Creamy Rice and Vegetable Leftover Chicken Soup: The Ultimate Comfort Food
There’s nothing quite like a warm, comforting bowl of soup, especially when it’s made with love from leftovers. One of my all-time favorite ways to use leftover chicken is by transforming it into a delicious soup! This afternoon I created a new recipe, creamy rice and vegetable chicken soup. It’s a hearty dish that’s both satisfying and nutritious, combining tender chunks of chicken, savory vegetables, and a velvety creamy texture that’s perfect for those chilly days.
In this blog post, I’ll guide you through making this delicious and easy soup, showcasing how leftover chicken can shine in a whole new dish. Whether you’ve got some rotisserie chicken hanging around or some leftover grilled or roasted chicken from dinner, this soup is a great way to repurpose those remnants into a flavorful, soul-warming meal.
Why This Soup is a Winner
This creamy rice and vegetable leftover chicken soup is a one-pot meal that’s simple to prepare and loaded with flavor. Here’s why it’s perfect for your next leftover-chicken rescue:
Quick & Easy: Using pre-cooked chicken reduces cooking time dramatically. You only need to heat it through while letting the rice, vegetables, and broth come together for a delicious finish.
Customizable: You can adjust the vegetables based on what you have in your fridge. Carrots, celery, spinach, peas, corn—just about any vegetable can make a tasty addition.
Comforting & Filling: The creamy texture, combined with hearty rice and tender chicken, makes each spoonful satisfying. It’s like a hug in a bowl.
Economical: It’s a great way to stretch your food budget. You can turn small amounts of leftover chicken into a substantial meal that serves the whole family.
Nutritious: With the combination of lean chicken, vegetables, and rice, you get a balanced dish packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Using Leftovers!
Here on our homestead, we do our best to raise our chicken. We’ve found there is a difference in flavor and also the satisfaction of knowing how the chicken was raised and treated. Using home-raised leftover chicken in your cooking is a wonderful way to incorporate the rich, natural flavors of your own carefully raised poultry. When you cook chicken at home, you have the benefit of knowing exactly how it was raised, what it was fed, and how it was prepared, which often results in a more flavorful and tender meat. Leftover chicken from a home-raised bird can add depth and heartiness to soups, stews, casseroles, and salads.
This recipe was created using leftover chicken from our simple thanksgiving meal!
Creamy Rice Vegetable Soup using Leftover Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or cubed)
- 1 cup rice (white or brown)
- 1 medium onion, diced or 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 2 carrots, diced or 1 14.5oz can of sliced carrots
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup frozen peas (or any other vegetable of choice)
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk or heavy cream
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tsp ground sage
- Grated Parmesan (optional, for extra creaminess and flavor)
Instructions
- Sauté the Vegetables: In a large pot, heat the butter over medium heat. Add the diced onions, carrots, and celery, and sauté for about 5-7 minutes, or until they’re soft and aromatic. Stir in the garlic and thyme, and cook for another minute.
- Add the Broth and Rice: Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Once it’s simmering, add the rice, and cook according to the package instructions. Typically, white rice will take about 15 minutes, while brown rice may take a little longer (check the rice package for specific times).
- Add the Chicken and Veggies: When the rice is just about done, add the leftover chicken and frozen peas (or any other veggies you’re using). Stir well and let everything cook together for another 5 minutes, allowing the chicken to heat through and the peas to soften.
- Create the Creamy Base: Once everything is nice and hot, reduce the heat to low and slowly pour in the heavy cream. Stir to combine, and let the soup simmer for a few more minutes until it thickens slightly. If you want a thicker soup, you can mash a small portion of the rice or veggies with a spoon to release more starch into the broth.
- Season & Serve: Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls, and garnish with freshly chopped parsley or a sprinkle of grated Parmesan for an added touch of richness.
This creamy rice and vegetable leftover chicken soup is one of those cozy, feel-good dishes that brings everything you love about comfort food together in one bowl. With its rich flavors, satisfying texture, and nourishing ingredients, it’s the perfect meal for busy weeknights or any time you’re craving something hearty and comforting.
Not only does this recipe make great use of leftovers, but it’s also a versatile base that you can modify to suit your taste or what’s in your pantry. Give it a try next time you have some leftover chicken—your taste buds will thank you!
“May Adonai bless you and keep you. May Adonai bless you and keep you. May Adonai lift up his face towards you and give you peace.”
– Numbers 6:24-26
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