This Easy Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup is the kind of cozy meal that brings comfort with every spoonful. Made with tender chicken, hearty rice, and simple ingredients, it’s a warm, satisfying soup that’s easy enough for any night of the week. Whether you’re feeding your family or just need a comforting bowl for yourself, this recipe is simple, delicious, and always hits the spot.

Comforting creamy chicken and rice soup with vegetables in a white bowl.

I’ve always been the type of person that craves soup when I’m not physically feeling good. The warm broth and hearty ingredients always knows how to make me feel at least a little bit better.

But something I’ve learned about myself lately is that I also crave soup when I’m not mentally feeling well either. If I’m just having a rough time or things are chaos, the only thing I really feel like I crave is soup. It must be because of how comforting and gentle it is.

I was having one of those days and I really wanted soup, however I didn’t have the energy to thaw chicken and cook it first, and I didn’t have a ton of fresh ingredients that I might need for one of my other recipes, but I had everything for my simple, yet delicious Easy Creamy Chicken and Rice soup.

So I decided I should share that recipe with you as well.

I hope you like it, and it helps you as much as it helps me.

Make this Easy Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup when…

you want something to make you feel a bit better
when you are craving something gentle
you just want an easy and yet simple soup that isn’t overly complicated or ingredient heavy

Ingredient notes…

Here is what you’ll need to make this Easy Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup recipe. Please be sure to check the recipe card for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Cooked chicken: I had a bag of precooked chicken from Costco that I used for convenience, however I’ve tested this recipe using rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken bef0re and they worked just as well. If you don’t have any you can simply cook the chicken first before you start making the soup. Use thighs or breasts whatever you prefer.
Butter: Helps to soften the veggies, deglaze the pot, and gives a rich flavor to the base. Can always use a cooking oil instead like olive oil, coconut oil etc.
Cornstarch: Helps to thicken the soup slightly. Can omit if you wish.
Heavy cream: Helps to thicken the soup and make it creamy. You can omit if you don’t want it creamy.
Carrots: Add to the flavor of the base, and gives the soup more texture.
Onion: Help to season the soup. Omit if you don’t like onions.
Garlic: Adds flavor to the soup. Can omit if you wish.
Italian Seasoning: Adds the right amount of seasoning to the broth. Omit if you don’t like.
Garlic powder: Adds flavor to the soup. Omit or substitute if you wish.
Onion powder: Adds flavor to the soup. Omit or substitute if you wish.
Paprika: Gives the soup an extra depth of flavor. Omit if you don’t like.
Chicken Broth: Builds the base of the soup. Can substitute a different type of broth or stock if you prefer.
Rice: I used instant white rice, but you can use another type if you prefer. Just be aware you may need to adjust cooking time accordingly.
Crushed red pepper flakes: Just adds a little something something to the soup, But you can always omit if needed.
Salt and Pepper: Add these seasonings to your liking.

Fresh ingredients for creamy chicken and rice soup including chicken, rice, carrots, onion, and cream. — I forgot to include the butter in this picture

Equipment I swear by…

A heavy bottomed pot or Dutch Oven
A veggie chopper to make things easier

While the Easy Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup simmers…

do your nails
put on a facemask
watch a funny video on social media

How to make this Easy Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup recipe…

See the recipe card below for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

In a soup pot or Dutch Oven over medium high heat, melt the butter then sauté the onions and carrots until softened (about 5-8 minutes), add the garlic and the seasonings for the last minute of cooking time.
Add the chicken broth and the rice. Let simmer until the rice is done to your liking (about 8-12 minutes).
Add the cooked chicken.
Mix the cornstarch into your heavy cream until smooth and no clumps are left and then add that to the pot as well.
Turn off heat, let thicken for a few minutes, add any salt and pepper to taste and then serve warm.

Cooking process of creamy chicken and rice soup in a pot with steam rising.

My tips and tricks to make this Easy Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup…

Lighter/healthier: Omit the heavy cream and use a low sodium chicken broth.

Creamy/cheesy: Double the heavy cream and add a few cups of shredded cheese.

Give it a little something extra: I find this soup is a good old fashioned classic, but if you want some excitement you could always add a splash of hot sauce, some more red pepper flakes, or even some lemon juice at the end.

More veggies: This is a great recipe to add more veggies to. I would normally add celery, but I didn’t have any on hand. It would also be great with the addition mushrooms, peas, or spinach too.

Storage notes:

Refrigerate: This soup tastes even better the next day, however the rice may continue to soften and soak up more liquid, so you may need to add more chicken broth. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 3 to 4 days.

Freeze: This dish freezes very well, but the rice can get a little soft when you reheat it. If that is something that may bother you, I would advise making the recipe without the rice, and then cooking it separately and adding it fresh when you are reheating it from frozen.

Are you struggling right now?

Use prechopped veggies or a veggie chopper to save time and make things easier.
Use jarred garlic, or even garlic and onion powder instead if you dread prepping those things and don’t have prechopped/minced (will need to adjust measurements).

Thank you for stopping by Comfort In a Bowl. If you have any questions, or made any additions/shortcuts that you think other people may love feel free to comment below. If you create this recipe or any other from our site, we would greatly appreciate you taking the time to share, comment and rate the recipe! Take care of yourself.

Prep Time:5

Cook Time:20

Total Time:25

Ingredients

1 pound Cooked chicken chopped
2 tbsp Butter
1 tbsp Cornstarch
1 cup Heavy cream
3 large Carrots chopped
1 medium Onion diced
4 tbsp Garlic minced
1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
1 tbsp Garlic powder
1 tbsp Onion powder
1 tsp Paprika
6 cups Chicken Broth
1 cup Rice
1/2 tsp Crushed red pepper flakes
Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

In a soup pot or Dutch Oven over medium high heat, melt the butter then sauté the onions and carrots until softened (about 5-8 minutes), add the garlic and the seasonings for the last minute of cooking time.
Add the chicken broth and the rice. Let simmer until the rice is cooked to your liking (about 8-12 minutes).
Add the cooked chicken.
Mix the cornstarch into your heavy cream until smooth and no clumps are left, and then add that to the pot as well.
Turn off heat, let thicken for a few minutes, add any salt and pepper to taste and then serve warm.

Notes

Check the ingredient notes in the post above for substitutions.

Check the storage notes in the post above for fridge or freezing instructions.

Check the tips, tricks, and if you are struggling sections in the post above to perfect recipe, or make things even easier/faster.

Servings: 4

Other soup ideas…

My burnout situation…

I’ve talked a fair amount about my dogs and how much they mean to me. If you missed my previous post where I shared this update, one of my dogs passed away a few months ago. I’m grateful that I was off on stress leave when it happened because I honestly don’t know what I would have done if I had been expected back at work.

I don’t understand how people lose animals or even children or very close loved ones and are only given a few days, a week or two, or even no days at all and just expected to continue to work and function like normal. It boggles my mind.

Apollo was my youngest of the dogs, but he was also a big German Shepard mix rescue. The other two are tiny Jack Russell mixes (smaller dogs have longer lifespans). However, they are getting really old now. My oldest will be seventeen, and up until Apollo passed away, I hadn’t really noticed many signs of her aging. I noticed her hearing was going a bit. She still hears loud noises and if I clap, but she doesn’t hear when I call her anymore.

And once Apollo passed away I started noticing that she has started to seem more confused. She must have been following his lead or something, because now she gets lost more often in the house. She loses me pretty easily and I can hear her wandering and looking for me. There has been several times now where I like go into the basement or the garage and she doesn’t notice me come back and she is just still standing there waiting for me when I’m behind her.

She has always been pretty attached to me. Like I am her person. But I can’t even go have a bath or anything in the house really without her, so I’ve started putting a blanket outside the tub for her.

She’s also started slowing down on walks. I notice sometimes I’ll have to carry her and we can’t go as far or as fast as we used to go.

I’ve wanted a dog for as long as I can remember, and she is the dog that made that happen for me. But I never considered how hard it would be to have to let her go one day… and I know that day is coming soon.

I did take her to the vet the other day and the vet agrees she has a bit of doggy dementia but other than that she is the picture of health. She isn’t even on any medications or anything.

I am very thankful that getting put on stress leave has given me all this extra time with her that I wouldn’t have normally had.

Conclusion…

Healing and trying to feel better doesn’t look the same for everyone. For some people soup really helps. For others, their loved ones and even animals may help.

I think we should stop comparing ourselves to other people. Find what works for you.

Take care of yourself.

-Caitlin

Easy Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup