Easy Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe
Simple ingredients, easy to prepare, flavorful – a family favorite soup!
Often, the simplest recipes are the best! I’ve been making this easy chicken and rice soup for over 20 years and it is still among our top family favorites. Much like my chicken noodle soup, it’s a comforting dish that everyone loves.
Chicken and rice soup features simple ingredients like chicken, veggies, and rice. I recommend using chicken thigh meat because it’s much more flavorful and juicy than chicken breast. But of course, it’s an easy swap for anyone who prefers chicken breast.
Classic veggies like onion, celery, and carrots make the best vegetable base for this soup. Fresh garlic in addition to a few seasonings and herbs makes this soup irresistibly aromatic and flavorful. Overall, this simple chicken soup is very easy to make and so delicious, even picky eaters love it!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Chicken – my favorite chicken meat to use of dark meat because of the rich flavor and tender texture. For a chicken and rice soup, I like to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. If you’re not a fan of dark meat, feel free to use chicken breast meat.
Veggies – start with simple mirepoix of onion, carrots and celery. You can essentially add any vegetables if you wish. I actually talk about it right below in the tips section.
Rice – you can essentially use any rice just keep an eye on it in a soup since all types of rice have a slightly different cooking time. Personally, I love jasmine rice and that is what I usually use. Feel free to use brown rice also or wild rice if you want to keep it healthier and less processed.
How to Make Chicken and Rice Soup
Step 1 – Prepare the broth: In a soup pot, sear chicken thighs with some oil on both sides until browned and add bay leaves and peppercorns. Give the peppercorns about a minute to sear as well to release the wonderful aroma. Pour in water, bring it to boil, and then lower the heat to medium- low so the water gently simmers with occasional bubbles. Cook for about 30-40 minutes.
Step 2 – Prepare the chicken: Take chicken out of the pot and let it cool down on the cutting board. Once chicken is cooled enough to be handled, discard the excess fat (or not, it’s a personal choice) and either dice or shred it. Set chicken meat aside to add to soup later.
Step 3 – get the broth nice and clear: Strain the broth to get rid of leftover whole peppercorns and bay leaves and set it aside while you work on the vegetable base.
Step 4 – the best vegetable base for soups: use the same pot to cook the soup and for the broth, no need to make extra dishes! Melt butter over medium heat and sauté onion, celery and carrots until they are golden brown. You want that golden brown color to infuse more flavor to the soup.
Step 5 – time for aromatics: Stir in pressed garlic and sauté for a few seconds, until fragrant (trust me, you will smell it). Stir in the diced chicken, rice, and seasonings (except for parsley).
Step 6 – finish the soup: Pour in the broth, give it a gentle stir, and let the soup come to a simmer. No need to boil, just a gentle simmer is all you need. Lower the heat to medium-low and cook until the rice is done. Taste to make sure rice is cooked through and then stir in parsley and serve right away.
Lyuba’s Tips and Hints For Simple Chicken and Rice Soup
You can always use homemade chicken stock if you already have some saved. In this case, simply sear the chicken thighs and then finish cooking it in the soup. Take chicken out once done, dice it, and add it back to the soup.
If you don’t want the rice to get too soft in the soup, you can cook rice separately in the chicken broth and then add cooked rice to the individual bowls of soup.
Feel free to add some extra veggies if you wish. Good veggies to add are kale, mushrooms, zucchini, squash, or green beans.
Finish the soup with a squeeze of lemon for another layer of flavor. (This tip is my personal favorite! I love a little citrus in a simple soup like chicken rice soup or chicken noodle soup.)
Feel free to use brown rice instead of long grain rice if you wish, just check the cook time on the packaging.
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Simple Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe
Ingredients
Chicken Broth:
- 1-2 tbsp avocado or olive oil
- 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken thigh meat
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp whole peppercorns
- 9-10 cups water
Chicken and Rice Soup:
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 5 oz celery ribs about 3 ribs, chopped
- 8 oz carrots 2-3 carrots, chopped
- 4-5 garlic cloves pressed
- 8 oz long grain rice
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt more or less to taste
- 1 tbsp fresh minced parsley
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken Broth:
- PRO TIP: Broth can be cooked ahead of time if needed. If preparing it ahead of time, make sure to refrigerate it in an air-tight container and use in soup within 24 hours.
- Preheat a large pot over medium heat and add oil. Sear chicken thighs on both sides until browned and add bay leaves and peppercorns.
- Pour in water, bring it to boil, and lower the heat to medium-low. Cook for about 30-40 minutes (very gentle and slow simmer, no higher to too much water will cook out).
- Take chicken out of the pot and let it cool down on the cutting board. Once chicken is cooled enough to be handled, discard the excess fat and either dice or shred it. Set chicken meat aside.
- Strain the broth and set it aside. (Discard the peppercorns and bay leaves.)
Preparing Chicken and Rice Soup:
- In the same pot, over medium heat, melt butter and add diced onions and chopped celery and carrots. Sauté veggies until they are golden brown.
- Stir in pressed garlic and sauté for a few seconds, until fragrant.
- Stir in the diced chicken, rice, and seasonings (except for parsley).
- Pour in the broth, give it a gentle stir, and let the soup come to a simmer. Once simmering, lower the heat to medium-low and cook until the rice is done. (Depending on rice, 14-18 minutes)
- Stir in parsley and serve right away.
Nutrition
More Easy Soup Recipes
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Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.
This was so easy to make and my family loved it! Thanks for the recipe!
I’m so glad to hear that your family loved it! It makes me so happy to know the recipe was a hit. Thanks for sharing your feedback! 😊