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When soul-soothing warmth, healthy meals, and dead-easy, hands-off cooking is in order, this Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup delivers.

Healthy Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup with Vegetables and Lemon

This Crockpot Chicken and Rice Soup is filling and tastes clean and light. It’s exactly the sort of meal I need when the calendar tells me it should be one season (spring, where art thou?) but the scene outside my window (ahem, BRRRR) depicts another.

I made a big pot (er, slow cooker) of this Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup last week, on what turned out to be an unseasonably cold and blustery day. Ben and I brought it over to our friends’ for dinner, and the four of us sat cozied around their coffee table, balancing hot bowls of soup and thick slices of buttery bread on our laps.

Simple, unfussy, no tablecloths: an utterly perfect atmosphere to highlight this Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup.

Like my other favorite slow cooker chicken and rice recipe—creamy Crock Pot Chicken and Rice, which is more of a casserole—this unassuming soup is made of a few simple ingredients, the flavor profile is super family-friendly, and it’s guaranteed to be a stalwart, steady addition to your repertoire of go-to healthy meals.

A bowl of Healthy Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup

The Most Nourishing Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup

This Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup is wholesome and filling, but it won’t weigh you down. The ingredients key to this balance are:

  • Brown Rice. Higher in fiber, protein, and nutrients than white rice, brown rice adds whole grains, and makes recipes like this chicken rice soup (and this Spanish Chicken Stew) more satisfying.

NOTE:

You do NOT need to precook the rice for chicken and rice soup! You can add the uncooked rice to the soup directly (be sure to rinse it first). This no-cook method is actually one of my favorite things about the recipe, because you save a step.

  • Chicken. I opted for boneless, skinless chicken breasts because we always have a few in our freezer; boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or a mix of the two) work as well.

To make a more express Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup, you can omit the raw chicken entirely and stir in a shredded store-bought rotisserie chicken at the end instead.

The rotisserie crock pot chicken and rice soup method will save a bit of time because you can shred the chicken in advance while the rest of the soup is cooking; that said, since the chicken is done cooking at the same time as the rice, the time savings is not huge, and I think you’d miss out on some of the additional flavor the chicken adds to the soup while it cooks. I’ll leave the choice up to you!

  • Chicken Stock. While this is a broth-based chicken and rice soup, it actually uses chicken stock. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but the method to prepare them is different, as are the results. Compared to chicken broth used in this Chicken and Rice Casserole, chicken stock has a richer flavor and creamier mouth feel. (You can find a full explanation of the differences between stock and broth in my Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup).

You can certainly make this chicken and rice soup with chicken broth if that’s what you have on hand, but the way I tested the recipe (and what I recommend) is to use regular chicken stock, either store bought or homemade.

Craving a creamy chicken and rice soup instead? Check out my crock pot Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup!

Two bowls of healthy Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
  • Fresh Vegetables. I added extra carrots and celery. If you’d like even more vegetables, you can stir frozen peas in at the end as well, just like I do in Turkey Soup. The warmth of the crock pot will heat them right up!
  • Thyme. A handful of fresh herbs does wonders for a soup’s flavor. It’s really worth it to seek out fresh in this recipe. As a bonus, you can use any leftovers for garnish.

And my favorite extra ingredient…

  • LEMON JUICE! A squeeze of fresh lemon at the end lightens and brightens the soup’s flavor. It doesn’t taste overtly lemony, but you’ll notice that the soup’s flavor “pops” more once you stir it in.

If you’d like this recipe to be a true Crock Pot Lemon and Rice Soup, you can certainly add more lemon juice to taste.

Lemon lovers can also check out my Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup and this Baked Lemon Chicken too.

Can I Add Rice to my Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can definitely add rice to your slow cooker!

  • Can you Put Uncooked Rice in Soup? You can put uncooked rice in soup, and it works best for this specific recipe.
  • What Kind of Rice is Used in Soup? The kind of rice used in soup will typically depend on the recipe. For this soup recipe, we are using brown rice.

How to Store, Reheat, and Freeze Chicken and Rice Soup

  • To Store. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
  • To Reheat. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. The soup tends to thicken as it sits, so you may want to thin it with additional water or stock as needed. I also find the lemon loses its punch as the soup sits, so feel free to squeeze a little more onto your freshly reheated leftovers too.
  • To Freeze. Store cooked and cooled leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Two bowls of Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup ready to eat

Even Ben, who typically passes on soup, commented that he’d be happy to eat it again and loved how “meaty” it was.

As the cook in the house, I’m happy to make it again because it is SO EASY and healthy! Every nourishing spoonful feels like a clean eating chicken and rice soup experience, and it leaves you completely satisfied at the end.

Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup

4.91 from 52 votes
Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup. With brown rice, tender chicken, fresh vegetables and a touch of lemon, this healthy soup is easy, hearty and comforting!

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 5 hours
Total: 5 hours 15 minutes

Servings: 6 servings, about 10 cups

Ingredients
  

  • 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 medium carrots peeled and 1/4-inch diced, about 2 1/2 cups
  • 3 medium celery stalks 1/4-inch diced, about 2/3 cup
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion diced, about 1/2 cup
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup brown rice rinsed and drained (do not swap white rice, as it will cook more quickly and become mushy; you can use wild rice with a similar cook time, though the flavor of the wild rice will be stronger and more earthy)
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 6–8 cups chicken stock divided (be sure to use regular chicken stock, not unsalted, or chicken broth)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 6 sprigs fresh thyme plus additional for serving
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice or more to taste (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Lightly coat a 5-quart or larger slow cooker with nonstick spray. Heat the olive oil in a large, nonstick pan over medium. Add the carrots, celery, and onion, and cook until the vegetables are beginning to soften, about 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic, salt, and pepper and cook 30 additional seconds. Remove from the heat and transfer to the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Add the rinsed brown rice to the slow cooker. Arrange the chicken breasts on top, then pour in 6 cups of the chicken stock. Add the bay leaf and thyme.
  • Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or high for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours, until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through. To prevent the chicken from becoming dry, check it early. (To check for doneness, insert an instant-read thermometer. The chicken is done when it registers 165 degrees F at the thickest part.) If the chicken finishes cooking before the rice, remove it first so that it does not overcook, then re-cover the slow cooker and continue cooking until the rice is tender. Remove the bay leaf and thyme stems and discard.
  • Place the chicken on a plate or cutting board and let it cool slightly. With two forks or your fingers, shred the chicken, then return it to the slow cooker. Stir in the lemon juice. If you’d like the soup thinner, add additional stock until you reach your desired consistency. Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired. Serve warm, sprinkled with additional fresh thyme.

Notes

  • Please note that the cook times listed in this recipe can vary depending upon your slow cooker. Mine consistently finishes in this time. Use your best judgement depending upon your slow cooker model. If it is your first time making the recipe, you may want to build in extra buffer time just in case your slow cooker doesn’t get as hot as mine and others who see similar cook times.
  • Refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. The soup tends to thicken as it sits, so you may want to thin it with additional water or stock as needed. I also find the lemon loses its punch as the soup sits, so feel free to squeeze a little more onto your freshly reheated leftovers too.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 6)Calories: 367kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 33gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 80mgPotassium: 923mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 6894IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 2mg

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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99 Comments

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    1. Hi Claudia! I haven’t tried this myself, but if you decide to experiment, you’ll want to stir it in right at the end. You probably would also want to reduce the liquid, as there would be no rice to absorb some of it. If you decide to give it a try, I’d love to hear how it goes.

      1. Currently on hour 6 and my rice is still crunchy. I used brown, was it supposed to be instant?? Everything else seems and taste great. Switched it to high and I’ll keep waiting…

        1. Hi Kaycee! I’m sorry you had trouble with your rice in this recipe. It was not supposed to be instant rice, so I’m not sure what might’ve happened. I hope it turned out well after you turned it to high!

  1. Just made this tonight for my family. It was very easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Will definitely make it again. I did stupidly use chicken broth instead of chicken stock even after Erin mentions numerous times to use stock bc it’s more flavorful and makes a more substantial soup.  I don’t only how i missed that, doh’! I will make the switch next time but this was already a great soup in just using the broth. 5 stars

  2. This looks delicious, and I would like to try it.  What is your opinion on using Knorr chicken bouillon?  The label says it is made with natural chicken stock.

    Thanks so much.

    1. Hi Jocelyn, I haven’t tried that product myself, but you could certainly give it a try here. I hope you enjoy!

      1. So, I tried this, and it was delicious!  My family gave it high marks.  It is amazing how such simple ingredients can produce such a tasty dish.  You are a culinary genius.5 stars

  3. Erin, we made your soup yesterday and followed the recipe as written. It cooked 5 hrs. & 15 minutes and while the chicken was good, the brown rice was way too soft. The soup ended up being mushy but we didn’t mind because the dish turned out nice… tasty and satisfying. I would like to make it again, either on the stove or slow cooker, and freeze but don’t know how to avoid overcooking the rice. Any suggestions you can give will be appreciated.

    P.S. We also made your Chicken Cacciatore recipe and agreed it was wonderful! Your cooking videos are fun to watch!5 stars

    1. Erin, I wanted to make the chicken and rice again today so it’s in the slow cooker now. I’ll let you know how adding the rice in later works. All I know is: it’s a great meal to take to friend who just had a baby! Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!

        1. Erin, I added the b. rice after cooking the soup on low for 2 hours. It was still a tad too soft at the end of 5 hours……….BUT the flavor was definitely there! And that’s what is most important. I put it up in the freezer for my husband to eat while I’m out of town. He really enjoys the soup, does not cook at all, but said he’d heat up your soup if I made it again; so I know he won’t think twice about the texture of the rice. He’s all about the taste! Again I give the recipe 5 stars and look forward to making when cooler weather is here. However, now I want a slow cooker……… like YOURS!!!!!
          Have already put it on my Christmas list! I’m thinkin’ early.5 stars

          1. Thank you for taking the time to report back and share the results, Donna! I’m SO happy this recipe has been a hit for you and your husband!

          2. I notice sometimes I get brown rice that cooks normally in 20 minutes. Other brands take 40. Perhaps it is the brand of rice you are using. Might be worth checking out.

    2. Thank you for sharing, Donna! I’m sorry you had trouble with the rice in this dish. You could try checking on the rice a couple times throughout the cooking process to ensure it isn’t getting mushy. I’m happy you still enjoyed the flavors in this recipe and the Chicken Cacciatore!

  4. Perfect flavor-perfect consistency with the brown rice. This will be a regular in the rotation, according to my picky husband. 5 stars

    1. I’m so happy to hear that your family enjoyed this recipe, Hannah! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review!

  5. I wanted to make turkey rice soup with our leftover Thanksgiving turkey and the broth I made with the bones. I’m so glad I found this recipe – it was amazing!!!! I can’t believe how fast that entire crockpot of soup disappeared over the next 36 hours. Now I want to try with a rotisserie chicken.
    Thanks!5 stars

    1. Hi Sarah! I have not tried quinoa in this recipe, so I’m afraid I don’t have any specific advice to offer. If you decide to experiment with it, I’d love to hear how it goes!

  6. Please consider adding sodium to your nutrition info. Potassium would be good, as well. I have kidney disease, and I have to watch those daily. Thanks!

    1. Hi Maggie! I don’t include a sodium estimate because it can vary so much depending on the brands of ingredients you use, so I’d recommend using an online calculator like MyFitnessPal and inputting your exact brands if sodium content is important for you. Many of my recipes do include a potassium estimate, and I’ve updated this one to include it. I hope this helps!

    1. Hi CC! I do not recommend using frozen chicken in slow cooker recipes, as the chicken can spend too long at room temperature and become unsafe to eat. If you only have frozen chicken, I suggest letting it thaw completely before using it in this recipe. I hope this helps!

  7. My husband and I LOVE this soup! I found this recipe 2 months ago. I’m making a 3rd batch today. I have doubled everything but the broth(I use about 1.5 times broth) and it still fits in my slow cooker. I then add more broth as needed towards the end of the cook time. I’ve used brown rice and wild rice, with no problems. We love how the rice blends in and thickens the stock.5 stars

    1. Hi Nikki! Do you have a slow cooker that switches to “warm” after the 5-6 hours of cooking time has ended? If so, I believe it should be fine, but I have not tried it before. If not, I’m afraid your chicken might be overcooked. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to hear how it goes!

    1. Kim, I think you could use either! I’d suggest a brown/wild rice blend since the flavor of wild rice is pretty strong. You might also like this crock pot chicken and wild rice soup: https://www.wellplated.com/creamy-chicken-and-wild-rice-soup-slow-cooker/

    1. Hi TH! I recommend thawing your chicken breast before starting the recipe, as cooking frozen chicken in the slow cooker can make it unsafe to eat. I hope you love the recipe!

  8. Hi Erin – we ran out of brown rice and only have white jasmine rice. Can we sub this instead? How do we adjust the cooking? Brown rice can not be found anywhere right now. :(

    1. Hi Davy! Unfortunately, I do not recommend substituting white rice in this recipe, as it will become soggy. You could, however, cook the rice separately as directed on the package, then stir it into the soup at the very end of the cooking time. If you decide to try this, I’d love to hear how it goes!

  9. Hi there! am I able to make this without using a crockpot? (If the chicken is already cooked and shredded?!) 

    Thanks!

    1. Hi Lauren! I have not tried the recipe this way, but another reader has reported success with it. If you decide to try it, I’d love to hear how it goes!

    1. Hi Diane! Since sodium content can vary so much based on the brands of ingredients used, I recommend using an online calculator like MyFitnessPal, which you can customize based on the ingredients you have to get a more accurate number. I hope this helps and that you enjoy the recipe if you try it!

    1. Hi Lindsay! Fresh thyme will have the absolute best flavor here, so that is my recommendation. If you want to use dried, it can be kind of strong/intense, so I’d start with a 1/2 teaspoon then add more to taste.

  10. I followed this recipe and it doesn’t say anything about cooking the rice separately… so I didn’t and my rice was a complete mush and I had to throw the whole entire soup away even though I used brown rice and I rinsed it … if you’re making this recipe you should definitely cook your rice separately and add it after the soup is done

    1. Hi Jazmine, I’m sorry you had trouble with the rice in this dish. You could try checking on the rice a couple of times throughout the cooking process to ensure it isn’t getting mushy. I truly wish you would’ve been able to enjoy it!

    1. Hi Kristina! I’ve only tested the recipe as written, so you’d be experimenting. If you decide to play around with it, I’d love to hear how it goes!

    2. I have made this soup many times with rice and we love it. Last night I made this soup using potatoes. I used two medium potatoes cut into 1/2 inch cubes. Turned out great.

  11. This was delicious! I added roasted portobello mushrooms on top and drizzled a little balsamic vinegar on it too. This will be my go to recipe for chicken soup!5 stars

  12. So easy and so delicious and filling. It tasted almost creamy to me – so satisfying without any dairy or gluten!! Thank you for this recipe5 stars

  13. Hi! This recipe says it’s 6 servings but on the nutritional info it says 1 of 4? Do you think 1 serving would be like 1.5 cups?

    1. Hi Kristina! I apologize for the confusion. The nutrition information has been updated to read “1 of 6”, which is the correct amount. I hope this helps!

  14. Giving a 5 start because it’s probably something I screwed up. But tried making this. It’s now been 5 hours on high and the rice isn’t cooked all the way through. Complete dinner flop🤦‍♀️5 stars

    1. I’m sorry this recipe didn’t turn out as you hoped, Rifee. Unfortunately, it’s so hard to say what might’ve gone wrong without being in the kitchen with you. The recipe has worked well for me (and other readers), so I truly wish it would’ve been a hit for you too!

      1. I’m so sorry this happened! I haven’t been able to replicate that issue in my slow cooker. What brand of slow cooker do you have? I’d love to help get to the bottom of this.

    1. Hi Rachel! I have not tried the recipe this way, but another reader has reported success with it. If you decide to try it, I’d love to hear how it goes!

  15. Delicious! I’m adding to my “the-only-recipe-you’ll-ever-need” collection. Appreciated and followed the tip about checking chicken for doneness early and removing to avoid overcooking.5 stars

  16. This was delicious!! Such a yummy warm dinner. Love that it was in the crockpot and ready to go. Super easy and healthy but it has great flavor. Perfect winter dinner! And I have leftovers for all week, it made a ton.5 stars

    1. Hi Jane! While I haven’t tried the recipe in an Instant Pot myself, I think you could use the slow cooker setting on your Instant Pot. I hope you enjoy the soup!

  17. This was delicious! My daughter has multiple food allergies and I did not have to modify it for her dietary needs. I forgot to add the lemon at the end so I’m excited to try it again with that. It was very filling and my whole family enjoyed it!5 stars

  18. 6 hours low, followed by 2 hours high, Meijers brown rice still not fully cooked. Had to eat the soap and avoid the rice. Won’t make again3 stars

    1. I’m sorry to hear you had trouble with the recipe, J Bro! Every slow cooker cooks a little differently (I use a 6-quart crockpot brand). To be safe, build in extra buffer time the first time you make this recipe. From then on, you’ll know exactly how long your particular model needs for perfect, tender rice.

  19. Will it still cook on if you put the vegetables, garlic, salt, and pepper straight into the slow cooker without sautéing them first?

  20. I like my white rice. That said, to substitute any other rice besides the brown rice. I cook it separately and add it in at the end. Stir and let it heat thoroughly within the soup. That way. No mushy overcooked white rice. If there’s a will. There’s a way. Just sharing how I add white rice to any soup. Thanks for sharing this recipe. It does like ok delicious.5 stars

    1. LuAnn, thank you for sharing how to make this with white rice. I have a lot of food allergies and brown rice is one of them. I have been craving chicken and rice soup

  21. Delicious and a crowd pleaser! I skipped the sauté step and all the veggies cooked completely with just the low setting.5 stars

  22. Hi Erin: What are your thoughts about brining the chicken breasts? I’ve pretty much given up on chicken breasts because they get dry very quickly.
    Thanks.
    Pamela

    1. It makes all the difference in the world Pamela!! I have directions in my post for baked chicken breast: https://www.wellplated.com/baked-chicken-breast/

      1. Hi Erin: Thanks for a great soup recipe. I made this luscious soup using chicken thighs rather than chicken breasts. l didn’t have time to brine the breasts and I really prefer thighs to breasts. This soup was excellent. I had white rice already made from another meal, (I added the rice in at the end of the cooking time) so I used that instead of brown rice. My husband said “Pam, this is the best chicken and rice soup you’ve ever made.” I made it the day before I wanted to serve it because it just sits quietly in the frig and all the flavors meld together.

        I’m putting your cookbook on my Christmas list because I love all the recipes of yours that I’ve made.5 stars

    1. Hi! I recommend it because it has a richer flavor but if you need to, then you could. I stopped including sodium info because it can vary so much depending upon what products you used, and I found a lot of conflicting info online, so ultimately I didn’t feel comfortable publishing it because sometimes it wasn’t even in the ballpark. If you’d like to calculate it yourself, there are lots of free tools online (myfitnesspal.com is popular). I hope that helps!

  23. I made this soup yesterday afternoon and my husband and I LOVED it! I had read comments prior to making it and noted that some had found the rice undercooked at the end of the recommended cooking time. I chose to use the low setting – removed the chicken thighs after 5 1/2 hours as they were done but did need to cook the soup longer as the rice was underdone. Next time I make it, I will increase the heat to high after removing the chicken to speed up the remaining cooking time for the rice. I’m sure that everyone’s slow cooker is different though. We haven’t even finished the leftovers and my husband is suggesting that I make it again in the near future. Wonderful flavor and very little “hands-on” time needed. We loved it – thank you for another great recipe!5 stars