Cozy Chicken and Rice Soup

Wrap your hands around a bowl of this Cozy Chicken and Rice Soup for the ultimate feeling of home and warmth. With tender shredded chicken, fluffy rice, and garden vegetables simmering in seasoned chicken broth, every spoonful brings comforting calm to your day.

Why You’ll Love This Cozy Chicken and Rice Soup

• Pure Comfort in Every Bite: The ultimate feel-good soup to enjoy when you need soothing nourishment.
• Great Use for Leftovers: Fantastic way to transform leftover rotisserie chicken into an entirely fresh, cozy meal.
• Wholesome Pantry Staples: Budget-friendly ingredients that you almost certainly already have on hand.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Rice Variety: Long-grain white rice, jasmine rice, wild rice, or brown rice all work beautifully.
• Creamy Finish: Stir in 1/2 cup of heavy cream or half-and-half during the final 5 minutes for a velvety chicken and rice chowder.
• Extra Veggies: Add sliced mushrooms, sweet peas, or chopped spinach to easily boost nutrition.

How to Make Cozy Chicken and Rice Soup

Step-by-Step Directions

Step 1: In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onion, garlic, carrots, and celery until soft and aromatic.

Step 2: Add chicken broth and bring the mixture to a gentle rolling boil.

Step 3: Stir in the uncooked rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Step 4: Add the shredded cooked chicken, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

Step 5: Ladle into warm bowls, garnish with fresh herbs, and serve hot.

Helpful Cooking Tips

• Rinse white rice briefly before adding to the pot to remove excess starch and keep the broth clear.
• If cooking for meal prep, cook rice separately and ladle soup over rice when serving to prevent rice from bloating.

Storage & Reheating

How to Store

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

How to Reheat

Reheat on the stovetop over low heat, adding an extra 1/2 cup of chicken broth to loosen the rice as needed.

Cozy Chicken and Rice Soup

A heartwarming, soul-soothing chicken and rice soup featuring tender shredded chicken, fluffy rice, sweet carrots, and celery in seasoned broth.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 5

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 1 cup rice, uncooked
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup carrots, diced
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Method

 

1. In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onion, garlic, carrots, and celery until soft and aromatic.
2. Add chicken broth and bring the mixture to a gentle rolling boil.
3. Stir in the uncooked rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Add the shredded cooked chicken, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
5. Ladle into warm bowls, garnish with fresh herbs, and serve hot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this with wild rice?

Yes! Wild rice takes about 40 to 45 minutes to cook, so simmer the wild rice in the broth before adding the cooked chicken.

Can I make this soup in an Instant Pot?

Yes! Sauté the veggies on Sauté mode, add broth, chicken, and rice, and pressure cook on High for 5 minutes with a natural release.

Can I freeze chicken and rice soup?

Rice can become soft when frozen in broth, so we recommend freezing the soup base without rice and adding fresh cooked rice upon thawing.

What herbs enhance chicken and rice soup?

Fresh thyme, flat-leaf parsley, rosemary, or a pinch of poultry seasoning add wonderful herbal depth.

Final Thoughts

This cozy chicken and rice soup is a heartwarming reminder that simple, authentic home cooking is always the best medicine. Serve it with warm crusty bread for a deeply satisfying family meal.