Cozy Winter Chicken Rice Soup (Print Version)

Tender chicken, fluffy rice, and vegetables in a warming, aromatic broth. One-pot comfort in 55 minutes.

# What You 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)

# Directions:

01 - Heat 2 tablespoons 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 are softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, dried thyme, and dried rosemary. Cook for 1 minute until the aromatics are fragrant.
03 - Add chicken breasts, 8 cups chicken broth, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
04 - Add rinsed rice to the pot, reduce heat to low, and cover with a lid. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes until chicken is cooked through and rice is tender.
05 - Remove chicken breasts from the pot using tongs. Using two forks, shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and return the meat to the soup.
06 - Discard bay leaves from the soup. 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 immediately while hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's a genuine one-pot miracle that requires almost no cleanup, leaving you more time to actually enjoy being cozy.
  • The rice cooks right in the broth, soaking up all the flavor so every spoonful tastes like it was meant for you.
  • You can have this ready before your favorite show starts—no stress, all reward.
02 -
  • Don't skip the rinsing step for your rice—I learned this the hard way when my soup turned into something resembling glue instead of a silky broth.
  • The chicken will continue cooking slightly while the rice finishes, so don't overcook it in the initial boil or you'll end up with something that's lost all its moisture.
  • Taste before serving and adjust your salt and lemon—these are the final notes that make someone say 'wow' instead of just 'good.'
03 -
  • Cut your vegetables roughly the same size so they finish cooking at exactly the same moment, leaving you with perfect uniformity in every spoonful.
  • If you're making this ahead, add the rice and chicken just before reheating so they don't turn mushy—the broth base freezes beautifully for up to three months.
Go Back