Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken Rice Soup

📝Shopping list

To make this delicious recipe, you will need these simple ingredients:

• boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• carrots chopped
• celery chopped
• onion chopped
• rosemary fresh or dried
• thyme fresh or dried
• bay leaf
• sage
• chicken stock
• garlic minced
• fresh pepper
• long grain brown rice
• fresh lemon juice
• lemon zest

🔪Instructions

This great recipe involves just a few simple steps:

Preparing Your Slow Cooker

Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent.  Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings. While this step is less important with soup that some other recipes, clean up will still be easier.  

 NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface.  Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface.  Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns. 

Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.  

Cooking

• 🍋 To a greased slow cooker, add all ingredients other than bay leaf and fresh herbs (if using).  
• 🍋 Gently lay bay leaves and fresh thyme sprigs/rosemary sprigs (if using) on top of slow cooker contents.
• 🍋 Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours
• 🍋Once chicken is cooked through, use tongs to gently remove and discard bay leaves (and any fresh herb sprigs)
• 🍋Remove chicken from slow cooker and shred 
• 🍋Stir shredded chicken back into the slow cooker along with lemon juice and zest.  

🥣Serving suggestions

• This delicious crock pot chicken and rice soup is really a full meal on its own. A side of warm, crusty bread is a perfect pairing with the hot broth.
• A crisp garden salad is also a great way to round out this cozy meal. 
• OR try it with a warm veggie side dish.  Whole cauliflower dijon and maple vanilla carrots are great choices to accompany with this easy chicken soup.
• This crockpot chicken soup is the perfect soup-and-a-sandwich soup.  Grilled cheese and BLT's both complement this lemon rice soup wonderfully!

🔄Substitutions

• The rice in the soup can get a bit mushy while cooking. We like it that way! If you prefer firm rice, use 100% wild rice (not a wild rice blend). This will change the flavor to be more of a wild rice soup.  However, the rice will remain much firmer during the slow cooking process. 
• Another way to ensure rice grains stay firm is to use already-cooked rice.  Stir cooked rice into your soup about 15 minutes before serving. You can use a homemade rice recipe or microwavable rice (do not cook first).  If you are a fan of white rice, this is the way to go! 
• Chicken thighs and bone-in chicken pieces can be used in places of chicken breasts.  
• Add chopped fresh dill during the last 30 minutes of cooking to vary the flavor profile.
• Not a fan of rice in your soup?  Try chicken noodle soup, chicken tortilla soup, or chicken barley soup instead! 

💜Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Simple to make: This comforting soup is incredibly easy to make. Just toss the ingredients into your slow cooker and let it work its magic
• One bowl meal: Packed with chicken, vegetables, and rice, this soup is a stand-alone dish.
• Deliciousness: The lemon and herbs in this dish take it to the next level.
• Prep in advance: This soup makes a large batch.  It is ideal for meal prepping or feeding a crowd.

😉Hints & hacks

• There are a lot of different opinions regarding the best way to shred chicken. Some people prefer to use a potato masher while others use the beaters of a handheld mixer. This slow cooker chicken will be so tender it will be easy to shred with two forks (my preferred method) 
• I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price.
• In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
• Minute rice, instant rice, and white standard rice should not be used in this recipe. 
• This is a great dish if your people will be eating at different times. After the cooking time, turn your slow cooker to low and everyone can have a warm and filling meal, no matter what time they are ready to eat.
• Always check to ensure your slow cooker is plugged in and turned on!  There is nothing more disappointing than coming home to a cold crockpot! 😏