Classic egg drop soup is a beautifully simple dish and one of my favorites when I visit a Chinese restaurant.  

A ginger and garlic-infused broth is filled with thin strands of egg. This restaurant-style egg drop soup recipe is full of flavor and really quick to make.

Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner when time is short or a little pick-me-up when you’re under the weather!

a spoon in a bowl of egg drop soup garnished with green onion

What is Egg Drop Soup?

Egg drop soup is a delicious Chinese restaurant favorite! We start with a simple ginger-flavored broth and then drizzle in beaten egg to create little strands throughout the soup.

It’s so easy to make, just one pot, a few steps, and dinner is served!

ingredients to make Egg Drop Soup

Ingredients for Egg Drop Soup

Broth: The base of this recipe starts with chicken broth or chicken stock, and I flavor it with ginger and a little bit of garlic.

Cornstarch: Adding a cornstarch slurry to this soup not only thickens it up ever-so-slightly, but it also creates the perfect texture for the egg strands.

Eggs: The eggs can be slowly drizzled into the soup from a bowl. To make this soup even easier to prepare, we recommend adding the beaten eggs to a sandwich bag and snipping a tiny hole in the corner before drizzling them into the soup. This method allows for really thin strands.

Additions: There are many optional additions to egg drop soup, including tofu, mushrooms, peas, spinach, bean sprouts, sesame oil, sriracha, or even corn. I like to keep it simple with just the basics.

How to Make Egg Drop Soup

  1. Whisk together some of the broth and cornstarch to create a slurry per the recipe below.
  2. Bring all ingredients (except eggs) to a simmer.
  3. Slowly drizzle in the beaten eggs while stirring.
  4. Remove the ginger and garlic, garnish with remaining green onion and serve!
white pan full of Egg Drop Soup

Tips

  • Remove the garlic and ginger once the soup cooks. This keeps their pungent flavors from overpowering the soup, creating a more delicate flavor.
  • Pour whisked eggs into a small sandwich bag and snip a corner off at the bottom to make streaming the eggs into the soup easy.
  • Ensure the broth is at a simmer, not boiling while adding the eggs.

For leftovers: Keep egg drop soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stove and refresh the flavors with a little salt and pepper.

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a spoon in a bowl of egg drop soup garnished with green onion
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Egg Drop Soup

Egg Drop Soup is a quick, easy dish with simple ingredients that's perfect for a busy weeknight!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
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Ingredients  

  • 6 cups chicken broth divided
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 clove garlic whole
  • 1 slice fresh ginger ½-inch thick
  • 5 green onions thinly sliced, whites and greens divided
  • 2 eggs lightly beaten
  • red pepper flakes to taste, optional

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup of the chicken broth and the cornstarch to create a slurry.
  • In a pot, bring the remaining chicken broth, garlic clove, ginger slice, and the whites of the green onions to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the cornstarch mixture. Reduce the heat to a simmer.
  • Slowly pour in the beaten eggs in a thin stream (*see note) while stirring the soup. Once the eggs are added, bring just to a boil and remove from the heat.
  • Discard the ginger and garlic clove. Top with green onions and crushed red pepper flakes (if using).

Notes

Ensure the eggs are very well whisked before beginning.
*An easy way to pour the eggs is to place them in a small sandwich bag and snip a very small hole in the corner. Squeeze the eggs into the broth while stirring.
Broth should be simmering, not boiling, while adding the eggs.
Optional additions: Thinly sliced mushrooms, bean sprouts, diced tofu, 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil, white pepper.
4.94 from 60 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 57 | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 893mg | Potassium: 235mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 179IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Appetizer, Dinner, Entree, Lunch, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American, Asian
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Egg Drop Soup in a bowl and in a spoon with writing

More Favorite Soup Recipes

Recipe Inspired “Egg Drop Soup” Recipe. BHG 17th Addition, New Cook Book 2018. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018. 352. Print.

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. Very similar to making hot and sour soup. Same base, but hot and sour needs considerably more ingredients. This is why I always have a considerable amount of homemade chicken stock in my freezer. :)5 stars

  2. This really hit the spot today! I actually misread the directions and chopped the garlic and ginger up very small (I also doubled the garlic). It was delicious with them left in the soup, added a few drops of Maggi seasoning and the crushed red pepper!5 stars

  3. Hi Holly, Do you have a recipe book I can purchase? That includes the egg flower soup recipe and possibly the other Asian recipes listed here?? I still enjoy the old fashioned book way…

    1. You can use a homemade chicken broth which often turns out a nice color or the color will depend on the brand of chicken broth you are purchasing. Even if not as yellow it still turns out so delicious!

  4. This is some A+ comfort food- it’s quick and easy to make even when you’re sick (like I am today), and it feels great on a sore throat. Had no idea how simple this could be from scratch without that expensive packet mix.5 stars

  5. Worst tasting version ever. My partner, who eats everything, would not even touch it. He said it was missing the typical flavor.1 star

  6. One of the best ever egg drop soup recipe i have ever tried so far. Thanks for sharing this egg drop soup recipe with all of us. 5 stars

    1. You can but I would suggest just a very small pinch, ⅛ tsp or less. The flavor should be fairly subtle. Enjoy!

  7. Can you use granular chicken boullion in place of chicken broth? 6 tspn. dissolved in 6 cups of booking water .

  8. Can you tell me what you mean by 1/2 inch slice of ginger? I’m not real familiar with cooking with fresh ginger.

    1. Ginger is a root, you’ll want to slice 1/2″ of ginger off of the root, it will be a little disc shape.