Creamy Chicken and Brown Rice Soup
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Make this Creamy Chicken and Brown Rice Soup for the most comforting meal. You can make this creamy chicken and rice soup on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot.
Try brown rice as a gluten-free alternative to noodles in this creamy chicken and rice soup
I love traditional chicken soup. It is my ultimate comfort food, but I am always looking for ways to jazz it up and make subtle tweaks. Any kind of rice is an awesome substitute for noodles in chicken soup.
For this delicious recipe I chose to use brown rice because it is something I always have on hand in my pantry. I used a can of coconut milk to make this creamy soup, but do not worry there is no coconut-y taste.
This creamy chicken soup is perfect on a cold winter night. There is something about the soft brown rice that is even more comforting than noodles.
What kitchen tools will I need to make this Creamy Chicken and Brown Rice Soup?
- Dutch oven, large pot or instant pot
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
- Liquid measuring cup
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Mixing spoon
You can make this simple soup recipe on the stove top in a dutch oven or large pot or you can make it in the instant pot. Keep reading for instant pot instructions listed in the recipe card.
Can you make this soup in a slow cooker?
Yes you can make this creamy chicken and brown rice soup in a slow cooker or crockpot. Sear the chicken and sauté the onions, celery and carrots on the stove top.
Place the rest of the ingredients into the crock pot and cook on low for 6 hours. Shred the chicken and stir it back into the soup.
Ingredients
You will be amazed at how easy it is to make this instant pot chicken soup with just a few basic ingredients.
- Butter or ghee
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Salt
- Pepper
- Dried parsley
- Garlic powder
- Yellow onion
- Carrots
- Celery
- Brown rice
- Coconut milk
- Chicken broth or chicken stock
Ingredient substitutions
There are many ways to alter this creamy chicken and rice soup. You can replace the coconut milk with heavy cream or regular whole milk. You can even use a different plant based milk, but make sure it is a higher fat option like cashew milk.
If you do not like chicken thighs you can replace them with chicken breasts. Feel free to use boneless or bone in chicken. Leftover chicken from a store bought rotisserie chicken also works well for this recipe in a pinch!
Turn this into a wild rice soup by replacing the brown rice with wild rice. You may need to simmer the soup for longer because wild rice can take longer to cook. Also, feel free to use long grain white rice in place of brown rice.
How to make Creamy Chicken and Brown Rice Soup
Step 1: Sear chicken thighs and saute veggies
To begin, dice onion, carrot and celery. Then, mix salt, pepper, dried parsley and garlic powder in a small mixing bowl.
Next, season chicken thighs on all sides with seasoning mixture. Heat ghee or butter in a large pot over medium-high heat.
Then, add chicken thighs to the pot and sear for 2 minutes each side. Remove the chicken from the pot, add the onion, celery and carrots to the pot and reduce the heat to medium.
Next, saute the veggies for 5 minutes tossing frequently.
Step 2: Boil and simmer soup
Then, add the seared chicken thighs back into the pot along with the chicken broth, coconut milk, brown rice. Increase the heat under the soup to high and bring to a boil.
Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer for 50 minutes.
Step 3: Shred chicken thighs and serve
Then, after 50 minutes, turn the heat off and remove the chicken thighs from the pot. Shred the cooked chicken thighs and return them to the pot.
Finally, allow the soup to cool slightly and serve in small bowls!
Soup Garnishes
Serve this creamy chicken and rice soup with garnishes that enhance the flavor! My favorite garnishes are freshly grated parmesan cheese, lemon zest, cracked black pepper, and fresh parsley.
I also like to serve this soup with bread. Sometimes thats a hunk of a baguette or sometimes its a slice of my no knead focaccia bread.
How long will this chicken rice soup recipe keep in the fridge?
Once prepared allow the creamy chicken and rice soup to cool completely. Then, transfer to airtight containers. Store in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze this soup in an airtight container in the freezer for up to three months. I like to store it in individual servings so that I can defrost them one at a time.
Souper cubes are perfect for storing the soup in individual portions.Reheat this creamy chicken soup on the stove top over medium-low heat with a little extra chicken broth.
Check out these other healthy soup recipes!
- Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
- Classic Vegetable Soup (Progresso Copycat)
- Homemade Chickarina Soup (Progresso Copycat)
- Instant Pot Tomato Soup
- Chicken Pho Recipe
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
Creamy Chicken and Brown Rice Soup
A healthy one pot creamy chicken and rice soup
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp ghee or unsalted butter
- 1.5 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 large yellow onion diced
- 1.5 cups diced carrots
- 1.5 cups diced celery
- 3/4 cup dry brown rice
- 1 (14oz) can of coconut milk
- 4 cups chicken broth
Instructions
Stovetop Instructions
- Dice onion, carrot and celery
- Mix salt, pepper, dried parsley and garlic powder in a small mixing bowl
- Season chicken thighs on all sides with seasoning mixture
- Heat ghee or butter in a large pot over medium-high heat
- Add chicken thighs to the pot and sear for 2 minutes each side
- Remove the chicken from the pot, add the onion, celery and carrots to the pot and reduce the heat to medium
- Saute the veggies for 5 minutes tossing frequently
- Add the seared chicken thighs back into the pot along with the chicken broth, coconut milk, brown rice
- Increase the heat to high and bring the soup to a boil
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer for 50 minutes
- After 50 minutes turn the heat off and remove the chicken thighs from the pot
- Shred the chicken thighs and return them to the pot
- Serve the soup with fresh cracked black pepper and fresh parsley
Instant Pot Instructions ** This will only fit into an 8qt instant pot. If you have a 6qt Instant pot please reduce the size of the recipe by cutting back to 1/2 cup of rice and 3 cups chicken broth.
- Dice onion, carrot and celery
- Mix salt, pepper, dried parsley and garlic powder in a small mixing bowl
- Season chicken thighs on all sides with seasoning mixture
- Turn the Instant Pot on to saute and melt ghee or butter
- Add chicken thighs to the pot and sear for 2 minutes each side
- Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot and add the onion, celery and carrots to the Instant Pot
- Saute the veggies for 5 minutes tossing frequently
- Add the seared chicken thighs back into the Instant Pot along with the chicken broth, coconut milk, brown rice
- Set the Instant Pot to Manual/high pressure for 15 minutes
- Allow the Instant Pot to come to pressure and then cook for 15 minutes
- When the Instant Pot beeps, immediately release pressure and remove the lid
- Remove the chicken thighs from the Instant Pot
- Shred the chicken thighs and return them to the Instant Pot
- Serve the soup with fresh cracked black pepper and fresh parsley
Notes
** I do not recommend Goya brand coconut milk for this recipe. It leaves too much coconut flavor
Andrea says
My new go to chicken soup recipe. So delicious!
★★★★★
Madeline says
amazing!! Thank you!!!
Holly says
It was so good and easy! I hid the leftovers!
★★★★★
Madeline says
aw I am so glad!! HAHA I would do the same
Sarah says
Yum. I made this soup for dinner and literally turned to my roommate and said “I could eat this every day for my whole life.” Such a yummy and cozy soup (you know, it’s getting all the way down into the 60s in San Diego so we are ice cubes) and so quick to make. I’ll be adding this to my regular rotation for sure. 🤤 10/10 recommend.
★★★★★
Madeline says
amazing!! I agree I could eat this all the time!!
Jackie says
Made this for dinner. Amazing! Both my husband and I loved it and could not even tell it was brown rice. I have been looking for a new chicken and rice soup since the old one I used to do used a soup packet and wasn’t the healthiest. Definitely a winner!
★★★★★
Madeline says
oh I am SO glad!! Thank you!
Madeline says
wonderful! Thank you!
Jessie j says
This is my second time making this soup – it’s incredible!!! A comforting hug in a blow 🥰
★★★★★
Brenda M Watrach says
This recipe is forever going to be a kitchen staple of mine! So yummy and easy. Perfect for the winter!
★★★★★
Madeline says
amazing!! Thank you!
Carolyn says
Love this!! I ended up using a rotisserie chicken and shredded that. Perfect cozy meal and will definitely be making again!
★★★★★
Jessica Williamson says
Made this soup last night and it was EXCELLENT! I do want to note that it doesn’t all fit into a 6qt instant pot (which I *think* is the more common size?). I removed about a cup of liquid before cooking to make sure it was decently below the max fill line (to account for rice expanding) and it still shot out of my steam release at the end all over the kitchen. That’s ok though – I learned a lesson and it made dinner time more exciting ;). Next time I’ll make it in a dutch oven (or borrow my mom’s 8qt instant pot). Thanks for an excellent recipe!!
★★★★★
Madeline says
AH SHOOT!! I didn’t EVEN THINK about that haha I do have the 8 quart. I am going to go make a note of this right now!!
Courtney says
Made this with my partner last night to gift to her family, it was a huge hit!
I typically don’t like thigh meat, but it was amazing in this soup; very flavorful and tender!
★★★★★
Madeline says
yes! I find the dark meat is amazing for soup! Thank you!
Sydney says
This soup was so good. Tasted almost like a healthier version of a classic chicken noodle (in a good way!!) I ended up cooking the chicken thighs in the oven and making the rice separately as well and combined it at the end. Turned out great!
Madeline says
nice!! thank you!!
Katie says
So yummy and perfect on a snowy Sunday! This soup will be going on rotation. The whole family was very happy!
Madeline says
wonferful!! Thank you so much!!
Elizabeth says
This is a simple, yet flavorful and delicious classic soup! I made a couple substitutes based on what I had on hand (breasts instead of thighs, white rice instead of brown) but it was still delicious! My husband and I are currently fighting over who gets the last bowl for lunch today 🙂
★★★★★
Madeline says
wonderful!! SO glad the swap worked!!
Kim says
Did you add the white rice for the same length of time
Madeline says
Yes it will cook in same amount of time 🙂
Kailey says
This was amazing!!!! It had so much flavor and was so comforting on our cold winter night! I did swap the brown rice for wild rice because that was all i had in the cupboard but it turned out fantastic!
★★★★★
Madeline says
So awesome!! Glad those swaps worked for you 🙂
Ashley says
I can not recommend this recipe highly enough. Just made and enjoyed for dinner and already dreaming about the leftovers!
★★★★★
Madeline says
amazing!! Thank you!!
Lindsay says
This was very good and so simple to make. I added some diced mushrooms to clean out the fridge. Will definitely be making again!
★★★★★
Sonia says
My new all-time favorite soup! My family almost ate the entire batch in one sitting. It was perfect on this cold San Diegan day
★★★★★
Madeline says
awww wondeful!!! thank you!
Christine says
I just made this for the second time in two weeks! So simple, but SO good! Definitely adding this to my winter comfort food rotation!
Madeline says
wonderful!! thank you so muhc!!
Amy says
The best soup ever especially if you are feeling sick!
★★★★★
Madeline says
YES! Perfect for those winter sniffles
Sarah says
This is amazing!!! I just finished making it and had to review it right away. I made it for my husband who is sick and we are going to be making this a regular! Perfect level of creamy and was flavorful and easy!
★★★★★
Madeline says
thank you so much!!
Marie says
Love this recipe so much! My husband is a chicken soup fanatic and very particular – this one is amazing and so nice that it’s dairy free as I’m lactose intolerant. It is really creamy and decadent tasting without being heavy. Sometimes throw in a some chopped kale or cauliflower and it is always great!
★★★★★
Madeline says
wonderful!! thank you so much!!
Jessie says
Just prepped this for dinner for the week – So flavorful, delicious and easy!!
★★★★★
Madeline says
wonderful!! thank you!!
Steve Donnelly says
I didn’t have coconut milk, so I used a jar of Indian Butter Chicken sauce that I had, and I reduced the stock amount to make it more of a creamy style chicken & rice. WOW it was sooo good!!
★★★★★
Madeline says
amazing!! sounds so good!!
Rosemary Stamm says
My daughter told me about this recipe because she loves it so much that she pretty much makes it nonstop all winter. I’ve already made it twice myself because it’s that good!
We both use chicken breasts and I used white rice because it’s what I had in my pantry.
So yummy, flavorful and filling…an easy and healthy meal in a bowl!
★★★★★
Madeline says
aww I am SO glad you enjoyed!!
Carly says
Delicious! Would definitely make this again and again. Loved that it was so creamy without the dairy.
★★★★★
Madeline says
so glad to hear that! thank you!
Annie says
Love this soup, it’s so comforting and perfect for the chillier fall temperatures. It did take me more time than noted (about 2 hours) from start to finish, as I am slow when chopping veggies. The finished product is 100% worth the wait, and totally hands off while the soup simmers. This will be in the regular rotation in our house going forward!
★★★★★
Ali says
This was my favorite soup recipe I discovered last year and of course is the first one I had to make again for the beginning of soup season! Love it so much!
★★★★★
Mary says
This soup is so delicious! And I love that it’s one pot. I will definitely be keeping it in rotation this winter!
★★★★★
Madeline says
Thanks Mary! One pot soups are my fave too!
Kate says
May I use chicken breast?
Madeline says
yep! should work fine!
Lila says
Made this last night for my Nanny (grandma) and she asked if I found this recipe in her mom’s cookbook! Super classic chicken and rice recipe!!
★★★★★
Melissa Strouse says
So delicious! Made it in the crock pot, and didn’t have any fuller fat milk so used a few tablespoons of coconut cream. It is perfectly creamy- and is warming us on this cool 65 degree evening in AZ- LOL!!
★★★★★
Madeline says
That sounds so good! Thanks for the review! Glad you’re getting some fall weather in Arizona 🙂
jessica s says
this soup is AMAZING. used chicken breast and shredded it and added some extra broth that I had to use up. reminded me of Panera’s cream of chicken and wild rice (but better!!)
★★★★★
Madeline says
Thank you! And what a compliment!
Kaitlin says
Nice hearty meal for a cold day and easy to make. I used the instapot method and used white rice because it is what we had and it turned out well!
★★★★★
Madeline says
wonderful! Thank you!!
Kara says
This soup was really good. I followed the recipe as written. Very easy prep and then just let it simmer. My teen daughter and I both loved it and agreed it needs to get into regular rotation this winter. We had plenty for leftovers tomorrow. Served it with a good crusty bread. I used Trader Joe’s coconut milk and there was still a slight hint of coconut flavor. It didn’t detract from the end result, but next time I will try a different brand.
★★★★★
Madeline says
wonderful! Thank you! and yes the trader joes and goya ones are very coconut-y
Kara says
Is there a brand of coconut milk that you would recommend? Would love any suggestions. Also, my son got home for Thanksgiving break the day after I made this and DEVOURED the leftovers. A big hit all around!
Lacy says
So simple but so flavorful! Will definitely make this again
★★★★★
Madeline says
thank you so much!
Alden G says
So delicious! I used the instant pot method and it turned out great. Super flavorful!
★★★★★
Madeline says
wonderful!! LOVE using my IP for this recipe
Yani Porter says
I made this recipe for my boyfriend when we first started dating. I was super nervous because I didn’t have a lot of experience cooking. It’s a delicious and easy dish to make.
We both LOVE this recipe and it’s perfect for the winter time!
10/10!!!
★★★★★
Madeline says
omg I love that story! thank you for sharing and I’m glad you both like it 🙂
Emily says
This was delicious! If you’re one of those people who thinks soup can never fill you up, this recipe will prove you wrong.
★★★★★
Madeline says
thanks so much Emily!
Lindsey Sharman says
When would you add the brown rice if you made it in the instant pot?
Thanks in advance!
Madeline says
Along with the chicken broth and coconut milk! It’s in step 8 🙂
Marguerite says
An easy & delicious comfort meal. My new go-to chicken soup recipe!
★★★★★
Rachel says
I have made this soup several times now and it always comes out great, so easy and comforting. It also freezes very well in individual portions to heat up later!
★★★★★
Madeline says
Wonderful! Thank you!!
Sarah says
Love this soup. So yummy, warm, comforting.
★★★★★
Rachel E says
Made this for dinner last night and wow! Such great flavors in a very short amount of time. Using coconut milk vs heavy cream really adds a wonderful depth to this dish!! Excellent recipe if you’re looking for a soup that also feels like a nice warm hug when you eat it!!!
★★★★★
Madeline says
so glad you loved it!
Carrie Blacker says
Can I substitute almond milk for coconut milk?
Madeline says
it will change the consistency and the flavor, as coconut milk is much thicker and creamier than almond milk, but it should still turn out okay!
Amanda says
Love this recipe! So comforting 🙂 Last time I made this I added some broccoli and cauliflower since I had some in the fridge that was going bad soon – I chopped up small and added it when I added the chicken back in. I think this would be great with a variety of different veggies!
★★★★★
Madeline says
yum thanks Amanda! those sound like great additions
Clare says
Delicious!! Though I accidentally bought chicken breasts instead of thighs, I’m thinking that’s the reason the chicken was a little dry. But lots of flavor and yummy! I’ll make it again making sure I buy the right cut!
★★★★★
Katy says
I love this soup so much I double the batch to always have some in the freezer! THANK YOU!
★★★★★
Amy says
Woah, love the flavours in this soup. Did the instant pot version, half the recipe since it’s just the two of us. Must say, we will be making this recipe again, especially for the colder months to come 🙂 Had to leave a review, this was a great recipe. Thank you so much!
★★★★★
Madeline says
thanks so much Amy! I’m glad it was easily halved as well.
Erin McCarthy says
This soup is so delicious! I made it with chicken breasts instead of thighs and it was such a great comforting meal. Will be adding this to our fall soup rotation!
★★★★★
Madeline says
yay! so glad you enjoyed!!
Liz says
Such a great recipe! Love having it in the freezer for quick meals!
★★★★★
Kaitlin says
Delicious and very easy! Going to make another batch soon. We did instapot recipe. Next time I would add a tad more rice, but recipe as is is great too (especially if using as a side / part of me). We did as a full meal (with bread) and a bit more rice would make it more filling / hearty.
★★★★★
Madeline says
Thanks, Kaitlin! Glad you are making another batch. Enjoy!
Page says
Yummmmmm! I was looking for a healthy AND hearty chicken soup recipe and this hit the spot! I love that it’s all clean ingredients and has both stove and InstantPot instructions. I was worried about the coconut flavor being too strong, since I strongly dislike coconut. I used half a can of coconut milk, just in case, and substituted 1 cup more chicken broth. It still came out creamy with a soft nutty flavor, but no strong coconut flavor at all.
Madeline says
Sounds great! Thanks, Page! Glad you like it.
Katie says
I use chicken breast instead of thigh, but this soup is fantastic!! It’s super easy and super delicious. Definitely one of my go-tos!
★★★★★
Madeline says
Fantastic! Thanks, Katie!