Loaded Vegetable and Rice Soup is the perfect healthy meal! Quick and easy to make, it will be a family staple!
With cooler weather I am always craving a delicious hearty soup. I love incorporating seasonal produce into my recipes, and when I saw butternut squash at the store, I knew I had to add it. Typically I would make vegetable soup with a few staples, carrots, celery, and onions, but using the butternut squash, zucchini, mushrooms, and fresh thyme, really took this soup to the next level. This loaded vegetable and rice soup will be a healthy family favorite!
Make some Easy Homemade Bread Bowls to enjoy with this delicious hearty soup!
This soup is also majorly healthy! If you feel like you need a vitamin and nutrient boost, this is the soup for you! You can definitely feel good about eating this meal!
How to make the Vegetable and Rice Soup:
**scroll down for full ingredients list and printable directions**
- Prep all of the vegetables and set aside.
- Using a large stock pot or Dutch oven, add butter and melt. Then add the onions, garlic, celery, and saute. Add the carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, butternut squash, salt, and pepper and saute.
- Add vegetable broth, water, and thyme leaves, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes.
- Add rice, cover and cook for 20-25 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Serve this soup hot in a delicious Homemade Bread Bowl!
How to make the soup in the Slow Cooker:
- Add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker except the rice.
- Cook on low for 7 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Add the rice to the slow cooker in the LAST HOUR of cooking.
- Stir and serve the loaded vegetable and rice soup.
How to Freeze the vegetable and rice soup:
Allow the soup to cool completely. Add the soup to a freezer safe zip lock bag or container. Freeze for up to 4 months. To defrost leave in the fridge overnight.
Like SOUP as much as I do? Try these other healthy soup recipes:
- Slow Cooker Vegetable Tortilla Soup
- Hamburger Soup (Instant Pot & Stove Top)
- Healthy Instant Pot Lasagna Soup (vegetarian and meat option)
- Instant Pot Loaded Cauliflower Soup (low carb)
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Instant Pot Thai Coconut Soup
Loaded Vegetable and Rice Soup is the perfect healthy meal! Quick and easy to make, it will be a family staple!
- 1 TBS butter
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves peeled and minced
- 3 celery stalks chopped
- 1 cup baby carrots sliced in half
- 1 medium zucchini sliced in half, then into ½ moons
- 8 ounces mushrooms roughly chopped
- 1 small butternut squash peeled, seeded, and chopped into bite sized cubes
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt plus more to taste
- 8 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth reduced sodium
- 1 cup water
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme leaves removed and stems discarded
- ½ cup Long Grain & Wild Rice
-
In a large stock pot or Dutch oven, add butter and melt over medium/high heat. Add onions, garlic, celery, and saute for 2 minutes. Add baby carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, butternut squash, salt, and pepper; saute for 2-3 more minutes.
-
Add vegetable broth, water, and thyme leaves, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes. Add rice, cover and cook for 20-25 minutes stirring occasionally.
-
Serve and enjoy!
First published September 2015. Updated December 2023.
Heather {Brie Brie Blooms} says
It's still pretty warm in Arizona but a good chicken soup always makes me feel like we are drifting further away from summer. Beautiful photos and an excellent recipe! #client
Kristi says
When you say 1/2c of the Uncle Ben's rice, is that the entire box? What about the seasoning packet?
Allyson says
So weird because I swear I noted this, but now i don't see it on here either! You could use 1/2 a cup, or the whole box. The whole box is just over 1/2 a cup, I would just add a little more water if you use it all. I wouldn't use the spice packet, but you could try it, if you feel like experimenting. It was really good with the other spices in the ingredients, so I don't think it needs the packet!
Melissa says
The most perfect soup! So much flavor and filling. Loved this!
Gina says
Ohhhhhh I'm always looking for a new cozy soup recipe. I can't wait to try this one. Loving the veggies and wild rice.
Chris says
Made this hearty vegetable soup today. So flavorful and comforting, perfect for chilly nights!
Allyson says
Yes! So happy you enjoyed it!
Beth says
This soup is one of the best I've made in a long time. To me, the best vegetable soup is the one that relies on the ingredients and not something fancy.
Sandra | A Dash of Sanity says
Definitely have to make this soup for dinner soon! Looks so good!
Erin | Dinners, Dishes and Dessert says
Looks really good! I would love to make this!
Catalina says
Loaded vegetable and rice soup is my go-to for a healthy and comforting meal! The variety of veggies and the heartiness from the rice—it's a bowl of goodness.
April says
Boy was this ever delicious! I swear there's nothing better than a hearty homemade soup, yum!
Natasha says
Loaded Vegetable and Rice Soup Is such a hearty and healthy dish! So much better than any vegetable soup out there.
Winniebear says
It's definitely soup season here in central Texas with temps in the teens (with wind chill). Can this be made in the crockpot and if so, what point do you add the rice?