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Home » Soups, Stews & Chilis » Healthy Aromatic Chicken Rice Soup

November 19, 2020

Healthy Aromatic Chicken Rice Soup

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This healthy chicken and rice soup recipe features an aromatic broth flavored with garlic, ginger and shallot. Tender sweet potato slices and jasmine rice bulk up the simple soup, while a drizzle of toasted sesame oil and tons of fresh cilantro bring even more bold flavor.

brothy chicken and rice soup with sweet potatoes in a white bowl set on a wood table

This chicken rice soup is: 

  • Healthy 
  • Gluten-free
  • Dairy-free
  • Weeknight-friendly 
  • Ready in 45 minutes
  • Simple yet aromatic and flavorful 

Ingredients:

  • shallot
  • olive oil
  • jasmine rice
  • garlic
  • ginger
  • kosher salt & black pepper
  • sweet potatoes
  • cooked chicken
  • lime juice (or lemon juice)
  • low-sodium soy sauce
  • oyster sauce 
  • fresh cilantro
  • toasted sesame oil 

How to make chicken rice soup

  1. Sauté the shallot in olive oil until starting to brown. 
  2. Stir in the rice and cook briefly to toast, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add the garlic, ginger, and water. Bring to a simmer and cook until rice has slightly swollen.
  4. Add the sweet potato and simmer until tender. 
  5. Stir in the cooked chicken, soy sauce, lime juice, and oyster sauce.  
  6. Top servings with fresh cilantro, toasted sesame oil, and black pepper.
brothy chicken and rice soup with sweet potatoes in a white bowl set on a wood table

Tips for making the best chicken recipe soup

  1. Rinse the rice: as the rice cooks, it will release starch into the soup and create a delicious silky broth. Too much starch and the broth will become overly cloudy and will muddy the other flavors. To avoid this, rinse the rice in a fine mesh sieve until the water runs clear.
  2. Toast the rice: add the rinsed rice to the sautéed shallot and cook until the rice has dried and starts to slightly toast, about 2 minutes. This brief toast will add depth of flavor to the soup.
  3. Chicken: for a super quick dinner, use rotisserie chicken in this soup. And for a more homemade version, use chicken breast. If you go the homemade route—add two raw chicken breasts to the pot with the rice and simmer until cooked through, they should be done cooking when the sweet potatoes are tender. Remove the breasts from the soup, shred, then add back to the pot.
  4. Avoid boiling the soup: instead of bringing the soup to a boil, keep it at a simmer throughout the whole cooking process. You may be tempted to move the cooking process along, but simmering is important for achieving a tender, not mushy, texture in the rice and sweet potatoes.
  5. Season to taste: before serving, taste the soup and adjust the seasoning as needed with salt, pepper, and additional lime juice. Bear in mind, each serving will be topped with more pepper, so you can go light on that.
  6. Finish with bold flavors: this soup is bold and aromatic from the garlic, ginger, and shallot. But each serving should be topped with a generous amount of cilantro, toasted sesame oil and black pepper for the best results. If you aren’t a fan of cilantro, try parsley or even basil.
brothy chicken and rice soup with sweet potatoes in a white bowl set on a wood table

Can you freeze this chicken rice soup?

Yes! Freeze the cooled soup in a glass container with a tight fitting lid or in resealable zipper-lock bags. Reheat soup on the stovetop over medium-low heat until simmering. 

If you’re making this soup with the intention of freezing it, I recommend under-cooking the sweet potatoes slightly so they don’t become mushy when reheating. 

VARIATIONS on this chicken rice soup:

  • Use leftover cooked turkey instead of chicken.
  • Swap carrot in for the sweet potato.
  • Add frozen peas.
  • Use lemon and parsley instead of lime and cilantro. 
  • Make it a creamy chicken and rice soup by adding half-and-half or coconut milk.
  • Stir in some greens, like baby spinach or escarole. 
  • Use brown rice instead of jasmine rice.
brothy chicken and rice soup with sweet potatoes in a white bowl set on a wood table

What to serve with chicken rice soup

  • Quick & Easy Garlicky Sautéed Broccoli
  • Simple Fennel Salad with Lemon
  • Nut and Seed Grain-Free Bread
  • Milk Bread Rolls
  • Garlic Naan Bread
  • Healthy Skillet Cornbread

More soup recipes you may like…

  • Detox Soup (V,GF)
  • Hungarian Mushroom Soup (reader favorite!)
  • Creamy Broccoli Soup
  • Healthy Slow-Cooker Turkey Wild Rice Soup
brothy chicken and rice soup with sweet potatoes in a white bowl set on a wood table

Make sure to tag me @ZESTFULKITCHEN ON INSTAGRAM or tag #zestfulkitchen on social media if you make a recipe! 

Don’t forget, if you make this Chicken Rice Soup recipe, leave a comment and rating below!

Pin this recipe and save it for later by clicking the button on any photo. You can also click the red button on the bar below the recipe. Happy cooking!

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brothy chicken and rice soup with sweet potatoes in a white bowl set on a wood table

Healthy Aromatic Chicken Rice Soup

  • Author: Lauren Grant
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 7 cups (4 servings) 1x
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Stove top
  • Cuisine: Asian/American
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Description

A light and healthy aromatic chicken soup that’s perfect for busy weeknights and cold weather. 


Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 shallot, thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil 
  • ⅓ cup jasmine rice, rinsed
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped 
  • 1 (2-inch) piece ginger, peeled, cut into matchsticks
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 small sweet potatoes, washed and cut into ½-inch thick rounds
  • 2 cups cooked shredded chicken or turkey* 
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce 
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Toasted sesame oil 
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Heat oil in a Dutch oven or pot over medium. Add shallot and sauté until starting to brown, about 5 minutes.

Add rice, and cook 2 minutes. Stir in garlic, ginger, and 8 cups water; season with 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until rice has started to swell 8–10 minutes.

Add sweet potatoes and simmer over medium-low heat, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until soup is thickened and potatoes and rice are tender, 15 minutes. Add chicken and cook until heated through, 2 minutes. Stir in lime juice, soy sauce and oyster sauce; season with salt to taste.

Divide soup among bowls. Top with cilantro, a drizzle of toasted sesame oil, and black pepper. 

Store leftover soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat soup over medium-low, adding water to thin as needed.


Equipment

Dutch oven

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fine mesh sieve

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Notes

Don’t have leftover chicken? Use rotisserie chicken OR cook two raw chicken breasts in the soup. To do this: add two raw chicken breasts to the pot with the rice and simmer until cooked through, they should be done cooking when the sweet potatoes are done cooking. Remove the breasts from the soup, shred, then add back to the pot. 


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1¾ cup
  • Calories: 217
  • Sugar: 1g
  • Sodium: 501mg
  • Fat: 3g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.5g
  • Carbohydrates: 34g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 14g
  • Cholesterol: 30mg

Keywords: chicken rice soup, chicken rice soup recipe, chicken and rice soup, chicken and rice soup recipe

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a comment below and tag @zestfulkitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #zestfulkitchen!

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Filed Under: Healthy Dinner Recipes, Lunch & Dinner, Recipes, Soups, Stews & Chilis, Winter, Year-Round Tagged With: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Quick and Easy

About Lauren Grant

Lauren Grant is a professional culinary food scientist, food writer, recipe developer, and food photographer. Lauren is a previous magazine editor and test kitchen developer and has had work published in major national publications including Diabetic Living Magazine, Midwest Living Magazine, Cuisine at Home Magazine, EatingWell.com, AmericasTestKitchen.com, and more.

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