Cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, instant white rice, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper—that’s all you need to make 5 ingredients Souper Rice.
Let me tell you something I probably shouldn’t admit as someone who writes about food: I didn’t mean for this to be a recipe. It was one of those nights when nothing was going right. I’d been on hold with the dentist for an hour (seriously, why is it always the dentist?), my kid was loudly protesting vegetables, and I was about five minutes from crying into a sleeve of saltines.
I opened the pantry with no plan whatsoever and found a can of cream of chicken soup that I swear had been there since we moved in. There was also a box of instant rice. Not fancy rice. Not jasmine or basmati or anything aspirational. Just—white rice. The five-minute kind. Honestly, I didn’t even expect it to work. I threw it all in a saucepan with a bit of chicken broth and a dash of pepper, tossed in some Parm because… why not, and crossed my fingers.
I didn’t expect much. But what I got was warm, creamy, comforting, and oddly nostalgic. Like something your grandma might’ve made… if she had TikTok and no time. And now? 5 Ingredients Souper Rice is the thing I make when I need dinner to be easy and feel like a hug.
Why You’ll Love This 5 ingredients Souper Rice Recipe?
You know when something is so simple you almost don’t trust it? That’s this recipe. It’s like—how can five pantry ingredients turn into something that tastes this good? I’ve made it more times than I can count, and it’s still a little surprising every time.
What I love most is how low the stakes are. If you mess it up, it’s just rice. But when it goes right—which it usually does—it’s creamy, cheesy, cozy, and just weirdly satisfying. It’s not glamorous. No one’s posting this on a marble countertop with a drizzle of truffle oil. But it hits that comfort button that not many things do.
And it doesn’t ask anything of you. You stir, you wait, you eat. That’s the whole thing. Which… sometimes? Is exactly what you need.
Ingredient Notes:
This isn’t a long list. You probably have most of this already. If not, your nearest gas station mini mart might. And that’s kinda the beauty of it.
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Cream of Chicken Soup – Yes, that soup. The old-school canned stuff. I’ve used unsalted and regular. Both work. The 98% fat-free version is fine too. It’s your base, your binder, and your built-in seasoning.
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Chicken Broth – Gives it a little flavor depth and thins the soup out so it’s not just… glop. I tend to use low-sodium so I can add salt later if it needs it (it usually doesn’t).
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Instant White Rice – This is not the moment for fancy rice. This is the moment for rice that’s ready in 5 minutes and makes you feel like you cheated the system.
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Parmesan Cheese – I’ve used everything from the green can to freshly grated. Is one better? Sure. But honestly, it’s good no matter what. A little salty, a little nutty, and it melts right in.
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Black Pepper – Just a dash gives it a little something-something. I’ve overdone it a few times, and it still wasn’t bad.
How To Make 5 ingredients Souper Rice?
Step 1: Warm it up.
Grab a saucepan. Pour in the cream of chicken soup and chicken broth. Stir it around a bit and let it heat up over medium-high. Not boiling. Just warm enough that it starts to bubble at the edges and look like it’s ready for something good to happen.
Step 2: Dump in the good stuff.
Take it off the heat. Stir in the rice, Parmesan, and that little dash of pepper. Give it a good mix. No drama here. Just make sure the rice is coated and cozy.
Step 3: Lid on. Forget about it.
Cover the pot. Move it off the heat and just… leave it alone for 5 to 8 minutes. This is where the magic happens. The rice soaks it all up, the flavors mingle, and it all settles into something really comforting. You can peek early if you want—I won’t tell.
Step 4: Fluff and eat.
Remove the lid, fluff it with a fork, taste it. That’s it. You did it. You made 5 ingredients Souper Rice and you didn’t even break a sweat.
Want To Save This Recipe?
Storage Options:
If by some miracle you don’t eat the whole thing in one sitting, toss it in a container and stick it in the fridge. It’ll last 2–3 days easy. Just add a splash of broth or water when you reheat it to loosen things back up. It won’t be quite as creamy the next day, but it’s still a solid lunch.
Variations and Substitutions:
There are days when I stick to the five ingredients and call it good. There are other nights when I look in the fridge and think… can this go in rice? Spoiler: it usually can.
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Add protein: Leftover chicken, rotisserie turkey, crumbled bacon, or even canned tuna.
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Toss in veggies: Frozen peas, corn, chopped spinach… whatever needs using up.
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Use different soup: Cream of mushroom or celery works too. So does cheddar, weirdly.
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Change the rice: Brown rice is okay, just needs longer to absorb. Or try a wild rice mix if you’re feeling wild (ha).
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Spice it up: Add hot sauce, sriracha, or red pepper flakes. Especially if you’re eating it straight out of the pot while watching Netflix.
What to Serve with 5 ingredients Souper Rice?
Honestly? I usually eat it by itself in a big bowl, sometimes while sitting on the floor, balancing my dinner on a laundry basket. But if you’re making dinner for more than one…
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Rotisserie chicken – Add some roasted veggies and boom, full meal.
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Green beans or broccoli – Steamed or roasted. Doesn’t matter. It’s the effort that counts.
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A fried egg on top – Trust me. The yolk plus the rice? Unreal.
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Garlic bread or a biscuit – Carbs on carbs. Say no more.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I use regular rice?
Not without changing the method. It takes longer and needs more liquid. If that’s what you’ve got, it’s doable… but you’ll have to babysit it more.
Is this gluten-free?
It can be. Just check your soup and broth labels. Some have sneaky gluten.
Can I freeze it?
You can, but it does get a little mushier after thawing. Not bad, just different. I usually eat it fresh or within a couple days.
Look, this isn’t a revolutionary recipe. But sometimes you don’t need revolutionary. Sometimes you just need 5 ingredients Souper Rice and the tiniest bit of peace at the end of a long day.
If you try it—and I really think you should—tell me how it goes. Add your twist. Eat it for breakfast. Mix in hot sauce and crushed chips. Make it yours. I’d honestly love to hear about it.
Let’s be real—this kind of cozy deserves to be shared.
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
Keep the Flavor Coming – Try These:
5 ingredients Souper Rice
Ingredients
- 1 10.5-ounce can Unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup (can use 98% fat free)
- 1½ cups chicken broth
- 1½ cups uncooked instant white rice
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese green can or fresh
- Dash of freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Take a saucepan and heat a can of cream of chicken soup and chicken broth, over medium-high heat until they bubble together in harmony.
- Add rice, Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of black pepper, to the mix. Stir everything together until they become cozy and well acquainted.
- Put a lid on the pan, remove it from the heat and let all those flavors mingle for 5 to 8 minutes. Imagine this as that moment before a surprise. When you finally lift that lid you'll be greeted with cooked rice and an irresistible aroma.
- Spoon this symphony onto your plate. Every bite is proof of the magic that happens when a few ingredients effortlessly come together. Dive in. Savor the joy of 5 Ingredients Souper Rice!
Notes
I’m Bitty, owner of nodashofgluten.com, where I share simple, delicious recipes for all tastes, including gluten-free. Check out my “About Me” page for more info!
