Enjoy more easy chicken soup recipes like Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup, Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup and Chicken Dumpling Soup. Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup is one of those dinners that’s perfect for weeknights at home with the family! When you need something warm, comforting, and kid friendly on the dinner table, this is a great recipe to turn to. I think my favorite thing about this chicken and rice soup recipe is how easy it is to toss together! It’s a one pot recipe that comes together with minimal effort in about 45 minutes. Plus, it’s made with kitchen staples! If you’re anything like me, you probably have the majority of these ingredients on hand 90% of the time. If not, no worries – your shopping list will be nice and short. If you try this recipe, let me know how it goes! (Even my soup-resistant children love this one 😉).
Why we love this Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup:
Picky eater approved: If you have a hard time getting a certain someone at the table to eat their protein and veggies, this recipe may come in handy! It’s so flavorful they won’t even notice all of the goodness it offers. Comforting: Chicken, rice and veggies are served in the best creamy broth. This is truly a comfort food classic. Simple: One quick look at the ingredients listed below will show you that this recipe is frills-free! You may already have every simple ingredient needed in your kitchen now.
Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup Ingredients Needed:
Chicken – Chicken breasts are my favorite to use in this recipe because I like the way they shred so perfectly. However, you can use boneless, skinless thighs if you’d prefer! Rice – Long grain white rice is my go-to in this creamy soup. Brown rice also works just fine, but it requires a longer cook time. Cream – Heavy cream creates the best thick and creamy consistency! Any cream will work though, like half and half. Chicken Broth – I always use low-sodium chicken broth so I can control the amount of salt in the soup. Seasonings – Thyme, parsley, salt and pepper is all you’ll need to create the best savory flavor! Garlic – Feel free to add more than what’s called for if you’re a proud garlic lover! Onion – A white or yellow onion is what you’ll need. Carrots – Try to make sure they’re all cut to about the same size so they cook through evenly. Celery – It’ll need a rinse before you start chopping to remove any possible residue.
How to make Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup
This one pot chicken soup recipe is so very easy! For more details about ingredients and instructions, just scroll on down to the recipe card. Simply add them with the broth and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F and they are easily shredded. Remove from the soup, shred or chop, and stir right back in.
Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Sauté the onions, carrots and celery. Cook just until the onions are translucent. Mix in the garlic and herbs. Cook for just another minute.
Add broth, raw chicken, uncooked rice, salt and pepper to the pot. Stir it all together and bring to a boil. Then, lower the heat to medium-low and cover the pot. Cook until the veggies and rice are tender, stirring every 10 minutes or so. Remove the cooked chicken from the pot and shred with two forks.
Add the chicken back to the pot and stir in the cream.
Variations and Substitutions
Add more veggies: I recommend starting this soup recipe with your classic mirepoix. From there, you can really get creative! Add veggies that take a little longer to cook with the mirepoix. Things that cook quicker, like leafy greens and frozen veggies can be added at the end. Use bone-in chicken: Yep! This recipe works just fine with bone-in chicken if that’s what you have on hand. Just note that it will take longer to cook and be sure to completely remove any bones when you shred the meat. Brown rice works: Just note that it’ll need longer to cook then white rice does.
How to store Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup
In an airtight container in the fridge, any leftover chicken and rice soup you have will stay fresh for about 2-3 days. Reheat for 30 seconds at a time in the microwave, stirring each time it stops, until warmed all the way through.
Can I freeze chicken and rice soup?
You sure can! Let it fully cool to room temperature first. Then, transfer the soup into a large zip-top bag and lay it flat on a cutting board or baking sheet. Freeze for 1 hour until it’s frozen flat. That way you can really optimize your storage space in your freezer! Freeze for up to 3 months and let defrost in the fridge for a few hours before reheating.
Serving suggestions:
This chicken soup is a meal all on its own! It’s got carbs, protein and veggies. If you’d like to serve it with anything on the side, consider some crusty No Knead Artisan Bread, Homemade Dinner Rolls or my Mom’s Homemade Buns!
More easy chicken soup recipes you’ll love!
Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup — come home to dinner ready! Chicken Rice Soup — a classic version without the cream (and a reader favorite!) Quick Chicken Bacon Rice Soup — you can’t go wrong with bacon! Chicken Wild Rice Soup — wild rice adds a pop of color and added nutrients.
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