Cozy Winter Chicken and Rice Soup (Printable)

A warming one-pot meal featuring tender chicken, fluffy rice, and vegetables perfect for chilly nights.

# 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

# How to Make It:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The one-pot simplicity means youll spend more time wrapped in a blanket than washing dishes.
  • Its basically a warm hug in food form with layers of flavor that build with each spoonful, somehow always tasting even better the next day.
02 -
  • Adding rice directly to the soup means it continues absorbing liquid when stored, so if you plan on leftovers, consider cooking and storing rice separately.
  • The soup base actually tastes better after sitting in the refrigerator overnight, as the flavors have more time to meld together.
03 -
  • For maximum flavor, sear the chicken breasts in the pot before removing and proceeding with the vegetables, then add them back with the liquid to simmer.
  • Keep the soup at just below a simmer rather than a rolling boil this gentle cooking method ensures the chicken stays tender and the rice cooks evenly.
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