I always thought I didn’t like soup very much, but it turns out I just don’t like canned soup very much. Making soup at home makes a huge difference in flavor and especially the texture of soups. The vegetables in homemade soup aren’t mushy, you can make it as meaty as you’d like, and great homemade soup doesn’t have to take all day.
My neighbor recently gave me a recipe that she loved for Lemon Rice Soup. I was a bit leery of using a can of cream of chicken soup, but it added a nice creamy texture, and the lemon juice really brightens up the soup. It’s a nice change from traditional chicken noodle. For my meat lovers, I also added two diced chicken breasts and omitted the eggs. This was an easy soup that my family gave a thumbs up and I’ll definitely make it again.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup long grain rice
- 4 cans chicken broth (56 oz.)
- 1 can of cream of chicken soup
- 2 chicken breasts, diced
- juice of one lemon (approximately 3 tablespoons)
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- salt and pepper
Directions
- Bring 1 can of chicken broth to a boil in a large saucepan. Stir in rice. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes or until all the broth is absorbed. Add remaining 3 cans of chicken broth cream of chicken soup, chicken breast, and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, approximately 20 min. Add lemon juice, parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper.
More easy soup recipes:
Spicy Chicken Soup (Barbara Bakes)
Baked Potato Soup (Barbara Bakes)
Zuppa Tuscana (Lori’s Lipsmacking Goodness)
Easy Minestrone Soup (Two Peas and Their Pod)
Jennifer, Savor The Thyme, featured me and another great soup recipe, Baked Potato Soup on Babble, The Family Kitchen. Stop by and check it out along with other great soup recipes.
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I love to bake, especially cookies, cakes, and pies. I’ll post my adventures in the kitchen, my favorite new recipes, as well as our family favorites.
Delicious and healthy!
Cheers,
Rosa
I’m with you mum, I don’t like canned soups as they taste a lot like the actual can and that isn’t very appetising at all! This however looks delicious!
xxx
I’m loving all the soup recipes right now, Barbara. And this one looks delish AND easy. The only canned soup I can tolerate is tomato.
Yum, I like this recipe! I usually make chicken noodle, so this rice version will be a welcome change. The lemon will surely brighten up the flavors and I like that it does’t need to simmer all day.
What an easy recipe to make and the flavor of lemon would be so unexpected .Sounds like a winner of a recipe!
Barbara, I’m with you! I never was a fan of soup wither, but that’s because it al came form a can! Homemade soup is so much better – and this one looks fantastic. The canned cream of chicken is probably the perfect addition for thickening it up and adding a creaminess – but the lemon? I can’t wait to tr it myself! Thanks for the great post!
You know…that’s probably it! I always thought I’m just not a soup fan. Probably just canned soup. I need to make this and find out how good it really is!
The only soup product I buy anymore is broth; the convenience is something I just can’t give up. But I love the sound of this so I’ll thinking maybe some chicken bouillon and white sauce to replace the cream of chicken soup? I love the idea of the lemon!
This sounds quick and easy. I love chicken soup with lemon. It also (surprisingly) sounds very light. I’m putting this one in my que.
What a great use for canned cream of chicken soup, Barbara! This sounds delicious!
This has all of my favorite ingredients, and what I call comfort food! Much needed as we have had snow the past day or so. So rare in Alabama
haha, i’m with you, canned soups just aren’t good.
i love this, especially the lemon in there, how delicious!
I am with you on not liking canned soups. I haven’t found one yet that is decent unless to cook with and make life easier. This soup sounds so yummy and perfectly easy with great results. I will be trying this.
Homemade soup simmering on top of the stove is the best! Your Lemon Chicken & Rice Soup looks perfect for a cold winter night.
This sounds delicious. It’s perfect with the weather we are having here too latelty!
This looks really good and fitting for the current winter storm we are going through here in the south. About the chicken soup…try making it homemade. It works just as good in recipes.
Oh yes, I agree. In fact it wasn’t until I learned how to cook I’d even consider having a soup & now we’re all uber fans of the yummy soup, endless variations but still wouldn’t consider buying or trying a canned soup. Ick!
Love this simple little filling healthy soup Barbara, it sounds wonderful for one of those cold nights.
Hmmmm, let’s see…it looks delicious, easy, and I have all the ingredients! I printed it out, and I’m making it tomorrow:) Thanks, Barbara!
What a delightful soup….
All i can make is desserts…. must get my mom to make this for me….
Happy New Year!!!
Cheers,
wow lovely soup, great flavors
Barbara – Your soup looks so velveety, smooth and delicious. I love those soup crocks!
Hey,
Yummy lemon chicken and rice soup…Lovely combo…
I love this recipe, Barbara, and want to add this to our soup diet. I think the addition of lemon will really change and heighten the flavor. Perfect soup!
Love the thought of lemon brightening up the soup! I can’t wait to try this sometime!
this looks so comforting and delicious.. love the touch of lemon in here..yum!
sounds simple to follow and a comforting meal too!
That looks so lovely! I just may have to make that tonight for dinner.
It was 2 degrees when I got home last night and I was craving soup, but couldn’t think of any type of soup that appealed to me…
YUM.
Sounds like comfort in a bowl Barbara!
I just love chicken and rice soup. I can imagine that the lemon would definitely add another layer of flavor.
Soup is so good on these cold evenings, and this soup looks delicious! The lemon sounds good!
This looks like my type of soup. I only like chunky ones. I guess you could easily throw in some veges to bulk it up too. Yum!
It’s perfect soup weather!
It is so cold and damp today – this soup looks like the perfect answer!
Barbara, this soup sure looks so tasty, love the lemony flavor
YUMMIE!
Come to think of it…I’ve never put lemon in soup…hmmm.
Canned soups certainly would not be my first choice, however, on occasion while away from home…I actually didn’t turn my nose away from it either. ;o)
Thanks for sharing this recipe Barbara.
Flavourful wishes,
Claudia
This soup looks really good. I’m bookmarking this.
I’ve been sick this week and gave this one a go – big thumbs up! I loved that it was easy and quick – I used mostly prepared ingredients from the market, then subbed out the rice for some orzo I had as leftovers. Will definitely make this one again. Have you tried freezing it? Wonder how that would work.
Lisa – I did freeze it and although the rice gets a little soft, it freezes and reheats very well. I think the orzo is a great substitution. So glad you loved it! Thanks for letting me know. Hope you’re feeling better soon.
Yum this looks very comforting… reminds me of Nigella Lawson’s Happiness Soup!
Looks wonderful Barbara. I love chicken soups, any kind works for me. I plan on making some this week, it’s on my menu, just not sure what kind yet
Chicken and rice soup usually comes off really bland, but I might have to give it a try again with the added lemon instead. That sounds much better.
This is my absolute favorite soup! Josh has even learned to cook it. I have a similar recipe posted up, slightly different. I will try yours next time! Here is my version: http://www.thevintagemixer.com/2008/02/lemon-rice-and-asparagus-soup.html
Barbara, you are so right about homemade soup compared to canned soup. There is life in “real” soup. I have been making a few new soups, each week and I plan to add this to the list for cooking, within a few weeks.
If you have a moment, would you link this to Let’s Do Brunch. It is the perfect recipe for a warming lunch in the cold weather, we are having in New York.
http://sweetsav.blogspot.com/2011/01/lets-do-brunch-12.html
I love making soups from scratch and they don’t have to be complicated either. This looks like a perfect weeknight soup to make. Quick, easy and delicious. Thanks for sharing your neighbor’s recipe.