Easy Spanish Rice and Chicken Soup Recipe

Nothing warms your soul (and your tummy) like a delicious bowl of hot Spanish rice and chicken soup.

Just one spoonful of Spanish rice and chicken soup is enough to fill your entire body with warmth, even on the coldest days of the year.

Read this article to discover more about how to make Spanish soup recipes and find additional tips for storing, serving, and substituting ingredients.

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Psssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish soup recipes? Have a look at my other posts:

• Spanish Beef Soup

• Albondigas soup

• Spanish bean soup

Background of the Dish

The classic Spanish rice soup is one of the oldest recipes in the world, and it found its way to Andalusia through trade with the Moors.

Spanish chicken soups came into the picture a few years later, but when they were combined with rice-based soups, it was like the perfect culinary marriage had taken place.

Today, Spanish rice and chicken soup are staple dishes in Andalusia, beloved by everyone, especially during the fall and winter seasons.

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Things You’ll Need for Spanish Rice and Chicken Soup

To make this recipe you need chicken, long-grain rice, chicken broth, onion, garlic, and bell peppers as the main ingredients.

When it comes to the equipment, you just need a large pot and your stove to prepare this Spanish rice and chicken soup.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (200gr) long-grain white rice
• 8 cups (1.9l) chicken broth 
• 750g boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 3 tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish)

How to Make Spanish Rice and Chicken Soup – Step by Step Guide

1. To start with this Spanish chicken and rice recipe you have to wash and dice the tomatoes, discarding the seeds. Chop the bell peppers, removing the seeds and the stem. Peel and mince the garlic cloves. Also, peel and chop the onion.

2. After that, remove the bones and skin from the chicken (or ask your butcher to do this). Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. 

3. Now in a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and garlic and sauté for 3 minutes until they become fragrant and translucent.

4. Then add the diced chicken pieces to the pot and cook until they are golden on all sides, for about 7 minutes. Stir in the chopped red and green bell peppers, and continue to cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until they start to soften.

5. After that, add the diced tomatoes, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to the pot. Stir well to combine all the ingredients. Pour in the chicken broth and bring the Spanish rice soup to a boil.

6. Once the chicken Spanish soup is boiling, add the white rice. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through.

7. To finish this Spanish soup recipe, just taste it and adjust the seasoning if needed. Pour the Spanish chicken and rice soup into serving bowls, and optionally garnish with fresh chopped cilantro.

Substitution of Ingredients

We love making this Spanish rice and chicken soup because if you don’t have one ingredient, you simply replace it with a similar one.

For example, you can prepare this Spanish chicken soup with rice with vegetable broth, or with the same amount of water and a bouillon.

For this Spanish rice and chicken soup you can use any vegetable of your choice, you can add: carrots, red onion, potatoes, spinach, etc.

You can turn it into a brown rice chicken soup, just adjust the cooking time (the brown rice takes a little bit longer to cook).

If you don’t want to use rice, you can follow other Spanish chicken soups, like the Spanish chicken noodle soup (with noodles instead of rice), or the traditional Spanish chicken soup recipe (no rice).

Another similar soup that you can prepare is the Puerto Rican chicken soup, a simple and delicious soup packed with all you need.

The chicken soup without noodles is great as well, if you don’t want to add rice to your chicken soup.

Tips on Serving Spanish Rice and Chicken Soup

If you are looking for a filling main dish, then the Spanish rice and chicken soup is the right fit for you.

Just pour the Spanish rice soup with chicken in small bowls or shallow plates and optionally you can top it with chopped parsley.

For an authentic Spanish culinary experience, garnish your piping-hot bowl of rice and chicken soup with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and a drizzle of zesty lime juice. Serve it alongside warm, crusty bread to complete this delicious, comforting meal.

Other toppings to add to this Spanish chicken soup include grated parmesan cheese, bread croutons, and slices of serrano ham.

Try the Spanish ham and bean soup if you’d like to try a nutritious and easy-to-make Spanish soup recipe.

For a vegan meal, you can check other Spanish soup recipes, like our Spanish vegetable soup or the Spanish pea soup.

The Spanish bean tomato soup is a soup that’s also a must-try this season as well as the homemade Spanish chicken soup.

How to Store Spanish Rice and Chicken Soup

To store this Spanish rice and chicken soup just let it come to room temperature and place it in a covered container (with a lid or plastic wrap).

After that, you can put it in the fridge where it will last up to 3 days, and then reheat before serving.

You can also freeze this Spanish rice and chicken soup for up to 60 days, and in that case, we recommend adding a label with the date so you don’t forget about it.

To thaw the Spanish-style chicken soup, transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight.

You can reheat this Spanish rice and chicken soup in a pot over medium heat, or in the microwave for a couple of minutes (in both cases stir occasionally so it gets evenly warm and it doesn’t burn).

Recipe Card: Spanish Rice and Chicken Soup

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