Avgolemono Soup: A Silky Greek Lemon Chicken Soup Recipe

By cosass

October 2, 2026 7 Min Read

Bright lemon, tender chicken, and a silky broth come together in this Avgolemono Soup, a Greek twist on classic comfort food. The soup pairs chicken and rice with an egg-and-lemon broth that tastes creamy even though it contains no cream. Fresh dill adds another layer of brightness and balances the richness of the chicken and eggs.

Why You’ll Love This Avgolemono Soup

Bright lemon, tender chicken, and a silky broth make Avgolemono Soup comfort food with a Greek twist.

This recipe contains a pound of chicken, making it a protein-packed dish that still feels light. The lemon flavor is balanced: ⅓ cup of fresh lemon juice gives the soup a noticeable lemon flavor without overpowering the chicken, vegetables, and dill. Dill is used both in the soup and as a garnish, allowing that bright flavor to pair perfectly with the lemon. By using rotisserie chicken, the recipe cuts down on cooking time, making it easy to throw together on a busy weeknight.

Recipe Ingredients

Avgolemono Soup in a bowl with fresh pepper and lemon slices.

Vegetables – Add a colorful flair and contribute to the fiber in this dish alongside the rice.
Lemons – Add that bright, zesty fresh flavor to this soup that everyone loves.
Dill – A bright, grassy herb that pairs beautifully alongside lemon.

For a full list of ingredients and amounts, see the full recipe below.

Variations

Chicken – If you want to cook chicken yourself, you can use chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or even a whole chicken if you prefer.
Vegetables – You can add any additional vegetable you like. Some recommendations are zucchini, spinach, or even peas.
Rice – If you want to substitute the rice, you can also use orzo pasta in place of it.
Chicken Stock – You can substitute this for vegetable stock or even chicken broth. Note that if you use broth, you will not get as bold a flavor for this soup.

How to Make Avgolemono Soup

Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat.
Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned.
Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
Add the chicken stock and bay leaves. Bring to a gentle boil.
Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Stir in the rice and cook for 15–20 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
Discard the bay leaves and stir in the shredded chicken.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and lemon juice until smooth and frothy.
Very slowly ladle about 1½ cups of the hot broth into the egg mixture, one ladleful at a time, whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from scrambling. This process, called tempering, helps create the soup’s signature silky texture.
Continue whisking until fully combined and warmed.
Reduce the heat to low and pour the tempered egg-lemon mixture back into the soup while stirring gently.
Cook for 2–3 minutes over low heat until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Do not allow the soup to boil after adding the eggs.
Stir in the fresh dill and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges and a sprinkle of fresh dill and lemon zest on top.

Expert Tips

Temper the eggs slowly – This is the most important step in the recipe. Add the hot broth to the egg-and-lemon mixture one ladleful at a time while whisking constantly. Bringing the eggs up to temperature gradually helps prevent them from scrambling.
Use fresh lemon juice – Bottled lemon juice will work in a pinch, but fresh lemon juice gives this soup a noticeably brighter flavor.
Taste before adding more lemon – Avgolemono should have a distinct lemon flavor, but you can easily adjust it to your preference. Taste the finished soup before adding any extra lemon juice.

FAQs

What does Avgolemono mean?

Avgolemono means “egg-lemon” in Greek and refers to the mixture that gives this soup its silky texture and bright flavor.

How do I keep the eggs from scrambling?

Slowly whisk hot broth into the egg-lemon mixture to gradually warm the eggs before adding them to the pot. Keep the heat low and never let the soup boil after adding the eggs.

What should I serve with this Avgolemono Soup?

I like serving crusty bread and a fresh salad alongside this hearty soup.

Storage Information

Chicken stock and bay leaves added to the Dutch oven.

You can store any leftovers of this Greek Lemon Chicken Soup in an airtight container in your refrigerator for 3–4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze this soup in your freezer for up to 2 months. To reheat, be sure to thaw overnight in the fridge, then you can do so on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave until everything has warmed through. Add additional stock or water if needed.

More Soup Recipes To Love

Indian Mulligatawny Soup
Tuscan White Bean Soup
Beef Noodle Soup
Vegetarian Cabbage Soup

Avgolemono Soup Recipe

Course: Soup, Soups & Stews
Cuisine: European, Greek
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 366kcal
Author: Linda

Equipment

Lodge Dutch Oven

Ingredients

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup diced yellow onion (about 1 medium onion)
1 cup diced carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
¾ cup diced celery (about 2 stalks)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb cooked chicken breast, shredded (about 2 rotisserie chicken breasts)
8 cups low-sodium chicken stock
1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
2 bay leaves
3 large eggs, room temperature
⅓ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 2–3 lemons)
2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish
1 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
½ tsp black pepper

Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat.
Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned.
Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
Add the chicken stock and bay leaves. Bring to a gentle boil.
Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Stir in the rice and cook for 15–20 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
Discard the bay leaves and stir in the shredded chicken.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and lemon juice until smooth and frothy.
Very slowly ladle about 1½ cups of the hot broth into the egg mixture, one ladleful at a time, whisking constantly to prevent the eggs from scrambling. This process, called tempering, helps create the soup’s signature silky texture.
Continue whisking until fully combined and warmed.
Reduce the heat to low and pour the tempered egg-lemon mixture back into the soup while stirring gently.
Cook for 2–3 minutes over low heat until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Do not allow the soup to boil after adding the eggs.
Stir in the fresh dill and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges and a sprinkle of fresh dill and lemon zest on top.

Notes

You can store any leftovers of this Avgolemono Soup in an airtight container in your fridge for 3–4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze this soup in your freezer for up to 2 months. To reheat, be sure to thaw overnight in the fridge, then you can do so on the stovetop over medium-high heat or in the microwave until everything has warmed through.