Easy Chicken and Rice Soup is a quick and simple soup recipe that the entire family will love. This brothy and nourishing soup recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight supper, or feeding someone under the weather.
“This is a new staple in my house. I’m not sure how the small amount of ingredients end up so flavorful but it’s pretty amazing. Great weeknight meal!”
Soup season is 12 months a year at my house, and the recipe that makes the most appearances – even during the dog days of summer – is my Chicken and Rice Soup recipe.
This brothy and nourishing soup features everyday ingredients like vegetables, chicken, rice, and chicken stock, but I’m not exaggerating when I tell you my children lick their bowls clean of it.
Whether you’re craving something ultra-comforting, feeding a sick friend or family member, or simply only have 30 minutes to get dinner on the table — Chicken and Rice Soup is the answer!
Watch How to Make It
Main Ingredients Needed
Browse the comments section of this post and you’ll see that readers have added everything from celery to spinach, dried and fresh herbs, plus peas to this soup over the years. It’s a fabulous recipe to customize with extra veggies in particular, though here’s what you’ll need for the base recipe:
- Aromatics: onions, carrots, and garlic build the base of this cozy soup.
- Homemade Seasoned Salt: adds tons of flavor to each bowl.
- Chicken breasts: this recipe calls for diced raw chicken breast, though you could stir in pre-cooked shredded or diced chicken from a roast chicken at the end to warm through. If I have time, I’ll occasionally use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs cooked using this method.
- Long grain white rice: like jasmine rice or basmati rice, vs a short grain rice like arborio rice or sushi rice. Lundberg Jasmine Rice is my go-to. Whatever brand you go with, be sure it’s high quality to avoid mushy rice.
- Chicken stock: I like to use chicken stock (homemade is great) for max flavor, though chicken broth is fine too. Feel free to use low-sodium chicken broth or stock if needed.
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Pin ItHow to Make Chicken and Rice Soup
Step 1: Saute the vegetables.
Start by heating a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil in a large soup pot or dutch oven over medium heat.
Add chopped carrots and onion, season with homemade seasoned salt and pepper, then place a lid on top and cook until the vegetables are very tender, 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Can I Make this in the Crock Pot?
I don’t advise cooking white rice in the crock pot, as it’s very tricky to control the texture and timing with the chicken and vegetables.
Step 2: Add chicken stock, rice, and chicken.
Add chicken stock or broth to the pot then turn the heat up to bring to a boil. Add long grain white rice then stir to combine. Next add diced chicken breasts that have been seasoned with more seasoned salt and pepper then stir to combine.
Do I Cook the Rice Before Adding it to the Soup?
No, the rice will cook in the soup. If you have cold, leftover rice you’d like to use instead, stir that in at the end to warm through. Note: you will need less broth since the pre-cooked rice will not soak up much of the broth.
How do You Keep the Rice from Getting Mushy?
Be sure to use high quality rice in this soup recipe. If you use minute rice, or any other type of par-boiled rice, it will turn out mushy.
I’m brand loyal to Lundberg rice and like their White Jasmine Rice in this recipe. Trust me, rice quality makes a huge difference!
Do I Cook the Chicken Before Adding it Into the Soup?
No. Diced raw chicken breasts are seasoned with seasoned salt and pepper then added to the soup raw, where they poach in the hot broth.
Step 3: Simmer the soup.
Turn the heat down to medium then simmer the soup for 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is tender, stirring every so often.
Serve with Gluten Free Focaccia, Gluten Free Flatbread, or Gluten Free Biscuits and you’re set!
How to Store
Scoop leftover chicken and rice soup into individual-sized storage containers then store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave with an extra splash of chicken stock or broth until hot.
Can I Freeze this Soup?
I find even high quality white rice can become mushy once frozen then thawed, so I don’t recommend freezing this soup.
More Easy Soup Recipes
- Gluten Free Lasagna Soup
- Pastina Soup
- Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup
- One Pot Chicken and Rice
- Gluten Free Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
- Crock Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
- Creamy Wild Rice Mushroom Soup
- Hamburger Soup
- Ham and Bean Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or butter
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped, ~1/2 cup
- 1 large carrot, finely chopped, ~1/2 cup
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- homemade seasoned salt and pepper
- 2 chicken breasts, ~1lb, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 8 cups chicken stock or broth
- 1 cup long grain white rice, Lundberg Jasmine Rice recommended
Directions
- Add the extra virgin olive oil to a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add he onions and carrots, season with seasoned salt and pepper, then stir to combine. Cover the pot with a lid then saute until the vegetables are very tender, 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic then saute without the lid on for 30 seconds.
- Turn the heat up to high then add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Add the rice then stir to combine. Season the chicken with seasoning salt and pepper then add to the broth and stir to combine. Turn the heat down to medium then simmer, uncovered, until the rice is tender, 15-20 minutes. Taste then add more seasoned salt and/or pepper to taste, then ladle into bowls and serve.
Notes
- The rice will continue to soak up the broth as it cools so keep extra on hand for reheating leftovers.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
The best soup ever!!!
I’m so glad you loved it, Gail!!
What is the main difference in stock and broth? I never know which to buy. Which is more flavorful?
Hi Shiela! I cover this in this post: https://iowagirleats.com/easy-instant-pot-chicken-stock/ by the TL:DR version is that chicken stock is made with bones so in general more it is more flavorful!
had a sick coworker who always gets a chicken and rice soup from a local diner. thought i would surprise her with some soup, tried this recipe and immediately wish I had doubled the recipe!!! very quick delicious soup.
Oh that is so sweet, Rachel! I’m sure she really, really appreciated that! I hope you can make it again for yourself!
I made this for my child whose mouth was too sore after getting his first braces to eat hard foods. I shredded the carrots, but other than that kept the recipe the same and it turned out so delicious! My husband and I ate a ton of it too. Comforting and easy.
Aww, poor buddy! Glad this soup recipe worked out for him, and you guys too. Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
I am looking forward to trying your gf recipes
I hope you enjoy, Nancy!
Quite honestly? This tastes like my childhood! Deliciously comforting.
Awww, I’m so happy to hear that, Kimberly!! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Easy, delicious soup. I have made it several times now. My family loves it.
I’m thrilled to hear that, April! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Chicken soup was delicious. I will make again and made your seasoning. I think the seasoning made the soup!!
I totally agree, and am so happy you loved the soup, Patty! Thank you so much for your feedback!
Love the recipe, but couldn’t find the actually amounts until AFTER I looked back and scrolled all the way to the end. I ended up with “0” broth because I had 2 cups of rice, 5 carrots, 4 stalks celery, and a whole onion. The rest I guessed right. I also added Turmeric, Ginger, Rosemary and Thyme. Now that I’ve printed the recipe, I am looking forward to making it again the correct way!! Thank you! Your humor is appreciated, as well! :)
I’m so glad you were able to give this recipe a go, Joanne, and hope round 2 is even better! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Sometimes the simplest recipes turn out to be the best. So easy and delicious! Will make again for sure.
I *totally* agree, Jennifer! So glad this recipe was a hit for you!
Can I make this as a freezer meal (don’t cook anything just bag it, freeze it and then put in a crockpot the day I want to make it?)
Hi Karen! Did you maybe mean to leave this comment on my Crock Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup? If so, then yes you can bag it all together uncooked and freeze it!
Just made this soup. It was really easy to make and very delicious on this cold winter evening.
I’m so glad to hear it, Allison! Thank you so much for your feedback!
This soup was easy to prepare, and equally easy to put together. Very flavorful and full of my favorite vegetables.
I’m so happy to hear that, Patricia. :) Thrilled this was a hit for you. :)