Warm up with a bowl of this comforting creamy chicken and rice soup, perfect for a cozy family meal.

Easy Creamy Chicken & Rice Soup Recipe 16

This recipe is designed for busy weeknights when you crave something hearty and satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s a classic comfort food that brings everyone to the table.

This easy creamy chicken and rice soup is a go-to for its simplicity and delicious flavor. With readily available ingredients and straightforward steps, you’ll have a nourishing meal ready in no time, making it an instant family favorite.

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Time Needed From Start To Finish
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe

This creamy chicken and rice soup is a true lifesaver for anyone looking for a hearty, comforting meal that comes together quickly. It’s perfect for busy parents, college students, or anyone who appreciates a delicious dish without a lot of fuss. You’ll love how the creamy broth coats every piece of tender chicken and soft rice, creating a rich texture that’s incredibly satisfying. This soup is ideal for a chilly evening, a quick weeknight dinner, or even a comforting lunch. It’s a fantastic way to use up leftover chicken, making it economical too. The flavors are universally appealing, meaning even picky eaters are likely to ask for seconds. It’s also incredibly versatile, allowing for simple additions or substitutions based on what you have on hand.

Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress

This recipe uses common pantry staples and fresh ingredients that are easy to find at any grocery store. You won’t need any special equipment, just a large pot or Dutch oven. The beauty of this soup lies in its simplicity and the way everyday ingredients combine to create something truly special and comforting.

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped yellow onion (about 1 medium)
1 cup chopped carrots (about 2 medium)
1 cup chopped celery (about 2 stalks)
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups chicken broth
1 cup cooked white rice (leftover or freshly cooked)
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
1 (10.5 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and black pepper to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)

For the cooked rice, you can use any type of white rice you prefer, such as long-grain or medium-grain. If you don’t have leftover rice, simply cook a batch according to package directions before starting the soup. As for the cooked chicken, rotisserie chicken works wonderfully here for a super speedy meal. You can also boil or bake chicken breasts or thighs and then shred or dice them. If you prefer a richer flavor, you can use chicken stock instead of broth. For a slightly lighter version, half-and-half can be substituted for heavy cream, though it will result in a less rich texture.

Time Needed From Start To Finish

This recipe is designed for efficiency, delivering a delicious meal without a long wait.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

This timeline assumes you have your chicken already cooked and your rice either cooked or cooking simultaneously. The hands-on time involves chopping vegetables and stirring the soup, making it a very manageable recipe for a busy day.

How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues

Creating this creamy chicken and rice soup is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to achieve a perfectly comforting bowl every time.

Sauté the Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes, or until the vegetables start to soften and the onion becomes translucent. This step builds the flavor base for your soup, so don’t rush it.
Add the Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can turn bitter. The kitchen will start to smell amazing at this point!
Pour in the Broth and Seasonings: Pour in the chicken broth and add the dried thyme. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for 10 minutes to allow the vegetables to become tender and the flavors to meld.
Introduce the Cream of Chicken Soup: Stir in the can of cream of chicken soup until it is fully dissolved and incorporated into the broth. This is where the soup starts to get its signature creamy texture and rich flavor.
Add Chicken and Rice: Add the cooked shredded or diced chicken and the cooked white rice to the pot. Stir gently to combine all the ingredients.
Finish with Cream: Pour in the heavy cream and stir well. Continue to cook on low heat for another 5 minutes, or until the soup is heated through and slightly thickened. Do not bring the soup to a rolling boil after adding the cream, as it can sometimes curdle.
Season and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired, for a touch of freshness.

Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life

This creamy chicken and rice soup is incredibly adaptable, making it easy to customize for your family’s preferences or what you have on hand. For a kid-friendly twist, you can add a handful of frozen peas or corn during the last few minutes of cooking for a pop of color and extra veggies. If you want to boost the protein, consider adding a can of drained cannellini beans along with the chicken. For a touch of spice, a pinch of red pepper flakes can be stirred in.

When it comes to serving, this soup is a meal in itself, but it pairs wonderfully with a few simple sides. A crusty baguette or some warm dinner rolls are perfect for dipping into the creamy broth. A simple side salad with a light vinaigrette can add a fresh contrast to the richness of the soup. For a more substantial meal, you could serve it alongside a grilled cheese sandwich. Optional toppings can elevate the experience: a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese, a dollop of sour cream, or some crispy croutons can add texture and flavor. This soup is also excellent for a casual buffet-style gathering; simply keep it warm in a slow cooker on the “warm” setting.

Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them

Even simple recipes can have small pitfalls. Being aware of these can help ensure your creamy chicken and rice soup turns out perfectly every time.

One common mistake is overcooking the vegetables in the initial sauté. If they become too soft or mushy, they’ll lose their texture in the finished soup. Cook them just until they are tender-crisp.

Another slip-up is adding uncooked rice directly to the soup. While some recipes call for this, for a quick and consistently textured soup like this one, using pre-cooked rice is essential. Uncooked rice will absorb too much liquid, potentially making your soup too thick and requiring more broth, and it might not cook evenly.

Bringing the soup to a rolling boil after adding the heavy cream can sometimes cause the cream to curdle, resulting in a slightly grainy texture. Always keep the heat on low once the cream is added and simply heat through gently.

Not seasoning adequately is another frequent oversight. Taste your soup before serving and adjust the salt and pepper. Broths vary in sodium content, so what tastes right for one brand might be different for another. Don’t be afraid to add a little more until the flavors truly pop.

Finally, using too much or too little liquid can throw off the consistency. Stick to the recommended amount of broth and cream. If you find your soup is too thick, you can always thin it out with a little extra broth or water. If it’s too thin, let it simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes to reduce slightly, but remember the cream of chicken soup and heavy cream will add significant body.

How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

This creamy chicken and rice soup is fantastic for meal prep and leftovers, but proper storage is key to maintaining its delicious texture.

To store leftovers, allow the soup to cool completely to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerate promptly for up to 3-4 days. The rice in the soup will continue to absorb liquid as it sits, so don’t be surprised if your leftovers are thicker than the freshly made soup.

When reheating, you might need to add a splash of extra chicken broth or water to achieve your desired consistency. Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. Alternatively, you can reheat individual portions in the microwave, stirring halfway through. Avoid boiling the soup vigorously when reheating, especially if adding more cream, to prevent curdling.

Making this soup ahead of time is absolutely possible. You can prepare the entire soup and store it as described above. If you’re planning to make a very large batch for future meals, you might consider cooking the rice separately and adding it to individual portions as you reheat, as this helps prevent the rice from becoming too mushy or absorbing all the broth. However, for 3-4

FAQs

Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.