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Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe

4.5 from 56 reviews

This Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup is a hearty and comforting meal perfect for cozy days. Combining tender chicken breasts, fresh vegetables, aromatic herbs, and fluffy rice, this recipe is easy to prepare and packed with flavor. The slow cooking method ensures rich, well-blended flavors and a nourishing soup that warms you from the inside out.

Ingredients

Scale

Soup Base

  • 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup diced yellow onion
  • 3 medium peeled and sliced carrots
  • 3 stalks diced celery
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Additional Ingredients

  • 1 cup uncooked white rice
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Combine Ingredients: Place the chicken breasts, diced yellow onion, sliced carrots, diced celery, chicken broth, minced garlic, dried thyme, dried parsley, salt, and black pepper into the slow cooker, distributing everything evenly.
  2. Cook Soup: Set the slow cooker to LOW and cook for 5-6 hours, or if short on time, use the HIGH setting and cook for 3-4 hours until the chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
  3. Add Rice: Stir in the uncooked white rice, then cover and continue cooking for an additional hour, allowing the rice to fully cook and absorb flavors.
  4. Shred Chicken: Carefully remove the chicken breasts from the soup and shred them using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir to combine evenly.
  5. Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the soup before serving for a fresh burst of flavor and color.

Notes

  • For thicker soup, reduce the broth slightly or cook uncovered for the last 30 minutes.
  • You can substitute brown rice, but increase cooking time to ensure it cooks through.
  • Use low-sodium chicken broth to reduce the sodium content if preferred.
  • Leftover soup stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and freezes nicely for up to 2 months.

Keywords: slow cooker chicken soup, chicken and rice soup, easy slow cooker recipes, healthy chicken soup, comfort food, crockpot chicken soup