Silky egg ribbons in a warm, savory chicken broth with green onions. This easy egg drop soup recipe is ready in just 10 minutes with simple ingredients, making it a comforting starter for busy weeknights or cold days.
Jump to:
Egg drop soup is a classic Chinese soup made with delicate egg ribbons in a lightly thickened chicken broth, commonly served at Chinese restaurants or ordered for takeout.
I usually make this soup for my husband during the colder months because it's warm, comforting, and delicious! It's so easy to make at home and tastes even better than takeout.
The trick to getting those beautiful egg ribbons is to thicken the broth with a cornstarch slurry before pouring in the eggs in a thin stream while gently stirring. This helps create delicate ribbons instead of clumps.
Ingredients & Substitutes
Exact ingredient amounts are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
- Chicken Stock: Use low-sodium chicken stock to better control the saltiness, especially since chicken bouillon powder is also added. Avoid beef broth, which will make the soup much darker.
- Large Eggs: For brighter yellow egg ribbons, I prefer omega-3-enriched eggs because their yolks tend to have a deeper color.
- Green Onions
- Chicken Bouillon Powder: I use this to boost the savory chicken flavor of the broth.
- Salt
- Toasted Sesame Oil: Use toasted sesame oil for its stronger nutty flavor. Avoid untoasted sesame oil, which tastes milder.
- White Pepper: Black pepper also works, but it will give the soup visible black specks.
- Cornstarch: This thickens the broth and helps the eggs form delicate ribbons. Potato starch also works.
- Cold Water: Use cold water for the cornstarch slurry so the starch dissolves smoothly.
Expert Tips
- Use a spouted measuring cup for a thin, controlled stream of eggs.
- Stir the slurry again before adding, as cornstarch settles quickly.
- For smaller egg ribbons, pour the eggs in a thin stream from a slight height while gently stirring.
- For longer egg ribbons, instead of stirring while pouring, pour the eggs closer to the broth, let them set for 5 seconds, then gently stir.
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make egg drop soup:
- Beat the eggs: In a measuring cup with a spout or small bowl, beat the eggs until smooth and there are no visible white streaks. Set aside. A spouted measuring cup makes it easier to pour the eggs in a thin, steady stream.
- Make the cornstarch slurry: In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and cold water, stirring until fully dissolved. Set aside.
- Prepare the soup base: In a medium pot, combine the chicken stock and scallion whites. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Thicken the soup: Reduce the heat to medium. Stir the cornstarch slurry again, then gradually pour it into the broth while stirring. Bring to a gentle boil and cook for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Season the soup: Add the chicken bouillon powder, toasted sesame oil, salt, and white pepper. Stir to combine.
- Add the eggs: Gently stir the soup while slowly pouring in the eggs from a slight height in a thin, steady stream to create delicate ribbons. Simmer for 1 minute, then remove from the heat and garnish with scallion greens. Serve immediately.
Storage & Reheating
- Refrigerator: Store leftover egg drop soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: I don't recommend freezing egg drop soup because the eggs can become rubbery after thawing.
- Reheating: Reheat in the microwave or in a pot over medium heat until hot, stirring occasionally.
Variations
- Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth and vegan chicken-flavored bouillon powder instead of the chicken stock and regular chicken bouillon powder.
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free chicken bouillon powder by checking the ingredient label.
Pairing Suggestions
Serve this simple egg drop soup with:
- Egg Fried Rice: For a filling rice dish.
- Beef and Broccoli: For a hearty protein.
- Chinese Garlic Bok Choy: For crisp, fresh greens.
FAQ
Make sure the broth is slightly thickened first, then slowly pour the eggs in a thin stream while gently stirring. Pouring too quickly or stirring too vigorously can create small egg pieces instead of ribbons.
Add crispy wonton strips or chili oil before serving. For a heartier soup, add cooked shredded chicken, imitation crab, corn, peas, or diced carrots.
More Like This
Check out my other soup recipes:
📖 Recipe
10-min. Easy Egg Drop Soup
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken stock low-sodium
- 3 large eggs
- 1 green onion finely chopped, divided into scallion whites and greens
- 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil toasted kind
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper or black pepper
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ cup water cold
Instructions
- In a measuring cup with a spout or small bowl, beat the eggs until smooth and there are no visible white streaks. Set aside. A spouted measuring cup makes it easier to pour the eggs in a thin, steady stream.
- In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and cold water, stirring until fully dissolved. Set aside.
- In a medium pot, combine the chicken stock and scallion whites. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Stir the cornstarch slurry again, then gradually pour it into the broth while stirring. Bring to a gentle boil and cook for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add the chicken bouillon powder, toasted sesame oil, salt, and white pepper. Stir to combine.
- Gently stir the soup while slowly pouring in the eggs from a slight height in a thin, steady stream to create delicate ribbons. Simmer for 1 minute, then remove from the heat and garnish with scallion greens. Serve immediately.
Weijiao
Feeling a bit under weather, so I made it for lunch, I added some canned corn and some leftover sausages, also some hot oil! It was really good! I will definitely be making it more, especially with temperature lower now.
Thank you again for this easy recipe!
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for the kind and positive review 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it with some additional ingredients. I hope you get well soon!
Stephanie
Thank you Christie for this recipe! This is the only recipe I've tried, and I will not be trying another. I've been making this soup for over a year, my family loves it! I find with even just one or two eggs, this soup still comes out wonderful. Thank you again for sharing this recipe with us!
Christie Lai
Haha I love this comment! Thanks so much for making it and I appreciate the loyalty to this recipe! Glad your whole family loves it and happy it works well with less eggs 🙂 Have a wonderful day, Stephanie!
Alexis
Very good and easy to make.
Christie Lai
Thanks for making my recipe and glad you enjoyed it, Alexis!
Holly-lee
The egg ribbons are magnificent and the consistency is perfect! This one's being saved as a favourite forever!
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for the positive feedback and for making my recipe! Glad you enjoyed it and happy it's a keeper!
Arianna
Really good, easy to follow just a little too salty for my taste. Not sure if what was my bouillon but next time will be putting less salt.
Christie Lai
Thanks for making my recipe! It could be the brand of bouillon powder so feel free to add this to taste at the end for next time.
Holly-lee
I was really sick with laryngitis and needed a quick easy soup to whip up after a long day at work. I thought I didn't have anything that would work but you gave me a base to draw from and a place to start.
I didn't have;
-chicken bullion
-chicken stock
-sesame oil
- spring onions
But I did have;
-Vegetable stock
-peanut oil
- some dried fried shallots and garlic and couple of eggs so I started there.
I ended up splashing in a dash of fish sauce in place of the extra bullion flavour.
I had some frozen corn to give it some sort of vegetable even if it wasn't gonna be those gorgeous spring onion garnish. I really could do with some greens right now but alas, I really need to do groceries.
I had some left over cooked chook, I needed to use up so, I whacked that in.
And on impulse I was like hmmm something lemony might be nice but in leu of any lemons or lemon juice, I had some dried lemon balm so I sprinkled a teaspoon of that in.
I had no white pepper so added some black pepper and a tiny pinch of Chinese 5 spice mix.
It still turned out great and it's just what I needed!
Thanks so much!!!
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for the positive feedback and for making my recipe with your own substitutes! Glad you enjoyed it and hope you're recovering!
Bob
Easy, so tasty and good consistency!
Christie Lai
So glad you liked it! Thank you so much for making it.
Alexis W.
Very good and a good gluten free alternative to chicken noodle soup at least to me.
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and so glad you enjoyed the gluten free alternative!
John
Delicious
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for sharing your positive review! So glad you enjoyed it!
Nancy avila
Excellent
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for the positive review! Glad you enjoyed it!
Diane
Excellent! Better than most restaurants!
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe, Diane! So happy you found it better than most restaurants 🙂 Have a great day!
Laarni
So easy and always comforting!
christieathome
Thanks so much for sharing your kind review, Laarni! Happy you enjoy it every time 🙂
Mahboo
Me loved this recipe so much. It's my favorite thing to drink on a cold autumn day.
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe, Mahboo! I am so glad it's your favourite thing to drink on a cold day.
Harry
Add corn and crab to make crab and corn soup! Thank you for this recipe.
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe, Harry! Yes, those are great add-ons and glad you enjoyed it!
Carol
My husband and I love Egg Drop Soup! This recipe is the closest I’ve come to restaurant quality! Delicious 😋
christieathome
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing this kind review with me, Carol! So happy it's close to restaurant quality 🙂
Pilar Williams
Just curios why add sesame oil?
christieathome
For that nutty flavor!
Mary
This was so comforting and delicious! I appreciated how easy it was as well. The whole family really enjoyed it.
christieathome
Thank you Mary! I'm so glad you and the whole family enjoyed it!