Creamy Lemon Chicken Rice Soup
384kcal
Ingredients
- 1¾ pounds skin-on and bone-in chicken thighs (similar in size, about 4 pieces, pat dry with paper towels)
- 1½ tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- ¾ cup diced celery
- 7 cups chicken stock
- ½ cup long-grain white rice (uncooked, rinsed, and drained)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons lemon juice (or more to taste)
- zest from one large lemon
- ⅓ cup fresh parsley leaves (chop finely)
- salt and black pepper (to taste)
Method
- Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper. In a pot, heat the oil on medium-high heat. Cook the chicken thighs until they are browned, then transfer them to a plate.
- Leave about 2 tablespoons of grease in the pot. Stir diced onion, and celery for a minute. Add garlic and stir for another minute.
- Add broth, rice, and return browned chicken. Scrape the bottom of the pot to release any brown bits. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low, simmer, uncovered, for about 35 minutes until chicken is fully cooked.
- Shred cooked chicken. Return shredded chicken to the soup. Stir in butter, lemon zest and juice then season with salt and black pepper.
- Stir in fresh parsley or use it as a garnish when serving the soup.
Nutrition
Calories384kcalCarbohydrates20gProtein23gFat23gSaturated Fat6gPolyunsaturated Fat4gMonounsaturated Fat10gTrans Fat0.1gCholesterol107mgSodium424mgPotassium517mgFiber1gSugar5gVitamin A381IUVitamin C9mgCalcium32mgIron1mg
Notes
Lemon Juice. When adding lemon juice, start with a bit and adjust to your taste. It's easier to add more later than to correct an overly tangy soup.
Wash Rice. Before adding rice to your lemon chicken rice soup, give it a good wash under cold running water. This helps get rid of extra surface starch and smell, keeping the rice from getting too sticky while cooking. Plus, washing the rice adds to its fluffiness when cooked, making your soup even more enjoyable.
Cooking Time. Pay attention to how long you cook the soup to make sure the rice is soft and the chicken is completely cooked. Change the simmering time if you're using different types of chicken to get it just right.