Cozy Winter Chicken and Rice Soup (Printable)

Hearty one-pot comfort with tender chicken, fluffy rice, and vegetables in a savory broth.

# What You'll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb)

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
04 - 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
05 - 3 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 3 garlic cloves, minced

→ Rice

07 - 3/4 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed

→ Broth & Seasoning

08 - 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
11 - 2 bay leaves
12 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
13 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste

→ Finishing Touches

14 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
15 - Juice of 1/2 lemon, optional

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until vegetables soften.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, dried thyme, and rosemary. Cook for 1 minute until the aromatics become fragrant.
03 - Add chicken breasts, chicken broth, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
04 - Add rinsed rice, reduce heat to a simmer, and cover with a lid. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and rice is tender.
05 - Remove chicken breasts from the pot using tongs or a slotted spoon. Shred the cooked meat using two forks and return the shredded chicken to the soup.
06 - Discard bay leaves. Stir in fresh chopped parsley and lemon juice if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
07 - Ladle the soup into bowls and serve while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The way the rice slowly releases its starch into the broth, creating the most velvety, comforting texture without needing any actual cream
  • Its forgiving nature if you get distracted mid stir, unlike so many other soups that demand constant attention
  • Those moments when someone walks in and immediately says what smells so good, before they even take off their coat
02 -
  • The rice will continue absorbing liquid in the refrigerator, so leftovers might need a splash of broth when you rewarm them
  • That minute you spend rinsing the rice until water runs clear is what separates a good soup from a great one
  • Adding the lemon juice off heat preserves its bright punch rather than cooking it away
03 -
  • If you're freezing portions, leave the rice out and cook fresh rice when reheating to avoid that mushy texture that happens in the freezer
  • Adding a Parmesan rind to the broth while it simmers creates an umami depth that makes people wonder what your secret ingredient is
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