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 you can feel great about feeding your family. Many of these ingredients are everyday household staples; you may already have them in your refrigerator or pantry.
This soup is quick and easy, using already-cooked rotisserie chicken and minute rice. It is ideal for busy families and weeknights. Try my chicken and wild rice soup or lemon chicken orzo soup for a more slow-paced weekend 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.
How to make Chicken and Rice Soup
Start by melting a little butter in a Dutch oven or large soup pot over medium heat. Then add the onion, celery, and carrots and cook until they begin to soften and are aromatic. Next, reduce the heat to low and add the garlic, thyme leaves, and poultry seasoning. Cook for one minute, stirring continuously.
Now pour in the chicken broth and add the bay leaves. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Add the cooked rotisserie chicken and minute rice. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until the rice is tender. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste. Don’t forget to remove the bay leaves. Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, or dill. Or add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. This soup is best served promptly so the rice does not overcook.
Helpful tips for making Chicken and Rice Soup
- Cut your veggies in small uniform bites so they cook evenly and so that there is a variety of vegetables in your soup spoon when you eat it.
- 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 or two, consider adding 1/8 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper or 1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning. Or try adding dried herbs like oregano and bail.
- Add the spices at the same time as the garlic. It helps to cook them with a little bit of the fat from the butter to keep them from simply floating to the top.
- Minced garlic burns easily, so reduce your heat, cook for about one minute, and stir constantly. Burnt garlic is bitter and does not taste good.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs work well with this recipe too.
- Other veggies to consider adding are broccoli, mushrooms, and cabbage.
- Remove your bay leaves before serving, as they are stiff and have sharp edges.
- This recipe works well with jasmine rice, basmati rice, brown rice, white rice, or wild rice, but the times for adding and cooking the rice need to be adjusted.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
- Keep in mind that rice absorbs liquid. If you know you will be saving some for leftovers, then remove that amount before adding the rice. Then reheat on the stovetop, adding the uncooked minute rice.
- To freeze this soup, I suggest that you cook the soup without adding the rice. Ladle the cooled soup into quart or gallon-sized heavy-duty freezer zipper bags. Freeze for up to 3 months. Bring the soup to a simmer on the stovetop, add the minute rice, and simmer for 5 minutes or until the rice is tender.
What is Minute Rice?
Minute rice is white rice that has already been cooked and dried. It is the best rice for this recipe; easy to add, very dependable, gluten-free, and ready to eat in minutes. You could alternately cook a couple of cups of white rice and add it at the end. Or add one cup of uncooked white rice at the same time as the chicken broth. Bring the pot to a boil. Then, reduce the heat, cover the pot, and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the rice is tender. Then add the cooked chicken and season with salt and pepper to taste.
How to make Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup
Increase butter in the first step of the recipe to 4 tablespoons. Next, add 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) flour to the vegetables right after you cook the garlic and spices. Stir in the flour and cook for an additional 1 1/2 – 2 minutes. Now add 3 cups chicken broth and 3 cups milk alternating between the two. Don’t forget the bay leaves. Simmer for about 10 -15 minutes. Add the minute rice and simmer for 5 minutes or until the rice is tender and the soup is thickened. Now add the cooked rotisserie chicken and season with salt and pepper to taste.
More chicken soup recipes to try
Easy Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 medium carrots peeled and sliced
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 2 bay leaves
- 6 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 2 1/2 cups cooked chicken breast shredded
- 1 1/2 cups Minute Rice
- kosher salt and black pepper to taste
- fresh parsley or thyme garnish
Instructions
- Melt butter in a Dutch oven or heavy stockpot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring several times. Reduce heat to low. Add garlic, thyme, and poultry seasoning. Cook for one minute, stirring constantly.
- Add chicken broth and bay leaves. Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
- Add the cooked chicken and minute rice. Simmer for 5 minutes or until the rice is tender. Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste, and remove bay leaves.
Notes
- Cut your veggies in small uniform bites so they cook evenly and so that there is a variety of vegetables in your soup spoon when you eat it.
- 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 or two, consider adding 1/8 teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper or 1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning. Or try adding dried herbs like oregano and bail.
- Add the spices at the same time as the garlic. It helps to cook them with a little bit of the fat from the butter to keep them from simply floating to the top.
- Minced garlic burns easily, so reduce your heat, cook for about one minute, and stir constantly. Burnt garlic is bitter and does not taste good.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs work well with this recipe too.
- Other veggies to consider adding are broccoli, mushrooms, and cabbage.
- Remove your bay leaves before serving, as they are stiff and have sharp edges.
- This recipe works well with jasmine rice, basmati rice, brown rice, white rice, or wild rice, but the times for adding and cooking the rice need to be adjusted.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
- Keep in mind that rice absorbs liquid. If you know you will be saving some for leftovers, then remove that amount before adding the rice. Then reheat on the stovetop, adding the uncooked minute rice.
- To freeze this soup, I suggest that you cook the soup without adding the rice. Ladle the cooled soup into quart or gallon-sized heavy-duty freezer zipper bags. Freeze for up to 3 months. Bring the soup to a simmer on the stovetop, add the minute rice, and simmer for 5 minutes or until the rice is tender.
Nutrition
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Moni
This is one of my comfort foods but my recipe is slightly different. I will try this too!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Moni! Enjoy!
Sienny
Ohh my….im totally In love with this recipe from you as I’m a rice soup fan. Saved this so I can cook this and enjoy it this weekend 😋 cheers
Laura
This sounds like such a nourishing soup!! Perfect for winter to build immunity!
Claudia
We loved this chicken and rice soup. It was easy to make, delicious, and even the young picky eaters liked it. Thanks for sharing the recipe, Beth!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Claudia!
Tanya
Absolutely love the idea of a comforting bowl of Chicken and Rice Soup, especially on those busy weeknights when you need a quick and hearty meal. The fact that it’s made with everyday ingredients makes it even more appealing. Thanks for sharing this delicious and time-saving recipe!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Tanya!
Ella
What a hearty, delicious soup! I love chicken soups, so this will be on our regular rotation. Thanks for the recipe, Beth!
Kay
Great chicken and rice soup. I used rotisserie chicken and it was ready in now time at all. My family loved this and I will be making it often.
Dannii
This is a great way to use up leftover chicken and it’s so easy to adapt too.
Nathan
I love how simple and classic this soup is. Familiar flavors and so comforting. I have a feeling I’ll be making this one quite a bit through the fall and winter!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Nathan! Enjoy!
Kushi
SImple and flavorful soup recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Jayne
I love to have great soup on hand for a cold winter day. This chicken soup is perfect!
Anjali
This was the most comforting bowl of soup ever!! Great for the cooler weather we’ve been having!
Tara
Yum! Such a comforting soup! I bet my whole family will love this and it comes together so easily.
Kristina Tipps
So cozy and delicious! My kids and husband devoured it, and that’s when I know it’s a winner!
Marie-Charlotte Chatelain
A great recipe for using up tose carrot and celery bits and bobs! I will make this using orzo – I have some left from last nights dinner!
Julia
This is such a delicious and comforting recipe. My family loved it!
Julie Blanner
This is such a great comfort soup! I made a large batch of this and froze the rest for a later date. It was so flavorful and easy to make!
Heather
We love this soup!! Perfect for a cold night!
Sandra
Such a really comforting meal!! I loved it!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
Such a comforting and delicious meal! Nothing beats a bowl of this – it’s so good!
Anjali
What a comforting and easy recipe! Even though it’s summer I still enjoy a good soup for dinner and this turned out great!
Emily Liao
This soup was so warm and comforting – perfect for a cold day! Enjoyed the leftovers as well.
Marlynn
This is such a yummy bowl of happiness right here. Good all year round!
Beti | easyweeknightrecipes
Such an incredibly delicious soup!! My family would love this!
katerina @ diethood.com
I love chicken and rice soup! I am so excited to try this!
Vikki
Tasty soup!
Erin
This Chicken and Rice Soup couldn’t look any more perfect!
Jen
Our family is soup obsessed as well. I love making a big batch on Monday and everyone just gets to eat it throughout the week though it doesn’t seem to last too long. This one is so good!