🎉 Introduction
When life gets busy, cold weather settles in, or you simply crave something warm and nourishing, Simple Chicken and Rice Soup is the perfect recipe to bring instant comfort. This classic, wholesome dish is made with tender chicken, soft rice, aromatic vegetables, and a soothing broth that warms you from the inside out. It’s gentle, filling, budget-friendly, and ideal for sick days, family dinners, or meal prep.
This soup is beloved for its simplicity—basic ingredients, minimal effort, and big flavor. The chicken adds satisfying protein, the rice provides cozy texture, and the carrots, celery, and onion deepen the savory profile. Everything simmers gently in broth, creating a bowl of pure comfort that feels like home.
Whether you’re feeding kids, recovering, or looking for an easy weeknight meal, this Simple Chicken and Rice Soup delivers the perfect balance of warmth, nutrition, and flavor in every spoonful.
🧰 Equipment Needed
- Large soup pot or Dutch oven
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring spoons & cups
- Ladle for serving
🛒 Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (breast or thigh)
Vegetables
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Rice
- 1 cup white rice, uncooked (long-grain or jasmine)
Broth
- 6 cups chicken broth
Seasonings
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp dried thyme
Oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Optional Fresh Additions
- Fresh parsley
- Lemon juice
- Spinach or kale
👩🍳 Directions
Step 1 — Sauté aromatics
Heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat.
Add onion, carrots, and celery.
Cook 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
Add minced garlic and sauté 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 2 — Add broth & seasonings
Pour in chicken broth.
Add salt, pepper, dried parsley, and dried thyme.
Stir well.
Step 3 — Add rice
Add the uncooked rice to the pot.
Bring the soup to a gentle boil.
Step 4 — Simmer
Reduce heat to low and cover.
Simmer 15–20 minutes, or until rice becomes tender.
Step 5 — Add chicken
Stir in shredded chicken.
Simmer another 5 minutes to warm the chicken and blend flavors.
Step 6 — Adjust consistency
If the soup becomes too thick, add more broth or water.
If you prefer thicker soup, simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes.
Step 7 — Taste & serve
Adjust salt and pepper to your liking.
Serve warm with fresh parsley or a squeeze of lemon if desired.
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Servings: 6
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
🧊 Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator
- Store 3–4 days
- Rice will absorb broth—add liquid when reheating
Freezer
- For best texture, freeze without rice
- Add cooked rice when reheating
Reheating
- Warm over low heat
- Add extra broth if needed
🥄 Variations
1. Lemon Chicken Rice Soup
Add lemon zest and fresh lemon juice.
2. Creamy Version
Stir in ½ cup heavy cream near the end.
3. Vegetable Boost
Add spinach, kale, peas, or zucchini.
4. High-Protein Version
Add chickpeas or extra chicken.
5. Kid-Friendly
Use mild seasonings and extra carrots.
6. Ginger Healing Soup
Add grated ginger and turmeric for immune support.
7. Slow Cooker
Cook everything except the rice for 4 hours on LOW.
Add rice during the last 30 minutes.
8. Wild Rice Version
Replace white rice with wild rice—extend cook time to 40 minutes.
9. Low-Carb
Replace rice with cauliflower rice (add during last 5 minutes).
10. Herb-Loaded
Add fresh thyme, rosemary, and parsley for deeper flavor.
❓ 10 FAQs
1. What kind of rice works best?
Long-grain, jasmine, or basmati all work well.
2. Can I use brown rice?
Yes—extend simmer time to 35–40 minutes.
3. Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes, it makes this recipe even easier.
4. Can I freeze this soup?
Yes—freeze without rice for best texture.
5. Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Absolutely—more flavor and tenderness.
6. How do I prevent mushy rice?
Add rice halfway through cooking or cook separately.
7. Can I make this soup dairy-free?
The recipe contains no dairy already.
8. What vegetables can I add?
Spinach, kale, peas, zucchini, or mushrooms.
9. How can I make it richer?
Add a knob of butter or ½ cup cream.
10. How do I make it spicy?
Add red pepper flakes or diced jalapeño.
🏁 Conclusion
This Simple Chicken and Rice Soup is a classic comfort recipe that brings warmth, nourishment, and ease to your table. Whether you’re craving something soothing, cooking for your family, or preparing a light yet satisfying meal, this soup offers everything you need in one cozy bowl—tender chicken, soft rice, flavorful vegetables, and a savory broth that tastes like pure comfort.
It’s budget-friendly, easy to customize, and perfect for meal prep or quick weeknight cooking. Once you try this recipe, it will likely become a staple in your kitchen for years to come.
Simple Chicken and Rice Soup – Comforting, Nourishing & Easy to Make
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat.
- Add onion, carrots, and celery.
- Cook 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
- Add minced garlic and sauté 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth.
- Add salt, pepper, dried parsley, and dried thyme.
- Stir well.
- Add the uncooked rice to the pot.
- Bring the soup to a gentle boil.
- Reduce heat to low and cover.
- Simmer 15–20 minutes, or until rice becomes tender.
- Stir in shredded chicken.
- Simmer another 5 minutes to warm the chicken and blend flavors.
- If the soup becomes too thick, add more broth or water.
- If you prefer thicker soup, simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes.
- Adjust salt and pepper to your liking.
- Serve warm with fresh parsley or a squeeze of lemon if desired.
Notes
Refrigerator Store 3–4 days Rice will absorb broth—add liquid when reheating Freezer For best texture, freeze without rice Add cooked rice when reheating Reheating Warm over low heat Add extra broth if needed 🥄 Variations
1. Lemon Chicken Rice Soup Add lemon zest and fresh lemon juice. 2. Creamy Version Stir in ½ cup heavy cream near the end. 3. Vegetable Boost Add spinach, kale, peas, or zucchini. 4. High-Protein Version Add chickpeas or extra chicken. 5. Kid-Friendly Use mild seasonings and extra carrots. 6. Ginger Healing Soup Add grated ginger and turmeric for immune support. 7. Slow Cooker Cook everything except the rice for 4 hours on LOW.
Add rice during the last 30 minutes. 8. Wild Rice Version Replace white rice with wild rice—extend cook time to 40 minutes. 9. Low-Carb Replace rice with cauliflower rice (add during last 5 minutes). 10. Herb-Loaded Add fresh thyme, rosemary, and parsley for deeper flavor. ❓ 10 FAQs
1. What kind of rice works best? Long-grain, jasmine, or basmati all work well. 2. Can I use brown rice? Yes—extend simmer time to 35–40 minutes. 3. Can I use rotisserie chicken? Yes, it makes this recipe even easier. 4. Can I freeze this soup? Yes—freeze without rice for best texture. 5. Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts? Absolutely—more flavor and tenderness. 6. How do I prevent mushy rice? Add rice halfway through cooking or cook separately. 7. Can I make this soup dairy-free? The recipe contains no dairy already. 8. What vegetables can I add? Spinach, kale, peas, zucchini, or mushrooms. 9. How can I make it richer? Add a knob of butter or ½ cup cream. 10. How do I make it spicy? Add red pepper flakes or diced jalapeño. 🏁 Conclusion This Simple Chicken and Rice Soup is a classic comfort recipe that brings warmth, nourishment, and ease to your table. Whether you’re craving something soothing, cooking for your family, or preparing a light yet satisfying meal, this soup offers everything you need in one cozy bowl—tender chicken, soft rice, flavorful vegetables, and a savory broth that tastes like pure comfort. It’s budget-friendly, easy to customize, and perfect for meal prep or quick weeknight cooking. Once you try this recipe, it will likely become a staple in your kitchen for years to come.
