Spanish Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe

Name: Spanish Chicken and Rice Soup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon butter; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 medium onion (chopped); 2 ribs celery (chopped); 2 medium garlic cloves (minced); ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro; 14.5 ounces canned whole peeled tomatoes with their juice; 1 cup rice; 2 tablespoons taco seasoning; 8 cups chicken broth; 2 cups cooked (diced chicken); 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon pepper

Spanish Chicken and Rice Soup is richly flavored with garlic, cilantro, tomatoes, and taco seasonings. Serve with warm bread for a hearty lunch or dinner.

5 from 3 votes

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

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A serving of Spanish Chicken and Rice Soup in a white bowl.

Spanish Chicken and Rice Soup is richly flavored with garlic, cilantro, tomatoes, and taco seasonings. Pair it with buttery toasted rolls or cornbread for a hearty lunch or dinner.

I will readily admit to having guilty food pleasures. One in particular: Rice-a-Roni Spanish Rice mix. It’s just another one of those can’t-stop-eating-it things for me. And it’s the inspiration for this Spanish Chicken and Rice Soup.

Trust me, I don’t buy that rice mix often. I wouldn’t dare keep it in my pantry because we’d eat it three times a week if I did. But every once in a while, I start craving those flavors – tender rice, tomatoes, and rich seasonings.

So, when that craving struck recently, I decided to try combining all that deliciousness in a soup and this recipe is the result. It’s a bit healthier – no preservatives and far less salt – but still has all the flavors I love in one pot.

💗 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

In my opinion, cold weather soups should be hearty and satisfying. This recipe is the very definition of satisfying.
Full of hearty flavors. It may not be traditional, but it tastes like your favorite Spanish, Tex-Mex, and southwestern meals.
Quick and easy. This soup is done in under an hour, which is perfect for busy days and tired nights.

🥘 About The Ingredients

Olive Oil, Butter, Garlic, Onion, Celery – So many great soups start with these aromatic ingredients, which provide a perfect flavor base to build upon.
Chicken Broth, Whole Peeled Tomatoes, and Cilantro – These are the foundation of the Spanish-Mexican influence in the soup. If you can find canned, peeled plum tomatoes, they are ideal for this recipe. Be sure to use both the tomatoes and their juice.
Taco Seasoning, Salt, Black Pepper – This combination provides the familiar Spanish-influenced Mexican flavor in any dish.
White Rice, Cooked Diced Chicken – Gotta have chicken and rice for chicken and rice soup 😀.

You’ll find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe at the bottom of this post.

🔪 How To Make Spanish Chicken and Rice Soup

Aromatic vegetables cooking in a saucepan.

Place a deep saucepan or soup pot over medium to medium-high heat.
Add the oil and butter. When the butter has melted, add the onion and celery. Cook the mixture, frequently stirring, until the onion has wilted, taking care not to let it brown.
Add the garlic and cook for one more minute.

Add the tomatoes and cilantro. Cook for a further 2-3 minutes while stirring and breaking up the tomatoes with a spoon. (Or simply use a potato masher to make quick work of crushing the tomatoes!)

Adding rice, chicken, and stock to the soup pot.

Add the rice, taco seasoning, and cilantro. Stir well.
Add the chicken broth, chicken, salt, and pepper.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
Cover the pot and cook for about 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, check to make sure the rice is done. If not, cook for an additional 4-5 minutes and check the rice again.
Serve topped with additional cilantro.

Serve Your Soup with These Pretty Soup Bowl Cozies!

Soup Bowl Cozy Buddy Pot Holder Yellow and Gray Fleur-de-lis
from: Etsy

🔀 Recipe Variations

Vary the herbs and seasonings. Parsley, rosemary, coriander, and bay leaves are all good choices.
Include additional garnishes and toppings. Diced avocado, grated Monterey Jack cheese, and sour cream make great additions to this soup.
Add more veggies. For spice, jalapenos, serranos, or chipotles in adobe will really heat things up! If you’re not looking for that touch of fire, then bell peppers, carrots, chickpeas, corn, and cabbage keep things nicely mild and satisfying.
A spritz of fresh lime juice is very nice.

💡 Cook’s Tips

I make my own taco seasoning that I store in a tightly sealed jar in the pantry. I simply spoon out what I need whenever I need it. You can use purchased taco seasoning or simply chili powder with a touch of extra oregano and cumin.
Use yellow or white onions for the best flavor.
What’s the best chicken to use? Whatever you have on hand! I often use leftover rotisserie chicken for this recipe. You can even use well-drained canned chicken.

🍚 Storing Leftovers

Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container. You may also freeze this soup for up to 6 months. When ready to serve, allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat over low heat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

❓ Questions

Should I cook the rice before adding it to the soup?

There’s no need to cook the rice before adding it to the soup. It will cook along with the other ingredients and absorb lots of flavor.

Can I use brown rice?

Of course! You can substitute brown rice instead of the white rice called for in the recipe. Check the cooking times for the rice you use and adjust if needed.

Won’t the rice get mushy in the soup?

Certain kinds of rice can get mushy when overcooked. The best way to prevent the rice from becoming mushy is to remove the soup from the stovetop and serve it as soon as the rice is done. This isn’t a soup to keep on the stove for hours.

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HAVE YOU TRIED THIS RECIPE?

I’d LOVE to know what you thought!
Leave a rating below in the comments and let me know how you liked it!

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