This easy chicken and rice soup is a comforting and delicious one-pot meal loaded with tender vegetables and a flavorful broth that the whole family will love! Makes the perfect soup recipe for chilly weather!
Table of Contents
Chicken Rice Soup
This dish has all the same flavors as my skillet chicken and rice, but in soup form! It’s the first soup recipe that I crave whenever I’m sick or the weather is gloomy. It’s warm and comforting like a homemade chicken pot pie and has amazing flavor.
This homemade chicken and rice soup recipe is a variation of one of my favorite chicken soups from The I Heart Naptime Cookbook. It’s made in one pot and is so, so delicious! I crave it whenever I’m sick or there’s a rainy day. It’s a comfort food meal the whole family loves!
We love to serve this soup with homemade rolls or a warm piece of french bread or garlic bread. The bread tastes delicious dipped in the soup and really takes the meal over the top. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. YUM!
Recipe Ingredients
Fresh and flavorful ingredients come together to create a hearty and comforting soup. Plus, this soup is gluten-free and dairy-free!
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Chicken: This soup comes together in a flash, thanks to the pre-cooked leftover cooked chicken breast.
- Onion, Carrots, Celery, Garlic: Is it possible to make a chicken soup without these key ingredients? I don’t think I want to find out because they add so much flavor and depth to the broth.
- Lemon juice: Just a little acid to lighten and highlight the other ingredients.
- Thyme: This fresh herb adds such a nice brightness to the soup and helps balance out the veggies.
- Broth: I use chicken broth or stock and a little water as the base of this soup. You can even make it with homemade turkey stock, if you’d like.
- Rice: Long-grain white rice is what I typically use, but you can opt for a different kind (just be aware the cook time will be different). I recommend to use a high quality rice brand to prevent it from getting a mushy texture.
How to Make Chicken and Rice Soup
I love that this recipe can be whipped up in just one large soup pot. I like to cook it in a dutch oven on the stove, but you can cook make slow cooker chicken rice soup as well.
- Saute. Start by sautéing the veggies and garlic in a large pot until fragrant.
- Boil. Then pour in the broth, water, lemon juice and seasonings. I usually start with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and taste at the end. Bring the mixture to a boil and then turn the heat to medium-low.
- Simmer. Mix in the rice and then place the lid on the pot. Let the soup simmer until the rice is cooked through (usually about 10 to 20 minutes). Then mix in the chicken and add more seasonings as needed.
Crock Pot Method
A question I am frequently asked is if this chicken rice soup can be made in the crock pot, and yes, it absolutely can be made in your slow cooker!
You’ll want to add the rice the last hour of cooking. You can also pre-cook the rice and then dump it in the soup right before serving. You just don’t want to add it in at the beginning as it will absorb all the liquid and become mushy.
Expert Tips
- Type of rice. I like to use long grain rice, however you could also use brown or wild rice. Just make sure to check the rice packaging and adjust the cooking time accordingly (you do not want to overcook it). Long grain rice usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes to cook, whereas brown rice takes about 35 to 45 minutes.
- Leftover rice. You can use leftover cooked rice instead of cooking it in the soup if preferred. Simply mix it in during the last minute of cooking and use 1 cup less broth than the recipe calls for.
- Chicken. I like to use rotisserie chicken for convenience. If you want to cook the chicken in the soup, you can add in raw chicken breast or chicken thighs that are cut into bite sized cubes when you add the rice. Just make sure it’s cooked through completely before serving.
- Flavor boosters: Make this chicken rice soup recipe your own by adding some additional flavor enhancers. In addition to thyme try basil, parsley, oregano and dried mustard powder. A dash of hot sauce, soy sauce, lemon juice and some fresh parsley before serving can also add a boost!
Recipe FAQs
This chicken rice soup has onions, carrots, celery, rice, lemon and chicken along with great seasonings.
No! A lot of chicken soup with rice recipes may have you cook the rice separately, but you don’t need to do that. Save yourself some extra dishes and cook the rice in the hot chicken broth right in the soup. It will soak up all the tasty flavors as it cooks and gets soft.
This dish would also taste great using orzo pasta instead of rice, similar to my lemon chicken orzo soup. Orzo cooks a bit faster than rice, which will make this recipe even more quick to make.
Yes, you could add a can of white beans or light kidney beans. You could also try making my crockpot white chicken chili.
When freezing this soup, I’d recommend leaving out the rice. It has a tendency to get mushy in the freezer. When reheating, simply prepare the rice separately and then mix it in right before serving.
Storage
The soup will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator if stored in an airtight container. After sitting overnight, it will absorb more liquid and thicken up a bit. So feel free to add another can of broth if needed when reheating.
I only recommend freezing the soup if you have not added the rice. Frozen, thawed and then reheated rice doesn’t hold up well in the soup and it will be mushy.
Love cozy chicken soup recipes? This Instant Pot chicken noodle soup recipe, chicken pot pie soup and chicken gnocchi soup are more favorites!
More Soup Recipes
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!
Chicken and Rice Soup
Ingredients
- 1-2 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 6 cups chicken broth or stock , plus more as needed
- 1 cup water
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme , or 3/4 teaspoon ground thyme (more to taste)
- 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice , more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon salt , plus more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper , plus more to taste
- ¾ cup long grain rice
- 2 ½ cups cooked chicken breast
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté about 3 minutes and stir in the garlic. Sauté until the onions are translucent.
- Stir in the chicken broth, water, thyme, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- Bring the soup to a boil and turn the heat to medium-low. Add the rice and cover pot with a lid. Simmer 10 20 minutes, or until the the rice is almost cooked through. Stir in the chicken. Add more lemon juice, thyme, salt, and pepper, if needed. Cook just until the rice is tender.
- Remove soup from heat. Serve while hot.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, American, Chicken, Chicken, Crockpot, Crockpot, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Freezer-Friendly, Kid-Friendly, One Pot, One Pot, Soups, Stovetop, Stovetop
So tasty and fast!
So glad to hear you enjoyed the soup, Terri! :)
My family is going to love this, thank you for the recipe!
It’s the cold season right now, and I love having a recipe like this on hand to keep my family warm and well-fed with a tasty dish.
We are in the middle of a huge cold snap where I live and I was craving a warm and cozy soup like this! I knew it was going to be fabulous as soon as I smelled it cooking. It did not disappoint, fabulous!
This was the easiest chicken and rice soup I’ve ever made! And it was delicious!! I used leftover rice from the night before and it made it even easier! Thanks for a deliciously simple soup recipe! It’s a keeper in my house!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :)
This soup is perfect! It is exactly as described. I will be making it on cold days and sick days for years to come.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! :)
It was okay, good flavor. Rice absorbed most of the liquid.
This soup was fantastic! I can’t wait to make it again! It was perfect with all this snowy weather we are having.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for leaving a comment and review! :)
This is a must make! Love a good bowl of soup!
A one pot wonder! This is great for a busy weeknight!
Aren’t one pot meals the best?! So glad you enjoyed it!
I need a big bowl of this soup right now! It’s perfect!
The perfect comfort food!!
Perfect for these cold days.
Definitely! Perfect comfort food!
Can you do this in the Instant Pot? If so, what do you recommend for time?
Hi Laura! I’ve never tried it in the instant pot so I’m not sure! Sorry!
Nothing like a bowl of comfort in this weather! Looks delicious!
This soup looks absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to try this for myself
Hope you enjoy!
Love how fully loaded this soup is! Such a hearty meal.
This is my new go to when I want something to warm me up and feel cozy. It’s delicious!
I’m so glad you enjoy it!!