Description
This Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup is a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender shredded chicken, aromatic vegetables, and creamy broth thickened with milk and cream. Perfect for warming up on chilly days, this easy homemade soup combines gentle simmering with rich flavors, making it an ideal comfort food that’s both satisfying and kid-friendly.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Main Ingredients
- ½ cup long-grain white rice (uncooked)
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
Creamy Mixture
- 1 cup whole milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Additional
- ½ cup frozen peas
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Sauté the Vegetables: In a large pot, melt the butter with olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the vegetables are softened.
- Add Aromatics and Seasonings: Stir in the minced garlic, dried thyme, dried parsley, salt, and black pepper. Cook for an additional 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant.
- Incorporate the Rice: Add the uncooked rice to the pot and stir so the rice gets coated with the butter and seasonings.
- Simmer the Soup: Pour in the chicken broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
- Add the Chicken: Stir the cooked shredded chicken into the pot, evenly combining with the soup and rice.
- Prepare the Cream Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together the whole milk, heavy cream, and all-purpose flour until smooth and fully combined.
- Thicken the Soup: Slowly pour the milk and cream mixture into the soup while stirring continuously. Let the soup simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently until it thickens and becomes creamy.
- Add Peas and Final Touches: Stir in the frozen peas and cook for an additional 2 minutes to heat through. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
- Garnish and Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add a splash of lemon juice just before serving to brighten the taste.
- Leftovers tend to thicken when refrigerated; add a little broth or milk when reheating to loosen the soup.
- You can substitute brown rice for white rice, but note that the cooking time will be longer to ensure the rice is fully cooked.
