Creamy Chicken And Rice Soup Recipe

(This post is sponsored by Carolina® Rice. All opinions are my own.) Cozy soups and stews are my favorite fall and winter food! From my grandma’s Canja de Galinha (Brazilian Chicken and Rice Soup) to an out-of-this-world Zuppa Toscana, my collection is bound to have what you are looking for.

A Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup that will warm your soul!

Every now and then, I’ll make a recipe that will turn out so incredibly amazing that Tim and I will stand by the pot, eating spoonfuls and commenting on its awesomeness. This soup is one of these recipes! In fact, the last time I made this, the whole pot of soup was gone in one sitting. Two adults and two toddlers devoured what was supposed to be six servings of a somewhat indulgent dish! That’s what I call a foodie family. 😉😉😉 One taste of this creamy chicken and rice soup and you will understand the hype! It warms your body and comforts your soul like no other.

In this post you will learn:

What ingredients you will need.Which type of rice should be used for making soup.How to make this creamy chicken and rice soup recipe.Why you have to cook the rice before adding it to the soup and how to keep it from getting mushy.Variations of this recipe.Frequently asked questions.

Plus, a printable recipe!

Ingredients

To make this Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup recipe, you will need: CHICKEN – I use chicken breasts, but boneless skinless chicken thighs would work as well! RICE – My favorite rice for this soup is Carolina® Jasmine Rice with Red & Wild Rice. VEGGIES – Two large carrots and two celery stalks. You can slice or dice as big or as small as you’d like. ONION AND GARLIC – A must for the best flavor! They give the soup depth of flavor. BAY LEAVES – Bay leaves add yet another layer of flavor and help lighten up an otherwise hearty dish. CHICKEN BROTH – Homemade or store-bought. If buying at the store, I recommend getting the lower sodium kind! That way you can control the amount of salt in your dish. OIL – Extra-virgin olive oil, for sautéing the aromatics and veggies. BUTTER – We’ll use unsalted butter to make the roux for the creamy base. ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR – For making the roux. For a gluten-free version, skip the roux and mix some cornstarch with broth to thicken the soup before serving. MILK – I use whole milk for better flavor, but you can use skim milk if you prefer. HEAVY CREAM – For extra creaminess! SALT – This soup can be quite bland if it’s not properly seasoned. Make sure to season as you cook, to help infuse flavor throughout the whole cooking process, so that the final dish is as delicious as it can be! PEPPER – Freshly ground black pepper, to taste. PARSLEY – A handful of chopped fresh parsley adds some freshness to this creamy soup. OPTIONAL: WHITE WINE for deglazing the pot.

What type of rice is best for soup?

Honestly, any type of rice can be used in soups! Long grain, medium grain, short grain, white, brown, wild, and even risotto rice. Panera uses a blend of brown and wild rice in their famous chicken and wild rice soup. For my version, I like to use Carolina® Rice‘s blend of jasmine, red and wild rice. The complex texture of long grain aromatic rice combined with chewy red and wild rice come together to create the most satisfying, flavorsome blend that truly elevates this soup! The red and wild rice also add color and character to the soup, making it extra hearty.

Fun fact:

Despite its name, wild rice is not rice at all! It is actually the seed of an aquatic grass and grows in shallow water similar to the irrigated paddies of long-grain rice.

How to make Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup

This soup is easy to make and can be on the table in less than 30 minutes! For best results, I recommend cooking the rice separately and adding it cooked to the soup. Pros: perfect, al dente rice grains. Cons: another pan to wash. Totally worth it though! Recommended tools and equipment: Dutch oven, saucepan, whisk. Here’s how I make this creamy chicken and rice soup recipe. As always, you will find the printable (and more complete) version of the recipe at the end of this post!

Step 1: Sauté the veggies.

In a large pot, heat the oil and sauté the onion, carrots, celery and garlic until softened. (Photo 1)Optional: Deglaze the pan with white wine.

Step 2: Cook the soup.

Add the chicken breast, bay leaves and broth to the pot with the veggies. (Photo 2) Season with salt and pepper.Cook until the chicken is tender. (Photo 5)

Step 3: Cook the rice.

Cook the rice separately, according to package instructions. (Photo 3)Reserve.

Step 4: Make the roux.

In a saucepan, melt the butter and whisk in the flour until smooth. Cook until it starts getting golden, just a minute or so.Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly.Simmer until thickened. Add the heavy cream, season with salt and pepper, and remove from heat. Reserve. (Photo 4)

Step 5: Combine everything!

Remove the cooked chicken from the broth and shred it. Reserve.To the broth, add the reserved roux. Cook over medium-high heat, until the soup thickens.Stir in the shredded chicken and cooked rice.Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.Add the chopped parsley.Serve immediately! (Photo 6)

Why do I have to cook the rice before adding to the soup?

This recipe was written using rice that was cooked separately and added cooked to the soup. I am not a fan of cooking rice straight in the soup, as it soaks up quite a bit of the soup’s liquid to hydrate and plump. It also releases starch and the soup might end a bit gummy! If you prefer to add uncooked rice, you will have to increase the amount of liquid in the recipe. How much? Well, that would depend on the type of rice you’re using. I’d say at least 2 cups more!

How to prevent rice from getting mushy in soup?

If you add cooked rice too early, it will continue to cook in the soup and might get mushy. I recommend adding the cooked rice at the end, just before serving, for the best texture!

Variations

While I truly believe this is an A-team soup just as it was written, you can definitely customize it to suit your preferences! Here are some suggestions:

Add more veggies or greens! Broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, kale, spinach, etc. Add bacon! Use sausage or beef instead of chicken. For a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and add mushrooms instead. You can use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth! Add some fresh or dried herbs. A pinch of thyme, rosemary or sage would go great here! To save time, you could use a shredded rotisserie chicken and microwavable rice. Carolina Rice has a few options in their Ready to Heat line. You can also use leftover rice! For a low carb version, use cauliflower rice instead of regular rice. Squeeze a lemon before serving for a touch of freshness!

Did you make this recipe? I love hearing from you! Please comment and leave a 5-star rating below. You can also take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #oliviascuisine.