Description
This comforting Chicken Lemon Rice Soup is packed with tender chicken thighs, hearty vegetables, and fragrant rice simmered in a bright, lemony broth. Perfect for a warming meal, the soup balances savory and fresh flavors with wholesome ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 large carrots, diced
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 8 cups water
Main Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- ½ cup short grain rice
- 2 lemons, juiced (about ⅓ cup)
- Parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, celery, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften, about 10 minutes.
- Add Aromatics and Chicken: Stir in minced garlic and dried thyme. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant for about 1 minute. Add chicken thighs, bay leaves, and remaining salt and pepper.
- Add Liquids and Rice: Pour in 8 cups of water and add the short grain rice. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer Soup: Reduce heat to medium-low and cover the pot. Simmer until chicken is fully cooked and rice is tender, about 25 minutes.
- Chop Chicken: Remove chicken from the soup and place on a cutting board. Chop into ½-inch pieces, then return to the soup.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the soup from heat. Stir in fresh lemon juice and chopped parsley. Serve hot.
Notes
- This soup is rich in flavor and packed with nutritious vegetables, tender chicken thighs, and comforting rice.
- The lemon juice added at the end brightens the savory broth, balancing the richness of the chicken.
- You can substitute chicken thighs with chicken breast if preferred, but thighs add more flavor and moisture.
- Short grain rice offers a creamier texture; you can use other rice types but adjust cooking time accordingly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 249 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 723 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.02 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 108 mg
