Description
Comfort meets spice in this Cajun Chicken & Rice Soup, blending Louisiana’s bold flavors with hearty home-style warmth. Rich broth and tender chicken create a soul-satisfying meal that warms you from the inside out.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 cups chopped chicken
Vegetables:
- 1 small diced onion
- 2 stalks diced celery
- 1 diced sweet bell pepper
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup rice (or 1 1/2 cups cooked rice)
- 2 tablespoons oil or butter
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Warm a robust stockpot over medium heat, drizzling oil across the surface to create a sizzling foundation for the dish.
- Generously coat the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and half the Cajun seasoning, ensuring each morsel is thoroughly seasoned.
- Sear the chicken in the hot oil, rotating periodically to achieve a golden-brown exterior and internal temperature of 165°F, approximately 6-8 minutes.
- Separately prepare the rice by rinsing thoroughly and cooking according to package guidelines until tender and fluffy, then reserve to the side.
- Without cleaning the stockpot, introduce diced onion, celery, and bell pepper, allowing them to soften and become translucent, releasing their aromatic essence for about 6 minutes.
- Incorporate tomato paste, stirring constantly to deepen its color and intensify its rich flavor profile for roughly 2 minutes.
- Pour in chicken broth and fold in the previously cooked rice, bringing the entire mixture to a robust boil.
- Once boiling, immediately remove from heat and ladle into warm serving bowls, presenting a steaming, hearty Cajun-inspired soup.
Notes
- Chicken Selection: Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs for maximum flavor and easy cutting.
- Seasoning Intensity: Adjust Cajun seasoning based on personal spice tolerance, starting with less and adding more gradually.
- Rice Preparation: Use long-grain white rice for best texture, but brown rice works as a nutritious alternative for added fiber.
- Vegetable Variations: Swap bell peppers with carrots or add extra vegetables like zucchini for increased nutrition and color variety.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 22-26 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg