Lemony Chicken and Rice Soup is SO delicious and comforting, you’ll want to curl up with a big bowl all Winter long! Loaded with tender chicken, tons of veggies, and plenty of rice, this soup is total comfort food. To make this recipe extra quick and easy, skip roasting the chicken and use a store-bought rotisserie chicken instead!

Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe

Somewhere between NYE and our mini NYC vacation, I caught a cold. But not just any cold!!! It’s one of those nasty colds that just won’t quit. So I’m taking my moms advice and dealing with it the old-fashioned way: plenty of sleep and plenty of soup! Thankfully, soup and sleep are two of my love languages. So the cure is actually quite pleasant!

I typically make chicken noodle soup when I’m under the weather, but we are out of noodles and I’m in no shape to run to the grocery! So I decided to make a lemony chicken and rice soup instead. I used white rice, but I think brown rice or even wild rice would work fine!

What you need to make Chicken and Rice Soup

• Olive Oil: I prefer using a mild olive oil, so the flavor isn’t too overpowering.
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Just a dash adds a nice peppery flavor without making this soup “spicy”. May be omitted!
• Onion: Yellow or White will work!
• Carrots: 3 large ones!
• Celery: You’ll need to stalks for this soup!
• Garlic: 5 cloves make this soup nice and flavorful.
• Salt and Pepper: To season!
• Chicken Stock: For an added health boost, use chicken bone broth! We used half chicken bone broth and half regular chicken broth the last time we made this. So you can definitely mess around here.
• Bay Leaves: Add flavor while the soup simmers. Be sure to remove the bay leaves before serving and storing the soup.
• Chicken Breasts: Or chicken thighs! Or, you can use a store-bought chicken. If you’re roasting the chicken, you’ll want to let it slightly cool, then shred it with two forks (or your fingers).
• Garlic Powder: To season the chicken breasts! Adds a nice garlicky flavor.
• Lemon Juice: You’ll need about 3 to 4 nice and heavy lemons! You’ll use the juice for the chicken breasts and the chicken soup.
• Rice: COOKED RICE!!!! Sorry to scream. But you must cook your rice before adding it to the broth. If you add rice into the broth and cook it in the soup, it will soak up all of your precious broth and you’ll be left with chicken and rice mush.
• Dill: My favorite ingredient! It adds such a bright flavor the soup. And pairs delightfully with the lemon!
• Parmesan Cheese: My SECOND favorite ingredient. Stirring this into the soup makes it super flavorful and just slightly creamy. But with no cream! Don’t skip this!

How to make Chicken and Rice Soup

1. In a large pot over medium heat, saute olive oil with pepper flakes, onion, carrots, and celery. Add in the garlic and cook for a minute. Season with salt and pepper, then pour in the chicken broth. Add bay leaves.
2. Increase to medium high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and continue cooking for at least 30 minutes.
3. In the meantime, roast the chicken and prepare your cooked rice.
4. Stir the shredded chicken and cooked rice into the broth. Stir in the fresh dill and lemon juice. Cook and stir for another 2 minutes. Ladle soup into bowls and serve warm! Preferably with crusty bread for dipping!

More Comforting Soup Recipes:

• Flu Fighter Chicken Noodle Soup
• Italian Wedding Soup
• Blackened Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup
• Italian Minestrone Soup
• Easy Pasta Fagioli Soup
• Italian Chicken Tortellini Soup

If you try this recipe for Lemony Chicken and Rice Soup, let me know! Leave a comment below and don’t forget to snap a pic and tag it #bakerbynature on instagram! Seeing your kitchen creations makes my day.

Lemony Chicken and Rice Soup

Ashley Manila

This Lemony Chicken and Rice Soup is SO delicious and comforting you'll want to curl up with a big bowl all Winter long! Loaded with tender chicken, tons of veggies, and plenty of rice, this soup is total comfort food. To make this recipe extra quick and easy, skip roasting the chicken and use a store-bought rotisserie chicken instead!

5 from 26 votes

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Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

 

For the Lemon Chicken:

• 1 and 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast
• 2 and 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Rice:

• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Water (check your package instructions to see how much water is called for)

For the Lemony Chicken and Rice Soup:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 large carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1 large onion, finely diced
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 8 cups chicken stock (or chicken bone broth)
• 1 cup water
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup fresh dill, chopped
• 1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

 

For the Lemon Chicken:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees(F). In a small bowl combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper; whisk well to combine. 
• Place chicken breast in a small baking dish and drizzle with marinade, toss well to ensure both sides are well coated.
• Place in the oven and bake for 28 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through, flipping at the halfway point.
• Cool slightly, then - using two forks or your hands - shred the chicken into small chunks. Set aside.

For the Rice:

• Cook rice according to package instructions. Once cooked, fluff and remove from heat. Set aside until needed. 

For the Lemony Chicken and Rice Soup:

• Heat oil in a large soup pot over a medium-heat. Add carrots, celery, and onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 6 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute, or until fragrant. Add in salt and pepper and stir to combine. Pour in the chicken stock and water. Then toss in the bay leaves.
• Increase heat to medium-high and bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes. 
• Stir in cooked chicken and rice and cook for another 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, dill, and Parmesan cheese. Taste soup and adjust seasoning, if needed. 
• Remove from heat and serve at once! Soup will keep, covered in the fridge, for up to 5 days! If it becomes too thick, add a little chicken broth or water. 

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