Chicken and rice soup is a comforting and delicious one-pot meal that the whole family will love! Makes the perfect soup recipe for chilly weather!
Table of Contents
Chicken and 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 and has amazing flavor.
This chicken and rice soup recipe is a variation of my favorite chicken soup 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 so comforting and is a 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.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Chicken: This soup comes together in a flash, thanks to the precooked 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.
- 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).
How to Make Chicken and Rice Soup
I love that this recipe can be whipped up in just one pot. I like to cook it in a dutch oven on the stove, but you can cook it in the crockpot as well (directions in FAQ below).
- 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.
Cooking 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.
- Using cooked 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 that is cut into bite sized cubes when you add the rice. Just make sure it’s cooked through completely before serving.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! You’ll want to add the rice the last hour of cooking. You can also precook 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.
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.
Storing + Freezing
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.
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.
More Soup Recipes
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Chicken and Rice Soup
Ingredients
- 1-2 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 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
- 1/4 teaspoon salt , plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper , plus more to taste
- 3/4 cup long grain rice
- 2 1/2 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!
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.