Description
Hearty Chicken and Rice Soup delivers comfort through generations of home-cooked goodness. Simmered with tender chicken, fragrant herbs, and wholesome rice, you’ll savor each spoonful of this classic, nourishing meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (480 ml) chicken, shredded (rotisserie chicken works great)
- 8 cups (2 liters) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 ml) uncooked white or brown rice
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsps olive oil or butter
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried parsley (or 1 tbsp fresh parsley)
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 0.5 lemon, juiced (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Crusty bread for serving
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat olive oil or butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Combine onions, carrots, and celery, cooking until vegetables soften and become translucent, releasing their subtle sweetness.
- Layer Flavor Foundation: Introduce minced garlic, thyme, and parsley to the vegetable base, stirring briefly to awaken their aromatic qualities and create a rich flavor profile.
- Build Soup Structure: Pour chicken broth into the pot, bringing to a vigorous boil. Add rice and bay leaf, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer, allowing ingredients to marry and develop complex flavors.
- Cook Rice and Integrate Proteins: Let rice absorb the broth’s essence, becoming tender and plump. Gently fold in shredded chicken, allowing the meat to warm through and infuse the soup with its delicate richness.
- Final Seasoning and Refinement: Remove bay leaf and season with salt and pepper, balancing the soup’s flavor. Optional: Brighten the dish with a hint of lemon juice for a subtle, tangy undertone.
- Serve and Garnish: Ladle the steaming soup into warm bowls, adorning with fresh parsley sprigs. Accompany with a crusty bread slice to complete this comforting culinary experience.
Notes
- Choose the Right Rice: Select long-grain white rice or quick-cooking varieties to ensure proper texture and prevent mushiness during the cooking process.
- Control Liquid Absorption: Watch rice carefully during simmering to prevent overcooking; add extra broth if rice absorbs liquid too quickly to maintain soupy consistency.
- Optimize Chicken Preparation: Use pre-cooked or rotisserie chicken for time-saving option, or poach fresh chicken breasts directly in the broth for maximum flavor infusion.
- Enhance Nutritional Value: Swap white rice with quinoa or brown rice for added protein and fiber, making the soup more nutritionally dense and suitable for health-conscious diets.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg