicken breasts to a cutting board. Leave the lid on the pot to keep the soup warm and use two forks to shred the chicken. Stir the shredded chicken back into the soup along with the fresh dill.
• Remove the soup pot from the heat completely. Scoop out 1 cup of stock into a measuring cup and set aside (try to scoop out just the liquid stock).
• Make the avgolemono: Separate the egg whites and egg yolks into two separate bowls. Whisk the egg whites vigorously until they develop a foamy consistency on top. Gradually add egg yolks to the egg whites and continue to whisk to combine. Keep whisking and gradually pour in the lemon juice until combined.  Slowly pour the 1 cup of stock into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to combine.
• Add the egg mixture into the pot of soup, constantly stirring until combined. Taste and adjust seasong with salt and pepper, a big pinch of each if desired! Serve in bowls topped with fresh dill, pinch of salt and pepper and drizzle of olive oil.

Video

Notes

• If you love this soup but are looking for a vegan version, try our Creamy Vegan Greek Lemon Rice Soup (Avgolemono)
• Don’t have chicken stock paste? You can use chicken broth then instead of water but be sure to adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 18.4g | Protein: 39.2g | Fat: 15.8g | Saturated Fat: 3.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7.9g | Cholesterol: 285.6mg | Sodium: 766.6mg | Fiber: 1.6g | Sugar: 4.1g

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4.91 from 10 votes