Easy Chicken and Rice Soup - Iowa Girl Eats (2024)

Easy Chicken and Rice Soup is a quick and simple soup recipe that the entire family will love. Nourishing, satisfying comfort food in a bowl!

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The apple didn’t fall far from the tree in many ways when it comes to my darling children — including the fact that they all love soup as much as their Mama.

I don’t make the rules, I just cook the soup!

One of our all time favorite chicken soup recipes is Chicken and Rice Soup. This brothy, nourishing soup features fresh vegetables, tender chicken, long grain white rice, and chicken stock—and I am not exaggerating when I tell you that my children lick their bowls clean of it. It’s SO simple, yet has the most soul-satisfying taste.

The best part? Chicken and Rice Soup takes one pot, 30 minutes, and a handful of everyday ingredients to make. Cancel your current dinner plans – you’re having soup for dinner tonight!

Watch How to Make It!

What is Chicken Rice Soup Made Of?

Take a look at 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:

  • Extra virgin olive oil: To saute the vegetables. Feel free to use butter instead (or add it in anyway!)
  • Onion: Finely chop a yellow onion, or use a shallot if you prefer.
  • Carrot: A vegetable my kids love in soups, so it had to be included in here. I often use shredded carrots as a quick and easy swap.
  • Garlic: Gives this soup a craveable scent and flavor.
  • Pepper and Homemade Seasoned Salt: My homemade seasoned salt is made from just 4 ingredients and adds so much flavor with nearly zero effort.
  • Chicken: Diced chicken breast gives this soup protein and staying power.
  • Long grain white rice: Be sure to use long grain white rice like jasmine rice or basmati rice, vs a short grain rice like arborio rice or sushi rice. You CAN use brown rice, but you’ll need to simmer it for much longer, and use more broth.
  • Chicken stock: Since there are so few ingredients in this soup, I like to use chicken stock (homemade is great!) for max flavor, though chicken broth is just fine too. Feel free to use low sodium chicken broth or stock if needed.

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Do You Cook the Chicken Before Adding it Into the Soup?

Nope! Simply dice up chicken breasts, season them with seasoned salt and pepper, then stir the pieces into the hot, boiling broth. The chicken will poach as the soup cooks. Diced, boneless/skinless chicken thighs could be used as well.

Alternatively, you could use pre-cooked shredded or diced chicken from a rotisserie chicken or slow cooker chicken. Stir it in at the end to warm through.

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Should You Cook the Rice Before Adding it to the Soup?

The rice will cook in the hot chicken stock, soaking up all the tasty flavors as it softens. That said, if you have leftover cooked rice you want to use instead, you may do that, but know that you won’t need as much stock or broth since the cooked rice won’t soak as much of it up.

How do You Keep the Rice from Getting Mushy?

My #1 tip for ensuring your rice doesn’t get mushy in this soup is to use high quality rice. If you use minute rice, or any other type of par-boiled rice, it will turn out mushy!

I am brand loyal to Lundberg Family Farms rice products, and find their California White Jasmine Rice is the best rice for this recipe.Trust me, rice quality makes a huge difference!

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How 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 onions, 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.

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Step 2: Add chicken stock, rice, and chicken. Next addchicken stock or broth then turn the heat up to bring to a boil. Pour in long grain white rice then stir to combine, and then add chopped chicken breasts that have been seasoned with more seasoned salt and pepper then stir to combine.

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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. At the end, I like take the pot off the heat then place a lid on top for 5 minutes or so to let the rice soften completely. Serve with Gluten Free Focaccia, and you’re set!

How to Store

This soup re-heats fabulously. Cool the soup down until it’s nearly room temperature then scoop into airtight containers and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop. You might need to add an extra splash of chicken stock or broth when reheating.

I find that cooked > frozen > thawed > reheated white rice doesn’t hold up so I don’t recommend freezing this soup recipe!

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More Easy Soup Recipes

  • 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

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Description

Easy Chicken and Rice Soup is a quick and simple soup recipe that the entire family will love. Nourishing, satisfying comfort food in a bowl!

Ingredients

serves 6

  • 1-1/2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
  • 2-3 medium-sized carrots, peeled then thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • homemade seasoned salt and pepper
  • 2 chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 64oz (8 cups) chicken stock or broth
  • 1 cup long grain white rice

Directions

  1. Heat extra virgin olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion and carrots, season with seasoned salt and pepper, then stir to combine. Cover the pot with a lidthen saute until vegetables are very tender, 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic then saute without the lid on for 30 seconds.
  2. Turn heat up to high then add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add rice then stir to combine. Season chicken with seasoning salt and pepper then add to the broth and stir to combine. Turn heat down to medium then simmer, uncovered, until rice is tender, 15-20 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat then place a lid on top and let sit for 5 minutes. Taste then add more seasoned salt and/or pepper to taste, then ladle into bowls and serve.
  3. Leave a comment and star rating if you loved the recipe! Thank you for considering!

Notes

  • Click here for the Homemade Gluten Free Seasoned Salt recipe >

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.

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260 Comments

  1. Easy Chicken and Rice Soup - Iowa Girl Eats (9) Ezequiel Gonzalez 05.14.2024

    Absolute hit. No leftovers! So simple and so delicious.

    5

    Reply

  2. Easy Chicken and Rice Soup - Iowa Girl Eats (11) Sandi 05.02.2024

    I never add the noodles or rice into soup pot. It will expand by absorbing the broth even after cooking. Soup will be rice soup with consistency of grits or oatmeal. Learned the hard way in my 20s. Just make noodle or rice separately and add to each serving. Especially helpful for freezing.

    Reply

  3. Easy Chicken and Rice Soup - Iowa Girl Eats (12) Ella 04.30.2024

    I made this and it was a hit with my husband. We both loved it!
    I made some cornbread muffins with butter and it was sooo good.
    This absolutely deserves a 5 Star!

    Reply

    • Easy Chicken and Rice Soup - Iowa Girl Eats (13) Kristin 05.01.2024

      That sounds awesome, Ella!! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!

      Reply

  4. Easy Chicken and Rice Soup - Iowa Girl Eats (14) Anne 04.22.2024

    This chicken soup is amazing. I made a pot for dinner recently, but it was gone before we ever reached the dinner table. Key is to use the seasoned salt – truly amazing and we use it on everything now!

    Reply

    • Easy Chicken and Rice Soup - Iowa Girl Eats (15) Kristin 04.22.2024

      I’m thrilled you enjoyed it, Anne!! And I agree about the seasoned salt —it really makes the recipe!

      Reply

  5. Easy Chicken and Rice Soup - Iowa Girl Eats (16) Betsy 04.15.2024

    I love this recipe!! I swapped out the breasts for thighs and tripled the carrots. I love that I can use very few ingredients to whip this together and the leftovers are even better! Thank you! 💜

    5

    Reply

    • Easy Chicken and Rice Soup - Iowa Girl Eats (17) Kristin 04.16.2024

      So glad you were able to use what you had on hand, Betsy! I’m thrilled it was a hit. :) Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!

      Reply

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hi, i'm kristin!

I’m a Midwestern wife and Mama, and after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2013 I began sharing delicious and approachable gluten-free recipes made with everyday, in-season ingredients. Welcome!

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Easy Chicken and Rice Soup - Iowa Girl Eats (2024)

FAQs

Why does Grandma's chicken soup work when you are sick? ›

The warmth of the soup can help ease a sore or scratchy throat. Also, chicken contains a lot of carnosine, a compound that has been found to help loosen congestion. This can reduce inflammation in the upper respiratory tract to ease a cough. Add garlic and onions, add you get more anti-inflammatory help.

Should I cook rice before adding to soup? ›

Can you put uncooked rice in soup? Yes – uncooked rice is best to add into soup because it soaks up the flavour of the broth, making it extra tasty!

Why is chicken noodle soup for sick people? ›

Compared with hot water alone, studies show chicken soup is more effective at loosening mucus. The herbs and spices sometimes used in chicken soup, such as pepper and garlic, also loosen mucus. The broth, which contains water and electrolytes, helps with rehydration.

Is chicken and rice soup good for stomach flu? ›

Although you can eat white rice on its own to soothe your upset stomach, you can also add chicken to get even more nutrients, or you could add it to your chicken soup if you don't want to use noodles.

Does homemade chicken soup really help a cold? ›

Chicken soup actually can help treat your cold symptoms, especially if you're sipping a low-sodium, veggie-packed recipe. In fact, it's been used as a remedy as early as the 12th century. Here are more home remedies to help you sleep through a cold.

What is the best broth to drink when sick? ›

Bone broth serves as a great way to replenish the fluids that you're losing, while also providing your body with valuable electrolytes from the sodium in the broth. These electrolytes will also help you absorb the water more easily.

Should I use broth or stock for rice? ›

Broth is better for consuming as is because it has seasoning that makes it tastier on its own. Broth may be preferred as a flavor enhancer for cooking plain white rice or grains. Stock may be better to use in a recipe with a complex flavor profile that you don't want to tamper with.

What kind of rice is best for soup? ›

Long grain white rice: Be sure to use long grain white rice like jasmine rice or basmati rice, vs a short grain rice like arborio rice or sushi rice. You CAN use brown rice, but you'll need to simmer it for much longer, and use more broth.

How do you make rice soup without it getting mushy? ›

Tip: Adding rice or pasta to soup Cook rice or pasta separately when making a big batch of soup you plan to freeze or eat all week. Only add them when ready to serve. That way the rice won't get mushy and soak up all the broth and the pasta won't get soggy and disintegrate into a million slippery pieces.

What is in Panera chicken noodle soup? ›

Water, Chicken Raised Without Antibiotics, Carrots, Enriched Noodles (Semolina Wheat Flour, Eggs, Egg Whites, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Celery, Contains 2% or less of: Onions, Chicken Stock, Natural Flavor, Sea Salt, Chicken Fat, Corn Starch, Garlic, Yeast Extract, Parsley, ...

Is the broth from chicken noodle soup considered a clear liquid? ›

A clear liquid diet consists of liquids which you can see through. In general, clear liquids include water, juices without pulp such as apple juice or cranberry juice, jello, broth, Gatorade, lemonade, tea and coffee without milk.

What's the best soup to eat when you're sick? ›

Chicken and wild rice may be the best soup for a cold as each ingredient provides a number of health benefits. Chicken and rice are a great source of protein, onions are known to have antiviral properties, carrots support antibody production, and research has shown that garlic may reduce the severity of cold symptoms.

What 12 foods stop diarrhea? ›

Common Questions & Answers. What are some foods that are recommended to eat when you have diarrhea? The list includes simple foods like oatmeal, bananas, plain rice, applesauce, boiled potatoes, toast, plain crackers, pretzels, and baked chicken without skin or fat.

What can flush out a stomach virus? ›

7 Effective Stomach Flu Remedies
  • Drink Fluids.
  • Follow a BRAT Diet.
  • Avoid Certain Foods.
  • Get Adequate Rest.
  • Try Medications.
  • Take Probiotics.
  • Experiment With Acupressure.
Sep 7, 2023

What kills norovirus besides bleach? ›

The CDC recommends bleach to kill the stomach bug-causing norovirus on surfaces. But if that will damage your counter or you'd rather not use it, look for “phenolic solution” on the label of a concentrated disinfectant. To kill the germs, the EPA suggests you use 2 to 4 times the recommended amount.

Why is chicken soup immune boosting? ›

Chicken Soup

The protein in chicken also helps bolster your immunities. Add plenty of extra veggies for vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, all of which are an additional ally in your fight against cold and flu. Eat it: Load up on soup when you're sniffly, but avoid high-sodium canned soups—homemade is best.

Why does chicken soup make me feel better? ›

According to the study, undertaken by Nebraska Medical Center, chicken soup achieves these results by inhibiting something known as neutrophil chemotaxis. Basically, white blood cells behave differently after chicken soup, resulting in added anti-inflammatory activity.

Why did I eat some chicken soup when I was sick? ›

That formula is where the legend of chicken soup originated. “Broth-based soups have all those components, along with vitamins and minerals and electrolytes,” Tewksbury says. Hot and steamy soups can also help break down mucus in upper respiratory tract infections. “It checks a lot of boxes.”

Is chicken soup antiviral? ›

The bottom line. Think of chicken soup as supportive care—meaning it's one thing you do to make you feel a bit better while your body fights the virus—not a cure for it. As the CHEST study notes, potential antiviral benefits vary widely between brands, says Parikh.

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