Craving something cozy and comforting? Make this Chicken and Rice Soup! It's easy to make with simple ingredients in under 45 minutes and tastes restaurant-quality.
Looking for more easy soup recipes? Try my Chicken Gnocchi Soup or Lasagna Soup next!
About This Recipe
The next time you want to curl up on the couch with a big bowl of soup, try this creamy chicken and rice soup! In my opinion, it's the best kind of comfort food. It's cozy and satisfying, but nourishing as well. It's filled with fresh vegetables, lean chicken breasts, and just enough heavy cream to make it feel luxurious without being too heavy.
I love creamy soups (see here, here, and here). This recipe only uses half a cup, but it still feels super satisfying. The rice softens and thickens the soup, which gives it a heartier quality without needing extra cream. If you want to add more nutrition to the soup, you can also stir in a bag of fresh kale or spinach near the end.
I'm sitting here with a bowl in front of me as I write this post during lunch. I half expected the soup to be kind of porridgy on the second day, but it's actually still very soupy. The rice has softened up a bit, but I actually don't mind at all. It's a great soup for meal prep!
Key Ingredients
Olive oil: For sauteeing the vegetables. I use 3 tablespoons for this recipe because there is a lot of veggies to saute.
Vegetables: Carrots, celery, onions, and garlic.
Flour: For thickening the soup. I just use all-purpose flour.
Chicken broth: For the chicken broth, I just combined Better Than Bouillon chicken base with warm water.
Chicken breast: I used 2 large chicken breasts. I cook them directly in the soup so that all their juices stay in the broth.
Rice: Any type of rice will work. I usually go with jasmine or arborio rice.
Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and dried thyme.
Heavy cream: Added at the end to give the soup a very luxurious, creamy quality.
Instructions
STEP 1: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook the onions, garlic, carrots, and celery for 3-4 minutes until softened.
STEP 2: Stir in the flour and incorporate evenly into the veggies.
STEP 3: While whisking constantly, pour in the chicken broth. Add the chicken breast, rice, and dried thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for 20-25 minutes until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through.
STEP 4: Remove the chicken to a bowl and shred with two forks.
STEP 5: Add the chicken back to the soup. Stir in the heavy cream and remove from the heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
๐ Recipe
Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 medium carrots (diced)
- 3 ribs celery (diced)
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 pound chicken breast
- 1 cup jasmine rice (or any white rice)
- ยฝ teaspoon dried thyme
- ยฝ cup heavy cream
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Cook the onions, garlic, carrots, and celery for 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Stir in the flour and incorporate evenly into the veggies.
- While whisking constantly, pour in the chicken broth. Add the chicken breast, rice, and dried thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for 20-25 minutes until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove the chicken to a bowl and shred with two forks.
- Add the chicken back to the soup. Stir in the heavy cream and remove from the heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Leave a Reply