Chicken Rice Tomato Soup

My favorite way to use up leftover chicken and rice is to turn them into soup the next day. This chicken, rice and tomato soup recipe combines cooked chicken and rice with flavorful vegetables and herbs, most of which you probably already have in your kitchen. Easy weeknight dinner! You’ll want to bookmark this one for the next time you need a delicious way to reinvent that chicken that’s waiting patiently in your fridge.

Chicken Rice Tomato Soup Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Onion
• Green pepper
• Celery
• Green onions
• Canola oil
• Garlic
• Reduced-sodium chicken broth
• Cooked brown rice
• Cooked chicken breast
• Diced tomatoes
• Dried oregano and thyme
• Bay leaf
• Salt

Directions

Step 1: Brown the flour

In a small nonstick skillet, brown the flour over medium-high heat, then set it aside.

Step 2: Saute the vegetables

In a Dutch oven, saute the onion, green pepper, celery and green onions in the oil until tender. Add the minced garlic, and cook one minute longer.

Step 3: Add the remaining ingredients and simmer

Stir in the flour until blended. Stir in the chicken broth, the cooked rice and chicken, tomatoes, oregano, thyme, bay leaf and salt, and bring the soup to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Discard the bay leaf and serve.

How to Store Chicken Rice Tomato Soup

Store any leftover chicken, rice and tomato soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. For longer storage, freeze the soup in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.

Chicken Tomato Rice Soup Tips

What is the best way to cook the rice before adding it to chicken, tomato and rice soup?

Although I am partial to using my rice cooker to make rice, you can cook brown rice on the stovetop. Whichever method you prefer, you do need to cook the rice before adding it to the soup for the best flavor and texture.

How can you enhance the tomato flavor in chicken rice tomato soup?

It is easy to enhance the tomato flavor of your soup by adding tomato paste. When sauteing the vegetables, add 1 tablespoon of tomato paste and caramelize it alongside the veggies until it becomes reddish-brown in color.

What does it mean to brown flour?

When you brown flour without oil or butter, you are making a roux. A roux is used to thicken a soup or sauce. In this recipe, the flour is toasted in a skillet over medium heat until it just starts to brown. You can also make a dry roux by baking the flour in a 350°F oven for about 25 minutes.

What can you serve with chicken rice tomato soup?

Soup and salad is always a good idea. Some of my favorite green salads include a classic Caesar salad or a flavorful chopped salad. And definitely don’t forget the bread! Savory garlic bread pairs well with this chicken rice tomato soup, as does any loaf of crusty bread (slathered with salted butter, of course).