Description
This Chicken Lemon Rice Soup is a comforting and hearty dish featuring tender chicken thighs, diced vegetables, and short grain rice simmered in a bright, lemony broth. It’s a perfect meal to warm you up with fresh flavors and wholesome ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 large carrots, diced
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 1 ½ teaspoon 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
- Prepare the vegetables. Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrots, celery, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of black pepper. Cook the vegetables, stirring occasionally, until they are softened and fragrant, about 10 minutes.
- Add garlic and thyme. Stir in the minced garlic and dried thyme. Cook while stirring constantly for about 1 minute until the mixture becomes aromatic.
- Combine chicken and seasonings. Add the boneless skinless chicken thighs along with the dried bay leaves and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper to the pot.
- Add water and rice; simmer. Pour in 8 cups of water and add the short grain rice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low. Cover and simmer until the chicken is fully cooked and the rice is tender, approximately 25 minutes.
- Shred chicken and finish soup. Remove the cooked chicken from the pot and transfer to a cutting board. Chop into ½-inch pieces, then return the chicken to the soup. Remove the pot from heat and stir in the fresh lemon juice and chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
- This soup is filled with wholesome vegetables, tender chicken thighs, and rice simmered in a bright, homemade lemon broth.
- You can substitute chicken thighs with chicken breast, but thighs keep the soup more moist and flavorful.
- For a thicker consistency, increase the rice slightly or cook uncovered for a few more minutes.
- Adjust lemon juice to taste if you prefer more or less tanginess.
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
