Ultimate Comfort: Easy & Wholesome Homemade Chicken Rice Soup Recipe

There are few dishes as universally comforting and satisfying as a warm, steaming bowl of Wholesome Chicken Rice Soup. This classic recipe combines tender, succulent chicken pieces, perfectly cooked fluffy rice, and a colorful medley of aromatic vegetables, all simmered together in a rich, savory broth. It’s not just a soup; it’s a hug in a bowl, a nourishing family meal that’s absolutely perfect for chasing away the chill during colder months, soothing a sore throat, or simply bringing warmth and joy to your dinner table on a busy weeknight.

The beauty of this homemade chicken and rice soup lies in its simplicity and the deep, satisfying flavors it delivers. Every spoonful offers a delightful mix of textures – the softness of the chicken, the chewiness of the rice, and the subtle crunch of the vegetables – all bathed in a wonderfully seasoned broth. This recipe is a timeless favorite for good reason: it’s incredibly versatile, easy to prepare with readily available ingredients, and consistently delivers that much-needed dose of comfort and nourishment.

A steaming bowl of homemade chicken rice soup garnished with fresh parsley, served on a rustic wooden table.

What makes our Chicken & Rice Soup truly special is its adaptability. You can effortlessly adjust it to your family’s preferences, making it as light and brothy or as rich and creamy as you desire. For those busy days, we even share tips on how to significantly cut down on cooking time by utilizing pre-cooked chicken and rice. This means less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying a delicious, wholesome meal with your loved ones. Get ready to add this amazing chicken rice soup recipe to your rotation!

Fresh ingredients laid out for chicken rice soup: carrots, celery, onion, garlic, chicken breasts, and uncooked rice.

Essential Ingredients for Wholesome Chicken Rice Soup

Crafting the perfect chicken rice soup starts with selecting fresh, quality ingredients. While the full, precise measurements can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post, here’s a detailed look at the core components that bring this cozy soup to life, along with some helpful notes and substitution ideas:

Oil – A good quality cooking oil like vegetable oil, olive oil, or even avocado oil is essential for sautéing our aromatic vegetables. It helps develop their flavor and provides a smooth base for the soup.
Veggies – The classic trio of diced onion, carrots, and celery forms the foundation of flavor for this soup, often referred to as a “mirepoix.” These vegetables are slowly cooked to release their sweet and savory notes, creating a rich base. Feel free to add other finely chopped root vegetables like parsnips for extra depth.
Garlic – Freshly minced garlic adds an indispensable pungent and savory aroma. It’s best added towards the end of the vegetable sauté to prevent burning, which can turn it bitter.
Chicken broth – This is the liquid heart of your soup. A high-quality chicken broth or chicken stock is key for a deeply flavorful soup. For a vegetarian option or if you’re out of chicken broth, vegetable broth works wonderfully. Low-sodium varieties allow you to control the salt content more precisely.
Herbs – Dried parsley, thyme, and a bay leaf are the traditional seasonings that infuse the broth with earthy, aromatic flavors. If you have fresh herbs on hand, you can certainly substitute them (use about three times the amount of fresh herbs compared to dried, and add them towards the end of cooking for optimal flavor and color). A sprig of fresh rosemary can also be a delightful addition.
Salt and pepper – These fundamental seasonings are crucial for balancing and enhancing all the other flavors. Always taste and adjust as you go, especially towards the end of cooking, to ensure your soup is perfectly seasoned.
Rice – For soup, long-grain white rice is generally recommended as it holds its shape well and offers a pleasant texture without becoming overly starchy or mushy. Basmati or Jasmine rice can also be used. If you prefer a nuttier flavor and chewier texture, wild rice is an excellent alternative, though it will require a longer cooking time (see tips below).
Chicken – You have options here! Raw, boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs are ideal for cooking directly in the broth, infusing the soup with even more chicken flavor. Alternatively, using already cooked, shredded chicken (like rotisserie chicken leftovers) is a fantastic time-saver, which we’ll discuss in more detail.

Diced carrots, onion, and celery, the aromatic base, sautéing in a large pot with cooking oil, stirred by a wooden spatula.

Chicken broth, dried parsley, thyme, and a bay leaf being added to the pot of sautéed vegetables, ready to simmer.

How to Make Delicious Chicken & Rice Soup from Scratch

Preparing this comforting chicken and rice soup on your stovetop is a straightforward process, ensuring you can have a wholesome, homemade meal on the table in under an hour. Follow these easy steps to create a truly delightful soup:

Sauté the Aromatics. Begin by heating your chosen cooking oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté these vegetables for about 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften and become translucent. This initial step is crucial for building the foundational flavor of your soup. Next, stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until it becomes fragrant. Be careful not to let the garlic brown, as this can lead to a bitter taste.
Build the Flavorful Broth. Once your aromatics are softened and fragrant, pour in the chicken broth. Add the dried thyme, dried parsley, and the bay leaf to the pot. Stir all the ingredients together to combine them well. Increase the heat and bring the entire mixture to a rolling boil. As soon as it reaches a boil, reduce the heat to a gentle simmer to prepare for the next step.
Simmer with Chicken and Rice. Now it’s time to add the stars of the show! Carefully add the uncooked long-grain white rice and the raw, boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs, if preferred) to the simmering broth. Continue to simmer the soup for approximately 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Cook until the chicken is thoroughly cooked through, with no pink remaining, and the rice is tender. During this time, the rice will absorb some of the broth and release its starches, naturally thickening the soup slightly.
Shred, Season, and Serve! Once the chicken is cooked, carefully remove it from the pot. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the shredded chicken to the soup, stirring it in to distribute evenly. Taste the soup and season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your liking. Ladle your delicious, steaming chicken rice soup into bowls, garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired, and dig in! Enjoy this cozy, satisfying meal on its own or with your favorite side dishes.

Uncooked long-grain white rice being stirred into the simmering chicken broth and vegetable mixture in a large pot.

A large pot filled with homemade chicken rice soup, steaming gently, ready to be served.

Expert Tips & Delicious Variations for Your Chicken Rice Soup

Elevate your homemade chicken rice soup with these helpful tips and creative variations, ensuring every bowl is nothing short of perfect:

Don’t Overcook the Rice. This is perhaps the most crucial tip! Rice continues to absorb liquid and soften even after it’s removed from the heat. To prevent your soup from becoming mushy or excessively thick, aim for perfectly tender but not soft rice during cooking. If the soup needs to sit for a while before serving, or if you’re making a large batch for leftovers, you might even undercook the rice by a minute or two, knowing it will continue to cook in the residual heat of the broth.
Experiment with Rice Varieties. While long-grain white rice is standard, don’t hesitate to swap it for Wild Rice for a nuttier flavor and a more substantial, chewy texture. Keep in mind that wild rice takes significantly longer to cook than white rice, so adjust your simmering time accordingly (often 45-60 minutes). You might also pre-cook wild rice separately and add it at the end to maintain better control over its texture. Brown rice is another healthy option, also requiring a longer cooking time.
Leftover Poultry Perfection. This soup is an incredible way to use up leftover poultry! If you have extra cooked chicken or even leftover turkey from a holiday meal, shred it and add it to the soup during the last few minutes of cooking, just enough to heat it through. This saves cooking time and ensures the poultry remains tender and flavorful.
Achieve Creamy Indulgence. The starches released by the rice naturally give this soup a lovely body, making it feel quite creamy already. However, if you desire an extra layer of richness and indulgence, stir in a touch of whole milk, heavy cream, or even a splash of half-and-half right at the very end of cooking. Ensure the pot is off the heat when you add dairy to prevent curdling. This transforms it into a Creamy Chicken Rice Soup that’s truly decadent.
Add Fresh Herbs for Brightness. While dried herbs provide a wonderful base flavor, a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or dill just before serving can brighten the entire soup. The vibrant color and fresh aroma add a gourmet touch.
Boost the Veggies. Feel free to load up your soup with more vegetables! Peas, corn, diced bell peppers, or even a handful of fresh spinach (stirred in during the last 5 minutes until wilted) are excellent additions that add nutrients, color, and flavor.
Flavor Enhancers. For an even deeper umami flavor, consider adding a dash of Worcestershire sauce or a teaspoon of white miso paste to the broth. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end can also brighten and lift all the flavors.

A serving ladle gently scooping rich chicken rice soup from a large pot, showing the tender chicken, rice, and vegetables.

Maximizing Efficiency: Using Already Cooked Chicken & Rice

One of the best aspects of homemade soup is its flexibility, especially when it comes to using up ingredients. This chicken rice soup recipe is incredibly adaptable, making it a fantastic way to utilize leftovers and significantly reduce your preparation time. If you have already cooked chicken and/or rice in your fridge, you’re halfway to a delicious meal!

For cooked chicken, such as shredded Whole Chicken or store-bought rotisserie chicken, simply shred it into bite-sized pieces. Instead of adding raw chicken at the simmering stage, you’ll stir your cooked chicken into the soup during the final 2-3 minutes of the cooking time. This is just enough time for the chicken to heat through without becoming tough or rubbery, preserving its tender texture and flavor.

The same principle applies to leftover cooked rice, like White Rice or brown rice. If you have it ready to go in the fridge, add it to the soup right at the very end, alongside your cooked shredded chicken. Stir it in gently and allow it to heat through for a few minutes. This prevents the rice from getting overly soft or mushy from extended simmering, ensuring a perfect texture every time. These shortcuts are perfect for a speedy weeknight dinner without sacrificing any of the wholesome, comforting flavors.

Comforting Chicken and Rice Soup

Ultimate Comfort: Easy & Wholesome Homemade Chicken Rice Soup Recipe

Essential Ingredients for Wholesome Chicken Rice Soup

How to Make Delicious Chicken & Rice Soup from Scratch

Expert Tips & Delicious Variations for Your Chicken Rice Soup

Maximizing Efficiency: Using Already Cooked Chicken & Rice

What to Serve With Your Cozy Chicken & Rice Soup

Storage and Freezing Instructions for Chicken Rice Soup

Freezing Chicken Rice Soup

More Cozy Soup Recipes to Savor

Wholesome & Easy Chicken & Rice Soup

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