Guaranteed 1 amazing Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup

Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup: Your New Weeknight Staple

If you are looking for a hug in a bowl that comes together faster than you think, then this Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup is about to become your absolute favorite weeknight meal. Hi there, I’m Anna! I’m a passionate food lover who truly believes that simple ingredients can create the most flavorful, comforting meals. My mission is sharing easy and flavorful chicken recipes designed to make your everyday cooking easier and way more joyful.

This soup is the definition of wholesome comfort. We’re poaching tender chicken right in the broth, which keeps it unbelievably moist while flavoring the soup perfectly. Forget those long, drawn-out Sunday recipes; we’re getting a rich, savory soup on the table in under an hour. Trust me, this one-pot wonder is going to save your busy weeknights!

Why You’ll Love This Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup

This isn’t just another soup recipe; it’s a guaranteed winner for busy folks who still want real flavor. I designed this recipe around three things that matter most when weeknights get hectic. You’re going to look forward to making this simple dish again and again!

• Super Quick Prep: We’re talking about 10 minutes of chopping, tops, before everything hits the pot.
• One-Pot Cleanup: Seriously, everything cooks together. Less scrubbing means more time relaxing later!
• Unbelievably Moist Chicken: Poaching the chicken right in the broth keeps it tender—no dry chunks here, ever.
• That Comfort Flavor: The blend of thyme, rosemary, and savory broth hits that perfect nostalgic note.

Essential Ingredients for Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup

Getting the right stuff is half the battle, and since this is a Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup, we need clear, simple ingredients that deliver big flavor. Everything listed here is exactly what you need for 6 hearty servings. Don’t try to cheat on the fresh elements—they make all the difference!

Vegetable Base

• 1 tablespoon Olive oil
• 1 medium Yellow onion, diced
• 3 medium Carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
• 2 stalks Celery, sliced
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced

Chicken and Broth Components

• 1.5 pounds Boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 8 cups Low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon Dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon Dried rosemary
• 1 Bay leaf
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper

Finishing Touches

• 1 cup Long-grain white rice, uncooked and rinsed well
• 2 tablespoons Fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped finely

Equipment Needed for Your Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup

You don’t need a million gadgets for this recipe, which is part of why I love it so much! To make this Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup perfectly, you just need a few basics. Grab your largest Dutch oven or a sturdy stockpot—we need room for everything to simmer happily. Of course, measuring cups and spoons are a must, but please, make sure you have a reliable meat thermometer on hand. Checking that internal temperature is the secret weapon for perfectly cooked chicken!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup

This is where the magic happens, and I promise, it moves fast! Follow these steps closely, and you’ll have the best Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup ready before you know it. Remember, we are poaching the chicken whole and adding the rice right into the broth, which keeps the process clean and simple.

Building the Flavor Base

First things first, get your pot warm! Heat that tablespoon of olive oil in your large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Toss in your diced onion, your sliced carrots, and celery. Let these vegetables hang out and soften up a bit, about 6 to 8 minutes. They should start smelling sweet. Now, stir in the minced garlic, the dried thyme, the dried rosemary, the salt, and the pepper. You just want to cook this for about 60 seconds—just until you can really smell those herbs waking up. Don’t burn that garlic, now!

Poaching the Chicken

Time to add the liquid! Pour in all 8 cups of that low-sodium chicken broth and toss in the bay leaf. Use a spoon to scrape up any little browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot—that’s pure flavor, don’t waste it! Now, gently nestle those whole, uncooked chicken breasts right down into the liquid. Turn the heat up until the whole thing comes to a rolling boil. As soon as it boils, immediately knock the heat way down to low, cover the pot tightly, and let it simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes. This is the poaching stage! You must check the chicken; use your thermometer in the thickest part—it absolutely needs to hit 165°F. Once it hits that temperature, carefully remove the chicken breasts to a clean cutting board.

Cooking the Rice and Finishing

While the chicken is resting, stir the uncooked, rinsed rice right into that simmering broth. Cover it up again and let it cook for about 15 to 18 minutes, or until the rice is completely tender. While that’s happening, shred that poached chicken using two forks until it’s in nice, bite-sized pieces. Once the rice is done, pull out and toss away that bay leaf—it did its job! Finally, return all that lovely shredded chicken back into the pot. Stir in the fresh lemon juice and the chopped parsley. Give it one last good stir to combine everything beautifully, let it heat through for about 2 minutes, and you are done! Ladle it up hot!

Tips for Perfecting Your Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup

Even though this Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup is designed to be super simple, a few little tricks can take it from good to absolutely amazing. Don’t rush the vegetable softening stage—that builds your flavor foundation! Also, always use low-sodium broth so you can control the salt level exactly where you want it, especially since the herbs need a good amount of salt to really bloom.

If you taste it right before serving and it seems a little flat, don’t panic! A tiny squeeze more of that fresh lemon juice brightens everything up instantly. You want that perfect savory, bright balance.

Managing Rice Starch and Thickening

One thing to remember is that the long-grain white rice is doing double duty here. As it cooks in the broth, it releases starch, which naturally thickens the soup just enough without needing flour or cornstarch. That’s why rinsing the rice well is important—it removes excess surface starch, preventing the soup from turning into thick wallpaper paste. You want it perfectly thickened, not gluey!

Ensuring Chicken Moisture

The best part about this method is how moist the chicken stays. Poaching the whole, raw chicken breasts directly in the simmering broth is brilliant because it cooks them gently. They aren’t exposed to high, direct heat, which dries them out. When you pull them out at exactly 165°F, they are just cooked through and incredibly tender, ready to shred beautifully into the soup.

Frequently Asked Questions About Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup

I get so many questions about tweaking my recipes, and that’s great! It means you’re excited to eat this Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup. Here are a few things people ask me most often about making sure this soup turns out perfectly every single time, even if you need to make a quick switch!

Can I use brown rice instead of white rice in this Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup?

Oh, you absolutely can try brown rice! Brown rice is heartier, but it takes much longer to cook—usually around 40 minutes instead of 15. Since we are poaching the chicken first, you’ll need to remove the chicken, cook the brown rice fully in the broth, and then add the shredded chicken back in right at the end. You might also need an extra cup of broth since brown rice soaks up more liquid.

How can I make this Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup richer in flavor?

If you have a few extra minutes, don’t rush those vegetables! Sautéing the onion, carrots, and celery for a good 10 minutes until they start to caramelize slightly gives you a deeper, sweeter base. Also, when you add the dried herbs, let them bloom in the hot oil for a full minute before you add any liquid. That brief toasting really wakes up the flavor of the thyme and rosemary, making your broth taste like it simmered for hours instead of minutes!

What is the total preparation and cook time for this recipe?

This is one of the best parts! The total time commitment for this Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup is just 55 minutes. You’ll spend about 10 minutes prepping the vegetables, and then the active cooking time is about 45 minutes, including simmering the chicken and cooking the rice. It’s perfect for getting dinner on the table fast!

Storing and Reheating Your Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup

Leftovers are the best part of making soup, right? This Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup tastes even better the next day once the flavors have really married together. You want to make sure you store it correctly so the rice doesn’t get too mushy when you reheat it later in the week.

Storage Guidelines

Make sure the soup cools down a bit before you put it away. Store any leftovers in a truly airtight container. You can safely keep this in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If you plan on keeping it longer than that, I highly recommend freezing it, but skip adding the parsley until you reheat it!

Reheating Instructions

When you’re ready for a bowl, the stovetop is always my top choice. Reheat it gently over medium-low heat. Because the rice keeps absorbing liquid as it sits, you’ll definitely want to add a splash of extra chicken broth or even just plain water to get the consistency back to soupy perfection. A quick zap in the microwave works too, just remember to stir halfway through!

Estimated Nutritional Information for Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup

I always like to give you an idea of what you are eating, even with simple comfort food like this Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup. Keep in mind that these numbers are estimates based on the ingredients listed and are calculated for 6 equal servings. Your actual numbers might vary slightly depending on the exact brand of broth or chicken you use, but this gives you a solid baseline!

Nutritional Data Table

Here is the breakdown for one serving:

Nutrient	Amount (Approx.)
Calories	290
Total Fat	6g
Protein	29g
Carbohydrates	28g

Share Your Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup Experience

Now it’s your turn! I truly hope this recipe brings as much warmth to your kitchen as it does to mine. If you made my Classic Homestyle Chicken and Rice Soup, please come back and let me know how it went! Leave a star rating below and tell me what you loved most about this easy, comforting meal. Happy cooking, friends! Find more inspiration here.

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