This easy and comforting Pioneer Woman Chicken and Rice Soup is a quick, nutritious meal perfect for busy days. With tender chicken, fresh veggies, and a flavorful broth, it’s a delicious option you can make with simple, common ingredients. Add your favorite herbs or spices to customize it to your taste!
Ingredients Needed:
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Olive oil, for drizzling
- 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 stalks celery, finely diced
- 2 carrots, finely diced
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 1 red bell pepper, finely diced
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only
- Pinch of turmeric
- 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth (64 fl oz)
- 2 cups long-grain rice
- Minced fresh parsley, for serving
How To Cook Chicken And Rice Soup:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F: Drizzle chicken breasts with olive oil and season with ground thyme, salt, and pepper. Roast in a pan for about 20 minutes until cooked through. Set aside.
- Sauté the vegetables: In a pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add diced celery, carrots, onions, and red bell pepper. Sauté for 3-4 minutes. Sprinkle in fresh thyme and a pinch of turmeric. Cook for another 2 minutes.
- Simmer the soup: Pour in the chicken broth, cover, and bring to a simmer. Let it simmer for 30 minutes to develop flavors.
- Prepare the rice: Cook the long-grain rice according to the package instructions, and keep it warm.
- Add chicken to the soup: Shred or chop the roasted chicken, then add it to the soup. Simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
- Stir in the rice and serve: Add the cooked rice and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve hot and enjoy!

Recipe Tips
- Roast the chicken thoroughly: Make sure the chicken is fully cooked before adding it to the soup. This keeps the meat tender and prevents it from being undercooked.
- Cut vegetables evenly: Dice the celery, carrots, onions, and peppers into similar sizes so they cook evenly and give a balanced texture to the soup.
- Simmer slowly for deeper flavor: Let the soup simmer for at least 30 minutes. This helps the flavors of the vegetables, herbs, and broth blend together perfectly.
- Cook rice separately: Cooking the rice separately from the soup prevents it from getting mushy. Add the rice just before serving to keep it fresh and firm.
- Adjust seasoning at the end: Taste the soup before serving and add more salt, pepper, or herbs if needed. This ensures the final dish has the perfect balance of flavors.
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Let the leftover Chicken and Rice Soup cool down first. Then, put it in a container with a tight lid and refrigerate. It will stay good for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Let leftover Chicken and Rice Soup cool fully before freezing. Put it in a freezer-safe container and store for up to 3 months. To thaw, leave it in the fridge overnight, then reheat on the stove before eating.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 cup (around 12 oz)
- Calories: 456
- Total Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 154 mg
- Sodium: 1746 mg
- Potassium: 640 mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 30 g
- Dietary Fiber: 2 g
- Sugars: 3 g
- Protein: 47 g
Try More Pioneer Woman Recipes:
- Pioneer Woman Chicken And Dumpling Soup
- Pioneer Woman Spicy Chicken And Black Bean Soup
- Pioneer Woman Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Pioneer Woman Italian Chicken Soup
- Pioneer Woman Beef Stroganoff Soup
Pioneer Woman Chicken And Rice Soup
Description
This easy and comforting Pioneer Woman Chicken and Rice Soup is a quick, nutritious meal perfect for busy days. With tender chicken, fresh veggies, and a flavorful broth, it’s a delicious option you can make with simple, common ingredients. Add your favorite herbs or spices to customize it to your taste!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F: Drizzle chicken breasts with olive oil and season with ground thyme, salt, and pepper. Roast in a pan for about 20 minutes until cooked through. Set aside.
- Sauté the vegetables: In a pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add diced celery, carrots, onions, and red bell pepper. Sauté for 3-4 minutes. Sprinkle in fresh thyme and a pinch of turmeric. Cook for another 2 minutes.
- Simmer the soup: Pour in the chicken broth, cover, and bring to a simmer. Let it simmer for 30 minutes to develop flavors.
- Prepare the rice: Cook the long-grain rice according to the package instructions, and keep it warm.
- Add chicken to the soup: Shred or chop the roasted chicken, then add it to the soup. Simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
- Stir in the rice and serve: Add the cooked rice and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- Roast the chicken thoroughly: Make sure the chicken is fully cooked before adding it to the soup. This keeps the meat tender and prevents it from being undercooked.
- Cut vegetables evenly: Dice the celery, carrots, onions, and peppers into similar sizes so they cook evenly and give a balanced texture to the soup.
- Simmer slowly for deeper flavor: Let the soup simmer for at least 30 minutes. This helps the flavors of the vegetables, herbs, and broth blend together perfectly.
- Cook rice separately: Cooking the rice separately from the soup prevents it from getting mushy. Add the rice just before serving to keep it fresh and firm.
- Adjust seasoning at the end: Taste the soup before serving and add more salt, pepper, or herbs if needed. This ensures the final dish has the perfect balance of flavors.