Print

The Ultimate Comfort: Easy Chicken and Rice Soup

A close-up of a white bowl filled with homemade chicken and rice soup, garnished with fresh parsley.
Print Recipe
Save Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Create a deeply comforting bowl of homemade chicken and rice soup. This easy recipe uses simple ingredients to deliver the classic, nourishing flavor you crave for a perfect weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 8 ounces white rice, rinsed
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream (optional, for creaminess)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  2. Add the rinsed white rice, chicken broth, dried thyme, and bay leaf to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil.
  3. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
  4. Stir in the shredded cooked chicken, salt, and pepper. Continue to simmer for another 5 minutes to heat the chicken through.
  5. Remove and discard the bay leaf. If you desire a creamier texture, stir in the heavy cream now. Heat gently for 1 minute, but do not allow the soup to boil after adding cream.
  6. Taste the soup and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
  7. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

  • For a faster meal, use a rotisserie chicken for the shredded chicken component.
  • If you prefer a heartier texture, substitute the white rice with 1 cup of wild rice blend, adjusting the cooking time as necessary (wild rice often requires 40-50 minutes of simmering).
  • This soup freezes well without the cream; add the cream after reheating if you plan to freeze portions.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingzenith.com/easy-chicken-and-rice-soup-recipe/