Lemon Chicken & Rice Soup

Total Time

Prep: 35 min. Cook: 4-1/4 hours

Makes

12 servings (4 quarts)

Updated: Jun. 23, 2023
Years ago, I fell hard for a lemony Greek soup at Panera Bread. It was just a special back then, but I re-created it at home so we could eat it whenever a craving hit! —Kristin Cherry, Bothell, Washington
Lemon Chicken & Rice Soup Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 5 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 8 cups coarsely chopped Swiss chard, kale or spinach
  • 2 large carrots, finely chopped
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 medium lemon, halved and thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 4 teaspoons grated lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 4 cups cooked brown rice

Directions

  1. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add half the chicken; cook and stir until browned. Transfer to a 6-qt. slow cooker. Repeat with remaining oil and chicken.
  2. Stir broth, vegetables, lemon slices, juice and zest, and pepper into slow cooker with chicken. Cook, covered, on low 4-5 hours or until chicken is tender. Stir in rice; heat through.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/3 cups: 203 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 42mg cholesterol, 612mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 20g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat.