Cozy Winter Chicken and Rice (Printer-friendly)

A warming one-pot meal with tender chicken, fluffy rice, and vegetables, ready in under an hour.

# Ingredient List:

→ Poultry

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
04 - 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
05 - 3 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 3 garlic cloves, minced

→ Rice

07 - 3/4 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed

→ Broth & Seasoning

08 - 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
11 - 2 bay leaves
12 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
13 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste

→ Finishing Touches

14 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
15 - Juice of 1/2 lemon (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, dried thyme, and rosemary. Cook for 1 minute until the mixture becomes fragrant.
03 - Add chicken breasts, chicken broth, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
04 - Add the rinsed rice, reduce heat to a simmer, and cover with a lid. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through and rice is tender.
05 - Remove chicken breasts from the pot using tongs. Shred the cooked chicken with two forks and return the meat to the soup.
06 - Remove and discard bay leaves. Stir in fresh chopped parsley and lemon juice if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
07 - Ladle into serving bowls and serve while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The rice thickens the broth just enough to make every spoonful feel like a hug
  • It comes together in under an hour with mostly pantry staples
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day, if they last that long
02 -
  • Rinsing the rice until the water runs clear is the difference between cloudy soup and clean, fragrant broth
  • The rice will continue absorbing liquid as it sits, so if you are planning to reheat leftovers, add a splash of water or broth when warming
03 -
  • A splash of heavy cream at the end transforms it into something restaurant-worthy
  • Chicken thighs instead of breasts will give you deeper flavor and more succulent meat
Go Back