Cheesy Chicken and Rice Soup is thick, hearty, creamy, and delicious. This veggie-packed soup recipe is the ultimate comfort food!
I’ve temporarily resurfaced from the depths of my soup pot to share a must-try recipe for Cheesy Chicken and Rice Soup with you!
On a cold evening a few weeks ago I started cooking with every intention of making a big pot of my Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup to have on hand for lunches all week, but started craving something a bit creamier…and made with rice instead of noodles…and cheese.
There had to be cheese!
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Soup was the result and it is so hearty, creamy, and delicious that I had to manually override my right hand holding a spoon, with my left hand, in order to stop eating it.
That’s how good this soup is!
I’m not sure what I like best – the creamy rice, tender vegetables, flavor-packed broth, or the cheese. Probably the cheese.
How to Make Cheesy Chicken and Rice Soup:
Start by prepping the vegetable base. I typially use 1 stalk celery, 1 large carrot, and 1/4 onion as the base for all of my soups, and this one is no different.
Add the vegetables to a large soup pot over medium heat with 1 Tablespoon each butter and extra virgin olive oil then saute until tender, about 10 minutes. Add 2 minced garlic cloves then cook for 1 more minute, stirring constantly.
After the vegetables are soft, add 3/4lbs cooked diced or shredded chicken.
To the chicken and vegetables add 6 cups chicken broth, and 1/3-4 cups milk.
Followed by 1 bay leaf and a 2×2″ parmesan cheese rind. The cheese rind is optional, but it adds so much flavor!
I get a package of them from Whole Foods for super cheap and keep on hand in the freezer to pull out when I’m making soups.
Bring the soup to a boil then stir in 1 cup long grain white rice, place a lid on the pot, then cook for 15 minutes or until the rice is just barely tender.
Finally, whisk together 1/4 cup milk with 1/4 cup gluten-free or all-purpose flour in a small bowl, then stream into the soup and cook for 5 more minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste.
The addition of this milk/flour slurry makes the soup wonderfully thick and creamy without having to add any heavy cream.
Right now the soup is absolutely delicious on its own. You could serve as-is and have one of the best bowls of soup ever – BUT – the addition of 8oz shredded cheddar cheese takes this soup straight over the top.
See how thick and creamy this soup is?! All from a little milk and flour, and a modest amount of cheese – especially when you consider how many servings a big pot of Cheesy Chicken and Rice Soup makes. Such a winner, this one. I hope you love it!
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 onion, minced
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 1 rib celery, chopped
- salt and pepper
- 2 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
- 3/4 lb cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
- 6 cups chicken stock or broth
- 2 cups milk, divided, any kind
- 1 bay leaf
- 2×2" parmesan cheese rind, optional
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 1/4 cup gluten free flour, or AP flour if not GF
- 8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Directions
- Melt butter and oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery, season with salt and pepper, then saute for 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add garlic cloves then cook for 1 more minute, stirring constantly. Add chicken, season with more salt and pepper if chicken is unseasoned then stir to combine.
- Add chicken broth, 1-3/4 cups milk, bay leaf, and parmesan cheese rind, if using, to the pot then turn the heat up to high to bring the soup a simmer. Add the rice then stir to combine. Place a lid on top then turn heat down to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender.
- In a small bowl whisk together remaining 1/4 cup milk with flour. Stream into the soup then stir to combine and cook uncovered for 5 more minutes. Turn off heat and remove pot from burner then add cheese and stir until smooth. Let soup sit and thicken for 10 minutes then serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
This looks wonderful! Love that it doesn’t have added creamed soup in it!
Looks like the ideal “winter cold” soup. I think snow is just around the corner for us so this will absolutely be made soon.
I would trade for Chocolate cake, but I don’t have the DVD’s (& I’m in Fl !) This looks wonderful and I am going to try it! I told my husband how tiny you are and what wonderful recipes you come up with and he said you cook and Ben eats! Must be it! Going to make the Lava Cakes tomorrow and if they come out good I will take some with my fudge, Ham & Stuffing to my daughter’s for Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Ben, and your entire family!
this looks wonderful, thanks!
xo julesinflats.com
This looks great! I think that I may try to make a vegetarian version of this soup. :)
Yummo….this looks super comforting! Too bad it’s still in the 80’s here in Texas.
This looks amazing, times like these I wish I wasn’t lactose intolerant! I can eat in moderation, maybe I should save up a weeks worth of avoidance in order to make this soup! Season 4 of BBT is the best, I was laughing so hard I was crying 5 minutes into the first episode of season 4. I’m getting the boyfriend the Bazinga PJ pant’s from Amazon.com for Christmas. Sorry, I won’t trade, not even for sheet cake ;)
this looks so yummy and EASY! definitely making this for a cozy night :)
My husband is getting sick and I think this will be perfect to brighten his immune system back up!
I love Panera’s creamy chicken and wild rice soup… so I can only imagine this additive/preservative free soup is delicious! PLUS, there’s cheese!
that sounds delicious!
Id love to exchange those dvds for some chocolate cake!!!
send me an email!
This reminds me of a soup I used to eat growing up – sounds delicious! =)
This looks awesome – I love that it’s gluten-free, too! Soup is my favorite winter meal, I’ll need to add this to the to-do list.