⏳ Yield & Time

Yield: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

🍽 Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 medium Onion
• 2 cloves Garlic
• 8 cups Chicken broth
• 1 cup Long-grain white rice
• 1 cup Carrots
• 1 cup Celery
• 1 tsp Dried thyme
• To taste Salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice (optional)
• For garnish Fresh parsley or green onions (optional)

📖 Instructions

1. First thing's first: rinse your 1.5 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts under cold water. Pat them dry with paper towels. This helps them brown nicely later on. Trust me on this one; I learned the hard way.
2. Next, grab a large pot (at least 6 quarts) and heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken to the pot and brown it on all sides. This step adds so much flavor to the broth!
3. Now, add one chopped onion and two cloves of minced garlic to the pot. Cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Don't burn the garlic! (Been there.)
4. Stir in 8 cups of chicken broth and 1 cup of uncooked long-grain white rice. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is tender. A little tip: Taste the broth and season it to your liking with salt and pepper.
5. Now we're getting to the good stuff: add 1 cup of chopped carrots, 1 cup of chopped celery, and 1 teaspoon of dried thyme. Continue to simmer for 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender-crisp. Remember, we're going for tender-crisp, not mushy!
6. Once the vegetables and rice are cooked through, remove the chicken from the pot and let it cool slightly. Shred the chicken using two forks. I know, sounds kinda messy, but it's the best way to do it!
7. Finally, return the shredded chicken to the soup. Stir gently to combine. If you like a little more zing, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
8. Serve hot. Garnish with some fresh parsley or green onions if you're feeling fancy. Enjoy this heartwarming bowl of goodness!

📝 Notes

• For a richer flavor, use homemade chicken broth.
• You can adjust the amount of vegetables to your liking.
• If you don't have dried thyme, you can use fresh thyme instead. Use about 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme for every 1 teaspoon of dried thyme.
• Feel free to add other vegetables or herbs to this soup. Get creative!