Description
Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup: Cozy, comforting, and velvety-smooth, this soup combines tender chicken, rice, and vegetables in a rich broth for a nourishing, homestyle meal. Perfect for weeknights and leftovers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (uncooked)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp flour (optional for extra thickness)
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 4–5 minutes until softened.
- Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add chicken, rice, broth, thyme, parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender and chicken is fully cooked.
- Remove the chicken, shred it, and return it to the pot.
- For a thicker soup, whisk flour with a few tablespoons of hot broth, then stir back into the pot.
- Add the heavy cream and simmer for 5 minutes to warm through.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Serve warm and garnish with fresh parsley.
Notes
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs can be used; breasts for a leaner version, thighs for more tenderness.
- Omit the flour for a gluten-free version (or use a gluten-free thickener).
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Rice thickens the soup as it sits; add more broth if a thinner consistency is desired.
- Leftovers refrigerate well for 3–4 days; reheat gently on the stove.
- Garnish with fresh parsley for color and aroma.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup, chicken soup recipe, comforting soup, cozy soup, easy soup, hearty dinner, stovetop soup