Soup · Dinner · Mediterranean ·

Greek lemon chicken soup with orzo and fresh herbs

Name: Greek lemon chicken soup with orzo and fresh herbs
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Soup
Ingredients: 1 whole chicken, about 4 lbs; 10 cups water; 2 carrots, roughly chopped; 2 celery stalks, roughly chopped; 1 onion, quartered; 2 bay leaves; 6 peppercorns; 1 cup orzo pasta; 2 eggs; 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice; Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped; 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Enjoy a bowl of bright and comforting Greek lemon chicken soup made with silky egg-lemon sauce and tender orzo. This authentic Mediterranean recipe is perfect for a quick, nutritious weeknight dinner that the whole family will love.

4.7(354 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·October 20, 2025

Greek lemon chicken soup with orzo and fresh herbs — Soup served and photographed from above

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Chicken Stock

For the Soup

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 610 kcal
Protein: 48.5 g
Carbs: 12 g
Fat: 41.83 g
Fiber: 1.17 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 3661 kcal
Protein: 291 g
Carbs: 72 g
Fat: 251 g
Fiber: 7 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 whole chicken about 4 lbs	3200	270	0	240	0
10 cups water	0	0	0	0	0
2 carrots roughly chopped	50	1	12	0	3
2 celery stalks roughly chopped	10	0	2	0	1
1 onion quartered	40	1	9	0	1
2 bay leaves	0	0	0	0	0
6 peppercorns	1	0	0	0	0
1 cup orzo pasta	200	7	42	1	2
2 eggs	140	12	1	10	0
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice	12	0	4	0	0
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
1/4 cup fresh dill chopped	4	0	1	0	0
1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped	4	0	1	0	0

Nutrient values are estimates and should not be used as dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Chicken Stock

1
Combine ingredients
Combine the chicken, water, carrots, celery, onion, bay leaves, and peppercorns in a large pot.
2
Simmer stock
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the chicken is fully cooked, about 1 hour.
3
Strain and cool
Strain the stock and set the chicken aside to cool.

Preparing the Orzo

1
Cook orzo
In a separate pot, cook the orzo according to the package instructions.
2
Drain and set aside
Drain the cooked orzo and set it aside.

How to Make Greek lemon chicken soup with orzo and fresh herbs

Total time: 2 h · Yields 6 servings

1
Assembling the Soup
Shred the cooled chicken and add to the strained stock, reheating gently.
2
Combining Ingredients
Whisk eggs in a bowl and slowly add lemon juice, then temper with hot broth.
3
Finishing Touches
Mix in cooked orzo, herbs, and tempered egg-lemon mixture into the stock on low heat.