Creamy Greek Lemon Chicken Soup: The Secret to a Perfect Weeknight Dinner
A rich and comforting Greek lemon chicken soup (Avgolemono) made with tender chicken, orzo, fresh dill, and a silky egg-lemon broth that creates a bright, creamy flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 52 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients
- 1.5 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 carrot, diced
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 12 oz chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 6.5 cups chicken stock
- 0.75 cup orzo
- 1.5 lemons, juiced
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 generous handful fresh dill, chopped
- 0.5 tsp dried oregano
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and sauté the onion, carrot, and celery for 8–10 minutes until softened and the onion is translucent. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
2. Add bay leaves, chicken pieces, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently for about 15 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked.
3. In a small bowl whisk together the egg yolks and lemon juice until smooth to create the avgolemono mixture.
4. Remove the cooked chicken from the pot and discard the bay leaves. Add the orzo to the broth and cook for about 10 minutes until tender.
5. Shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Slowly whisk about 1 cup of hot broth into the egg-lemon mixture to temper it.
6. Pour the tempered mixture back into the soup while stirring constantly, then return the shredded chicken to the pot.
7. Remove from heat, stir in fresh dill, and season with salt and black pepper to taste before serving hot.
Notes
Tempering the egg-lemon mixture slowly with hot broth prevents the eggs from scrambling and keeps the soup silky.
Keep the soup at a gentle simmer rather than a rolling boil to maintain a clear broth and tender chicken.
This soup is best enjoyed fresh, as the creamy egg-lemon texture is most delicate right after cooking.
Find it online: https://cookingwithramsay.com/creamy-greek-lemon-chicken-soup/