Name: Old Fashioned Chicken and Rice Soup
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 medium yellow onion (finely chopped); 2 garlic cloves (minced); 2 medium carrots (chopped); 1/2 cup chopped celery; 1 teaspoon dried thyme or poultry seasoning; 1 bay leaf; 2 32- ounce containers chicken stock; 1 cup of water; 1 cup white rice; 2 cups shredded cooked chicken (from a rotisserie chicken); salt & pepper to taste

Recipe

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This old fashioned chicken and rice soup is pure comfort food and a simple meal made on the stove-top!

When you crave a delicious, warm bowl of goodness for dinner, this easy chicken and rice soup is exactly what your body and soul need. And did I mention that it comes together in a single soup pot?

large pot of chicken and rice soup with a large spoonful of soup

Classic Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe

Hot rice soup, whether enjoyed on a cold day or by someone feeling under the weather, is something everyone can appreciate.

And this old-fashioned chicken and rice soup takes nothing more than a few simple and fresh ingredients you probably have around in your pantry and fridge.

In 30 minutes; you can be hugging a warm bowl brimming with chicken, veggies, and rice! I love serving this with a freshly baked loaf of my easy homemade bread.

Chicken and Rice Soup Ingredients

Unlike the chicken soup our moms and grandmothers made, this recipe cuts an extra step by using shredded roasted chicken. For flavor, you’ll use yellow onion, garlic, chopped carrots (canned or frozen chopped carrots also work), celery (or fresh or frozen mirepoix to avoid the chopping), thyme, and a bay leaf. You’ll also include chicken broth and white rice.

Rotisserie chickens are one of my favorite purchases at the grocery store, they’re inexpensive and the meat is always tender. If I don’t feel like baking a big batch of chicken, I usually grab one or two to use in salads and wraps for lunches or main dishes like burrito bowls, tacos, pasta, and soups.

overhead view of a bowl of chicken and rice soup

Can I add more veggies to this Chicken and Rice Soup?

This recipe is versatile so that you can add or subtract veggies as you like. Great options for veggies include green peas, chopped spinach, corn, green beans, and extra herbs- thyme, rosemary, and oregano are perfect.

How to Make Chicken and Rice Soup

To make this hearty soup, first chop the veggies and shred the chicken. Then, in your soup pot, cook the chopped vegetables until soft. Pour in the chicken stock and water and bring to a boil. Add the rice and chicken, stir and cook until the rice is tender. Watch how it’s done in this quick recipe video:

Click here to make Chicken and Rice Soup in the Instant Pot

Do You Cook Rice Before Adding it to Soup?

This recipe cooks the rice in the soup pot after the soup has been brought down from a boil. This method allows the rice to absorb not just water, but the soup broth, which elevates the flavor of the rice.

If you have leftover rice from another meal, you can add cooked rice to the soup as well just before you’re ready to serve it. Allow it just a few minutes to warm up the rice, but not so much time that the rice gets mushy or overcooked.

Best Rice for Chicken and Rice Soup

In this recipe, I’ve used simple white rice, because it’s what I have in my pantry most often. You can use brown rice, wild rice, or any other variety of rice.

If you swap white rice for another type, such as brown rice, be sure to adjust the cooking time, as brown rice takes longer to cook than white rice. If you’re using minute rice, you’d also add that at the very end of the cook time, so that you don’t overcook your rice.

Make This Chicken and Rice Soup in the Slow Cooker

How to Freeze Soup

Leftovers are very easy to freeze. I like to divide them into 1 cup measurements and freeze them in a freezer bag. To enjoy a warm bowl of delicious chicken soup, simply thaw out, heat, and eat!

More Chicken Soup Recipes

Now, if you love quick and easy soups, other healthy and delicious recipes you’ll definitely want to try are chicken stew, chicken pot pie soup, and this chicken & Veggie Chili.

Old Fashioned Chicken and Rice Soup

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 35

This old fashioned chicken and rice soup is pure comfort food and a simple meal made on the stove-top!

4.99 from 58 votes

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Watch how it’s made:

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium carrots, chopped
½ cup chopped celery
1 teaspoon dried thyme or poultry seasoning
1 bay leaf
2 32- ounce containers chicken stock
1 cup of water
1 cup white rice
2 cups shredded cooked chicken, from a rotisserie chicken
salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, thyme, and bay leaf. Cook and stir until the veggies are soft, about 5 minutes.
Add the chicken stock and water. Bring to a boil. Add the rice and chicken meat, stir and cook over medium-low heat until the rice is tender, about 25 to 30 minutes