Description
Greek Lemon Chicken Soup is bright, cozy, and wonderfully nourishing—a comforting Mediterranean-inspired bowl with tender chicken, vegetables, and rice in a lemon-kissed broth.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups chicken broth
- ¾ cup uncooked white rice or orzo
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or dill (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery and sauté for 4–5 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth and add chicken, salt, black pepper, and oregano. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 15–18 minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked.
- Remove chicken from the pot, shred or chop it, and return it to the soup.
- Stir in rice or orzo and simmer for 10–12 minutes until tender.
- In a bowl, whisk eggs with lemon juice and lemon zest until smooth.
- Slowly ladle 1–2 cups of hot soup into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to temper the eggs.
- Gradually stir the lemon-egg mixture back into the pot. Do not boil.
- Cook gently for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Garnish if desired and serve warm.
Notes
- Tip: Use brown rice for a heartier, higher-fiber version, but adjust simmer time as needed.
- To prevent the eggs from curdling, temper the eggs by slowly whisking in hot broth before returning to the pot.
- If using orzo, the soup will be a bit starchier; rice yields a lighter texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: Approximately 235 per serving (with rice)
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: About 1000 mg per serving
- Fat: Approximately 4–6 g per serving
- Saturated Fat: Approximately 2–4 g per serving
- Unsaturated Fat: Approximately 8–10 g per serving
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: Approximately 28 g per serving
- Fiber: About 1–2 g per serving
- Protein: About 28–30 g per serving
- Cholesterol: Approximately 150 mg per serving
Keywords: Greek Lemon Chicken Soup, lemon chicken soup, Greek soup, Mediterranean soup, cozy soup, comfort food