Creamy Chicken Rice Soup (Print Version)
Tender chicken and rice in a silky cream broth with carrots, celery, and thyme, a comforting bowl for chilly nights.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Grains
06 - 1/2 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
→ Liquids
07 - 4 cups chicken broth
08 - 2 cups whole milk
09 - 1 cup heavy cream
→ Spices & Seasonings
10 - 1 bay leaf
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Fats
13 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
→ Thickeners
14 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
# Directions:
01 - Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic, then cook for 5 to 6 minutes until vegetables are softened.
02 - Sprinkle flour over the cooked vegetables, stirring constantly for 1 to 2 minutes to form a smooth roux.
03 - Gradually whisk in chicken broth to prevent lumps. Stir in bay leaf and dried thyme.
04 - Add uncooked rice. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer partially covered for 15 to 18 minutes, allowing rice to become nearly tender.
05 - Add the cooked chicken, whole milk, and heavy cream. Continue to simmer gently for 8 to 10 minutes, until soup thickens and rice is fully cooked.
06 - Remove bay leaf. Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as desired. Serve hot and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
# Insider Tips:
01 -
- One creamy pot—minimal fuss, maximum comfort, and somehow it always tastes like more work than it was.
- Warming from the inside out, it's the answer to cold fingertips and tired days, and leftovers reheat beautifully.
02 -
- If you rush adding the milk and cream before reducing the heat, the soup can curdle and lose its creamy texture.
- Using rotisserie chicken adds both speed and a surprising depth of flavor—it's my not-so-secret shortcut.
03 -
- Let your soup rest off the heat for a few minutes before serving so it thickens a bit and flavors meld.
- Stir constantly when adding flour to avoid lumps and achieve the perfect creamy texture.