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My Cozy Lemon Chicken & Rice Soup is a warm and cozy concoction filled with tender chicken, soft rice, and zesty lemon. This hearty soup is inspired by my late grandmother Peris’ traditional egg-lemon soup recipe, and it also tastes a lot like the avgolemono soup from one of my favorite San Francisco restaurants, Souvla. It’s truly a hug in a cup (or bowl!).
Lemon, chicken, and rice are three of my favorite ingredients to work with individually, and together, they’re even better. This Lemon Chicken & Rice soup combines the best of all three, for a warm, cozy, comforting soup that everyone will enjoy! I say this with confidence, not only because my family loves it so much, but because this soup was one of my favorites when I was a kid.
This recipe is based on my grandmother Peris’ traditional egg-lemon soup recipe. I remember visiting grandma’s house and diving into a nice, hot bowl of this soup. It was always perfect, always made me feel good, and is one of my favorite recipes to this day. I’m obsessed!
One of my favorite things about having this blog is being able to share recipes that mean a lot to me, with you. Not only because they’re tasty, but my hope is that they will also inspire you to create new food traditions with your family and loved ones!
But this recipe in particular is special, because it’s a two-in-one. It’s sentimental, thanks to it being a riff off of my grandmother’s recipe. But it’s also just craveable and delicious, and that’s thanks to the fact that it’s based off of one of my FAVORITE soups in San Francisco: the avgolemono soup from Souvla.
If you haven’t been to Souvla, and you’re based in the Bay Area, then you need to go ASAP. Souvla is a fast-casual Greek spot with multiple locations throughout the city, and all of their dishes are absolutely delicious. It’s the reason why, pre-pandemic days, it was always packed inside of there. Oh, and if you love sweets, then you need to try their homemade Greek frozen yogurt. With olive oil and baklava? It’s heaven.
But Souvla aside, if I haven’t convinced you to make this soup yet, then just keep reading and see how easy and delicious these ingredients are.
What You Need to Make This Cozy, Comforting Soup
- Olive Oil: Any neutral oil really works here, but I recommend olive oil. Why? It has the perfect flavor, it’s full of heart-healthy fats, and is the traditional way to make this soup!
- Onion: Any onion works here! I like using a yellow onion, but use what you have. 🙂
- Garlic: Fresh garlic is always my preference. It just tastes better and fresher!
- Rice: In this recipe, you will be using UNCOOKED rice. The rice cooks in the soup. You can use any rice variety you’d like, but I recommend arborio!
- Chicken Broth or Bone Broth: Chicken broth or bone broth work equally as well here. I like using my Belcampo bone broth, but regular chicken broth is perfectly fine.
- Thyme Leaves: Dried or fresh is fine here!
- Oregano: Dried oregano is totally fine here!
- Lemon Juice + Zest: Fresh lemon juice is always best! Plus, you’ll need fresh lemons for the zest.
- Eggs: The eggs are super crucial for not only getting the right flavor, but also for getting this soup to have the right texture. They can’t be substituted – sorry!
- Egg Yolks: In addiction to eggs, we’ll also be using egg yolks. Don’t skip these!
- Chicken Breast: Boneless, skinless, shredded chicken breast is essential for this recipe!
- Sea Salt and Pepper: And, of course, you can’t make a soup without a little salt and pepper!
The Key to Making this Simple, Delicious, Cozy Soup Recipe
The key to making your Cozy Lemon Chicken and Rice Soup turn out perfectly every time is to use uncooked rice. If you use pre-cooked rice, it will become soggy and mushy in the soup, which we don’t want to happen!
How to Serve This Soup
I recommend serving this soup with a side of crusty sourdough bread, because what’s better than warm soup with a side of bread?! Or, kick things up a notch and serve it alongside a Greek Salad! My Loaded Greek Salad is the perfect simple, easy recipe to make. It’s everything that you know and love about a traditional Greek Salad, but is kicked up a notch thanks to the addition of artichoke hearts and avocado. Yum!
Storing Instructions
I recommend storing this soup in an airtight container, or in a mason jar, in the fridge, for up to one week! You can also freeze this soup, by putting it into a freezer-safe container. It should be good for about one month! Yay!
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and rating below! And since I practically live on Instagram, be sure to tag me in your creations so I can see them and repost on my IG stories! Enjoy! xx
My Cozy Lemon Chicken & Rice Soup is a warm and cozy concoction filled with tender chicken, soft rice, and zesty lemon. This hearty soup is inspired by my late grandmother Peris' traditional egg-lemon soup recipe, and it also tastes a lot like the avgolemono soup from one of my favorite San Francisco restaurants, Souvla. It's truly a hug in a cup (or bowl!).
Equipment
- 1 Large Pot My favorite pot to use is the "Perfect Pot" from Our Place!
Ingredients
For the Soup:
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic mashed
- 1 ½ cups arborio rice uncooked
- 8 cups chicken broth or bone broth
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ cup lemon juice + zest of 2 lemons
- 2 eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- ¾ pound cooked boneless, skinless, chicken breast shredded
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
For Garnishing:
- chopped parsley
- Aleppo pepper
- fresh or dry dill
Instructions
- Start by adding the olive oil to a large pot, on the stove, over medium heat.
- Once the pot is hot, add in the diced onions. Sauté them for about 6-7 minutes, until the onions begin to turn translucent. Then, add in the mashed garlic and sauté for another 2 minutes.
- Next, add in the uncooked rice, broth, thyme, and oregano, and reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, lemon zest, and lemon juice until fully incorporated. Set aside.
- Now, ladle about 1 3/4 cups of the soup into the bowl with the egg mixture, and VERY SLOWLY, a few tablespoons at a time. Be sure to constantly whisk the mixture so that the eggs don't curdle - this is extremely important.
- After that, add the mixture to a blender and blend until nice and smooth. Then, pour the mixture back into the pot with the rest of the soup.
- Add the shredded chicken and salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish with parsley, dill, and Aleppo pepper (optional).
- Eat and enjoy!
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WHAT DID YOU THINK?
Rate + Review
Chicken soup for the soul! Lovely, easy to follow and delicious. I added some tarragon (because I love it!) and it worked well with the lemon notes.
How is the chicken cooked? I see no mention of browning nor of simmering the chicken for X minutes in the soup.
Hi Brian, this recipe calls for pre-cooked chicken. Here is my favorite way to prepare it: https://kalejunkie.com/how-to-make-perfectly-juicy-chicken-every-single-time/
Hello there. I NEED to make this recipe! It sounds so delish. I am by no means a novice in the kitchen but for some reason my post baby brain doesn’t comprehend step 5. Am I only using soup water or whatever comes up with my spoon when dipped into pot? I know it’s probably simple but for some unknown reason my post baby brain won’t compute. Thank you so much
Hi Autumn, yes, you are using the broth from the soup. ☻
This soup is delicious and gorgeous with the browned chicken. Made it from the cookbook and had to leave a review. Lemony! You will feel like a goddess if you make this for someone else. I gave to my massage therapist and she was blown away. 🥲
I am so happy to hear that, Twila! Thank you so much for your support and for leaving such a kind review!
I never comment on things but this soup is out of this world! If you grew up eating this, it will exceed your expectations!
I am so thrilled to hear you enjoyed it, Gene! Thank you so much for making this soup, and for leaving such a kind review!
Definitely a 5 star recipe!
Thank you so much for the rating!
This soup is literally to die for! Love love!
Yay, I am so glad that you enjoyed it, MaryChris!
I just made this recipe on a cold night in austin! It’s very flavorful but my rice didn’t cook through. I used basmati because that’s all I had on hand, but it seems like another person used basmati and theirs was fine. I followed the recipe to a t! Any ideas as to what may have happened? Thanks!
Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that, Stephanie. Maybe you needed a bit more liquid or to allow the soup to cook a little longer!
Great recipe!! All I had was basmati rice, but turned out great regardless. Doubling the recipe next time since my family ate it up so fast!!
I’m so glad it turned out well for you, Danielle! Thank you so much for making this recipe and for leaving such a kind review!
This soup is absolutely fantastic! I followed all directions to a T and it came out perfectly. I now have a new favorite soup. The texture is so creamy, it is unbelievable that there is no dairy in this soup! I’ve been fighting strep and a sinus infection 🦠 and I think this soup will heal me!
Woohoo! I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Jenna! Thank you so much for your review, and I hope you feel better!
I made this tonight, it was easy and delicious! My sons (3&1) loved it as well. so toddler approved 🙂 Will definitely be making again.
Yay! I am thrilled to hear that, Hope! Thank you so much for your review!
Made this last night. Had zero clue until after I made it that it was dairy and grain free! We used our home butchered chicken thighs and drums instead of breast and I shredded the meat. It was so so easy to make and SO delicious! I’ve never used eggs like that in a dish to give the taste and texture of what cream would’ve done, but it was so good! And like I said, easy! I used my nutribullet to blend. Next time I may add some kale into the mix for added nutrition. Thank you for a great recipe.
I looove this recipe! My husband loved it so much he said he’d eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner! This recipe is also perfect for meal prepping. I just found out I am 5 weeks pregnant…are the raw eggs ok for me to eat??
I’m assuming they get cooked when you add it all back together, but just wanted to check!
I am so happy to hear that you and your husband loved this recipe, Danielle! As for your question… the eggs do get cooked, however if you have any concerns, I would ask your doctor before consuming this recipe, as I can’t advise you on what would be best! Congratulations on your new pregnancy!
Followed this recipe as is, and it was fantastic. Whole family loved it. Thank you.
I am so thrilled to hear that, Chris! Thank you so much for your review!
I’m so excited to try this recipe, it looks delicious! How much liquid does the rice absorb? It’s just my husband and I, so the 8 cups of broth makes me worry that this will be too much. Also, will this keep well in the fridge for a few days or will it become mush because of the rice?
Hi Amy! Yes, this soup should be fine in the fridge for a few days. I recommend sticking to the recipe and using the 8 cups of broth – you will just have extra soup to eat a few days later!
Had to modify, changed up a couple things, dark meat, no yolks, but that’s just being lazy really, smaller batch, different seasonings but the technique and the flavor are amazing! I actually think it’s not much different than if I followed it exactly to be honest, so much flavor! I also used chicken broth, seasoned salt (tiny amount) and a small amount of poultry seasoning, and it’s already helping my tummy feel a lot better… I’ll definitely be trying it again with the correct measurements and ingredients next time though! Thanks for the recipe!
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed this recipe, Linda, and found a variation of it that works for you! Thank you so much for making it, and for leaving such a kind review!
Easy to make and SO delicious!
Woohoo! Thank you so much for your review, Natalie!
I can find arborio rice anywhere, should I use white jasmine rice? I noticed in the comments there are confusions around cooked v uncooked. Can you clarify?
Also – do you have a recipe for your shredded chicken?
Hi Rachel! Jasmine rice works great in this recipe. You will want to use UNCOOKED rice, as the recipe specifies 🙂 Hope this helps!
This recipe reminded me of a recipe my mom used to make. However this recipe is so much better! It was super easy to make in a single pot! The rice cooked up beautifully. It tastes great! I think I’ve found a new healthy favorite for a cold winter day!!
I am so thrilled that you’ve found a new favorite recipe, Julie! Thank you so much for making it, and for leaving such a kind review!
Does this soup freeze well?
Yes, Jennifer, it does! 🙂
Just made this lemon chicken soup today and it is sooo delicious. My boyfriend who hates soup had a huge bowl of it and finished every last bit! Super easy to make, tastes light but definitely filling. Will be making this again not only for my family but for my meal prep clients!
This soup is wonderful! I made it as instructed (not cooking the rice first) and it turned out beautifully. I did take a shortcut and bought preshredded rotisserie chicken from my local deli, which saved time and headache. My whole family ate it happily on a rainy night and it was just perfect! Thank you!
Wow! Just made this, it is absolutely delicious! I’m dairy free and I love how creamy this is without actual cream. 100% recommended!
Omg this soup is amazing. Creamy but no cream. Love the hint of lemon so good. We added GF rice and it worked just fine. Kale junkie has the bestest recipes EVERYTHING we have made has been amazing.
Get the book! 2023 advice.
Deb, this is the sweetest comment and I am so, so grateful for your words! Thank you so much for making g this recipe, and for all of your support. It truly means so much to me!
I made this last night for the family and it will absolutely be a new addition to our repertoire! It was delicious and came together so quickly! I cooked the chicken with the soup (I browned it in the mixture of onion and garlic) and then cut it up and put it back into the soup near the end – perfection. Thank you – am loving your recipes!!
I am so thrilled that your family loved this recipe, Samantha! Thank you so much for making this recipe, and for leaving such a kind review!
Best chicken soup! Love it w/Arborio rice cooked right in the soup! Add a quarter (or half) lemon squeeze to your bowl for extra winter nurturing🥰Thank you!
Yay! I am so thrilled that you loved this recipe, Cecile! Thank you so much for making it, and for leaving such a kind review!
Your recipe was easy to follow which really nice for me! Our soup ended up being very thick (yum) due to adding a bit more chicken. I will certainly make this soup again but, for our taste, I will reduce the amount of lemon.
Thank you!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Robbie! Thank you so much for your review! 🙂
The recipe says that you need a pot and an instant pot… yet I don’t see any instructions for using the instant pot.
Hi Marsha, the Instant Pot is just to cook your rice in. You can also use a rice cooker, or cook it on the stove. 🙂
Made this tonight and it was delicious! My family loves anything with lemon. I’ve made this with other recipes and this is the best one yet! I didn’t change a thing. I used jasmine rice. Thank you for another great recipe!
Yay! I love anything with lemon too, and I’m so happy to hear that, Liza! Thank you so much for making this recipe, and for leaving such a sweet review!
In reference to my previous comment, I decided to add an extra cup of rice to my soup for a little extra thickness. I think 1.5 cups of cooked rice was too little for the amount of broth, but that’s just my personal preference. 😉 I baked my chicken separately before adding to the soup, but I think I’ll cook the chicken in the broth next time for extra flavor. All in all, I will definitely make this soup again with a few tweaks here and there. Thank you for the recipe!
Hi Victoria! Oh good, I’m so glad to hear that you found a modification that suits your personal taste. 🙂 Thank you so much for making and reviewing this recipe!
I mad this soup for the first time tonight, followed the receipt exactly, but I found the broth to rice/chicken ration to be too much. In your picture, it looks very thick and creamy. Mine is very broth. Is it supposed to be 4 cups of broth as opposed to 8? I think it would have turned out thicker had I used half the amount of broth.
Hi Victoria! It really depends on your personal preference. You can absolutely add more rice if you desire a higher rice-to-broth ratio and want the soup to be thicker! I hope this helps 🙂
Love your recipes, Nicole. Only comment here is I never would have known to use cooked rice – should definitely include in the ingredients section. I used uncooked in the recipe and it didn’t really work 🙁
Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear that, Andrea. Depending on the type of rice that you’re using, you may need to add more liquid or cook the soup for longer. I hope it turns out better for you next time, and thank you so much for pointing this out!
Perfect for a chilly night! The lemon adds brightness and rounds out the other flavors. I did add some dill. A keeper for soup rotation.
Yes!! I love this soup on a chilly night. I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for your review, Kira!!
So So Good! The hubs said it was a warm velvety blanket that he couldn’t get enough of!
Oooh that is QUITE the compliment! Thank you so much to you and your husband, Katie!
I made this tonight and it was a HIT! So delicious. Will definitely make this soup again. Thank you!
So happy you liked it, Michelle!! Thanks so much for your sweet review!
Boy golly! I saw this on the gram and so I had to try it, as avegolemono is one of my favorite soups. This recipe is full-proof. It’s delicious it’s warming, it’s hearty and it’s silky smooth. We were out of a regular rice so with substituted it with Bobs Red Mill Brown wild rice blend and it worked great. Hands-down this is one of my family‘s new favorites. Thank you so much for all of your recipes and all of the work you put into them.
Wow, thank you so much Alicia for the sweet review! I am so thrilled that you loved the recipe so much, and I am so grateful for your support and review!! Thank you SO much!
So delicious!! My husband is obsessed with this soup. I’ve made this recipe twice this weekend. Thank you!
Yay! I love hearing that this soup is husband-approved (it seems to be quite the theme with this recipe!!) Thank you for your review, Karina!
Made this soup and it was easy AND delicious!! Even my super picky husband loved it!
Woohoo! Love that it’s picky husband approved too! Thanks for your review, Hope!
I loved this! Even after reading the reviews, I purposely used uncooked arborio rice because I figured the rice/broth ratio would adequately cook the rice and the soup would be super thick which is what I wanted. I did add a little water at the end with the chicken because it was really thick. Next time I will use less rice. If I ate this at a restaurant I would assume it had tons of cream and/or butter in it because it is so rich, creamy and satisfying. This is a perfect example of a few high quality ingredients creating something very decadent that is more than the sum of its parts. If you like lemon, chicken and rice, you will love this.
Thank you so much for your review, Dawne! I am so thrilled that you loved the recipe, and I’m so glad that the arborio rice worked for you! That is so awesome, and I’m thrilled it turned out so well. 🙂
I absolutely LOVE this soup, and have been dying for a dairy free version! This recipe is so perfect, and tastes incredible. I made it for the week and ate leftovers every day. I highly recommend this soup for a nice chilly day!
Yay! I am so thrilled that it answers your dairy-free soup dreams, Hannah! Thank you so much for your review, this is awesome!
This was delicious! I accidentally used uncooked Arborio rice as well but it’s still amazing. Tastes just like the one at my local Greek restaurant.
I’m so glad this turned out well for you, Kathryn! Thank you so much for your review!!
Oh my goodness! This is HEAVENLY. I ended up using uncooked rice and it is deliciously thick and creamy. Thank you, Nicole! This is perfect for our wet and windy Seattle fall day 🙂 xoxo
Yay! I’m so glad it turned out well for you, Dani! Thank you for your review!
This didn’t work for me because I used uncooked, otherwise it tasted great! It came out like risotto because I made 2x the rice and it absorbed all the liquid.
Well risotto sounds delicious! Next time, definitely try using arborio rice to avoid any uncooked bits! You will love this soup 🙂
This is amazing. Reminds me of my Greek childhood fav Avgolemono soup! The rice part is confusing, perhaps clarify if one should be add in uncooked or cooked rice in step 3. (I think you mean cooked but a rookie like me would want to double check!)
Yes! This is my take on Avgolemono soup 🙂 and thank you for that. You want to make sure that the rice is uncooked! It will cook in the soup. That’s why it’s important to use arborio or white rice for this recipe, so it cooks properly! I hope this helps!