Nothing says comfort food like a bowl of delicious Chicken and Rice Soup full of carrots, celery, sweet onion, roasted chicken, and tender white rice. This simple yet filling soup is full of wholesome ingredients that make you feel great about feeding your family.
Many of these ingredients are everyday household staples; you may already have them in your refrigerator or pantry. I love to serve this soup with Dutch oven bread or corn muffins.
Who Doesn’t Love Chicken and Rice Soup, Right?
This soup is quick and easy to make, using already-cooked rotisserie chicken and minute rice. It is ideal for busy families and weeknights. For a more slow-paced weekend soup, try my chicken and wild rice soup, lasagna alfredo soup, or lemon chicken orzo soup.
We are a soup-loving family. In fact, we eat it year-round. After all, isn’t that one of the main reasons they created air conditioning? Just kidding. For seasonal soup eaters, fall and winter will be here before you know it, and with it comes all things soup.
Ingredients Needed
- Butter: salted or unsalted
- Vegetables: sweet yellow onion, celery, carrots, and garlic
- Seasonings and herbs: dried parsley and thyme, bay leaves, black pepper, fresh thyme and parsley
- Chicken broth: Low sodium
- Rice: long grain rice like jasmine rice or basmati rice
- Chicken: any cooked chicken. I like to use rotisserie chicken.
How To Make Chicken And Rice Soup
This is just the nutshell version of the recipe. See the recipe card below for ingredients and full directions.
- Cook the vegetables over medium heat on the stovetop.
- Reduce the heat to low, and cook the garlic, herbs, and spices for 1 minute.
- Add the bay leaves and chicken broth. Bring it to a boil.
- Add the rice, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender.
- Stir in the chicken and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Garnish with fresh herbs.
Preparation Tips
- I love to use already-cooked rotisserie chicken. They are delicious and available at almost all grocery retailers and warehouse stores like Sam’s and Costco. Or you can poach boneless skinless chicken breasts.
- If you want to kick the seasonings up a notch, consider adding 1/8 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper or 1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning. You can also try adding dried herbs like oregano and bail.
- Remove your bay leaves before serving; they are stiff and have sharp edges.
- Keep in mind that rice absorbs liquid. If you know you will save some soup for leftovers, remove that amount before adding the rice. Reheat on the stovetop, adding the uncooked minute rice.
More Chicken Soup Recipes
Easy Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 3 medium carrots peeled and sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice such as jamine or basmati
- 2 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken
- fresh parsley or thyme garnish
Instructions
- Melt butter in a Dutch oven or heavy stockpot over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and carrots. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until the onion and the celery are soft. Stir several times.
- Reduce the heat to low. Add garlic, parsley, thyme, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Add chicken broth and bay leaves. Bring the mixture to a boil. Add the rice, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender.
- Remove the bay leaves. Stir in the cooked chicken. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste, and garnish with fresh parsley or thyme.
Notes
- I love to use already-cooked rotisserie chicken. They are delicious and available at almost all grocery retailers and warehouse stores like Sam’s and Costco. Or you can poach boneless skinless chicken breasts.
- If you want to kick the seasonings up a notch, consider adding 1/8 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper or 1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning. You can also try adding dried herbs like oregano and bail.
- Remove your bay leaves before serving; they are stiff and have sharp edges.
- Keep in mind that rice absorbs liquid. If you know you will save some soup for leftovers, remove that amount before adding the rice. Reheat on the stovetop, adding the uncooked minute rice.
Nutrition
Are you on the hunt for more delicious recipes? Follow Small Town Woman on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Harry A
This chicken and rice soup is super delicious in my opinion. Love its overall flavour!
Melanie E
What a coincidence I just made the Greek chicken rice and lemon soup today. This one sounds yummy too and different. I must give this recipe a whirl.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Melanie! Enjoy!
Melanie W
There is nothing better than a good bowl of hearty soup. This was very tasty and easy to prepare! Thanks for the recipe!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Melanie!
Nadalie
Such a comfort food and very easy to prepare! SO good especially that it’s rainy season from where I am from!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Nadalie! So happy that you enjoyed it!
Tammy
Nothing is as comforting as chicken soup no matter the temperature! This looks so delicious…I wish I had bowl of this right now 😀
Beth Pierce
You should try it, Tammy! It is delicious!
Ree L
I do love a good chicken and rice soup although I’ve never tried making it myself. Your recipe doesn’t make it seem too hard so I may need to give it a try x
Beth Pierce
The best chicken and rice soup! I wonder how well it freezes. I need to start preparing for the fall and winter.
Karey K
I am addicted to soups and would have one every day if I could. This one is delicious and it is a new family favorite. Even my picky daughter loved the soup!
Lisa
I tried a similar soup on my travels in Malaysia and it was delicious. This looks so hearty and perfect for a cold autumn/winter’s day.
Berlin
I love this soup. There is just something so comforting about chicken and rice soup. It was so flavorful! Thank you!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Berlin!
Jupiter Hadley
I do not think I have ever had rice in a soup! This sounds like a fantastic twist to me.
Yolanda H
I love a good homemade soup and this one is absolutely delicious! It is really flavourful and hearty with the chicken, veggies and rice and it is easy to make too!
Candie G
Soups are part of my favorite recipe types. I make soup recipes and have my favorites, too.
Your recipe was easy and brings such great flavors to celebrate.
April
Loved this! Just a good old homestyle soup, total comfort food!
Samantha D
I have been looking for new soup recipes as my husband is wanting to eat a more healthy meal at lunchtime. Soup is perfect for that but it can get a bit samey all the time. Am going to try this next soup I make
Erin S
Absolutely delicious! I made this and everybody at our house loved it!
Sandie
This chicken and rice soup is so good! So flavorful and very easy to make! My perfect comfort meal!