Hungry but broke? We’ve all been there. This 5-minute meal costs under $2 and turns basic pantry staples into something warm and filling.
No stove? No problem. Your microwave transforms canned soup and rice into a hearty dish faster than delivery apps can process your order.
We’ll show you how to upgrade canned soup with rice for maximum flavor and texture without breaking a sweat (or the bank).
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Cheap Microwave Canned Soup with Rice
Recipe by Lisa MartinCourse: Main CourseCuisine: Fusion2
5
minutes8
minutes250
kcal15
minutesIf you're looking for a quick meal that doesn’t require a lot of effort, this microwave canned soup with rice is your go-to solution. It combines the convenience of canned soup with the heartiness of rice, making for a comforting bowl that feels like home-cooked goodness. This recipe is not just easy to make, but it is also budget-friendly, perfect for students or anyone looking to save!
Ingredients
of your favorite soup such as chicken noodle or vegetable
cooked rice white or brown
water
salt and pepper to taste
toppings (such as shredded cheese
croutons
or herbs).
Directions
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the canned soup and cooked rice.
- Stir in 1/2 cup of water for desired consistency.
- Heat the mixture in the microwave on high for 4-5 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking to ensure even heating.
- Carefully remove the bowl from the microwave, as it will be hot.
- Stir the soup and rice mixture well.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste, then top with optional toppings like shredded cheese, croutons, or herbs if desired.
- Let it cool for a minute before serving, and enjoy your quick meal!.
Notes
- Feel free to customize this recipe by adding leftover vegetables or protein to the soup mixture before heating. If you prefer a creamier soup, you can add a splash of milk or cream after cooking. This recipe can be easily doubled for larger servings or leftovers, and it’s an excellent way to use pantry staples.
Can You Microwave Canned Soup With Rice?
Absolutely! Microwaving canned soup with rice works like magic. Just transfer the soup to a microwave-safe bowl first. Those metal cans? They’re microwave kryptonite and will spark like my aunt Clarice’s campfire ghost stories at summer camp.
We’ve tested everything from chicken noodle to tomato basil. Broth-based soups heat evenly in 2-3 minutes. Creamy ones? Stir every 60 seconds to prevent that “lava meets glacier” texture. Pro tip: Add cooked rice after microwaving to keep grains springy, not soggy.
Ingredients for Microwave Canned Soup With Rice
Canned Soup & Rice Basics
You need three things: 1 can of soup (10.5-14 oz), ½ cup cooked rice, and a microwave-safe container. My mom Linda swore by dollar-store microwavable bowls—they’re still my go-to for portion control. To make a quick meal even more comforting, consider pairing your soup with a cheap microwave canned soup bread bowl. This combination can elevate a simple dish into a warm and satisfying meal that’s both easy and budget-friendly.
Instant rice reigns supreme here. Minute Rice or leftover takeout packets work better than stubborn long-grain varieties. For soup, stick with chunk-free options unless you enjoy chewing microwaved carrot coins for three minutes. In the realm of quick meals, lazy microwave canned chicken instant rice emerges as a perfect choice for effortless meal preparation. With just a few minutes in the microwave, it offers a convenient and tasty solution for those busy days.
Affordable Substitutes & Alternatives
Out of rice? Toss in crushed saltines or stale bread cubes. They thicken broth just like rice and rescue meals when the pantry’s bare. Aunt Clarice once used Fritos at camp—shockingly decent.
Swap pricier name-brand soups for store versions. Add flavor with freebies: ketchup packets for tang, coffee creamer for richness (trust us), or hot sauce from last week’s pizza delivery. For a convenient meal option, consider adding cheap microwave canned soup or instant freekeh for a nutritious boost.
Ready to turn these ingredients into edible magic? Let’s nuke that soup like a pro…
How to Make Canned Soup With Rice in the Microwave
Let’s turn that sad desk lunch into a triumph. I’ve burned enough soup bowls to perfect this method—follow these steps for a 10/10 result every time.
Step-by-step Instructions
- Dump & Stir: Pour your canned soup into a microwave-safe bowl (minimum 4-cup capacity). Mix in ¼ cup uncooked instant rice—or ½ cup cooked rice if you’re using leftovers.
- Nuke Smart: Microwave on high 2 minutes for broth-based soups, 3 minutes for creamy ones. Pause halfway to stir. Watch for volcanic tomato splatters—they’re the reason my office microwave has abstract “art” on its walls.
- Rest & Test: Let it sit 1 minute. Rice absorbs liquid as it cools. Check texture—if too crunchy, zap in 30-second bursts until tender.
Common Mistakes &Amp; How to Fix Them
Mushy Rice Syndrome: Caused by overcooking. Solution? Add cooked rice after microwaving the soup. My roommate in college learned this after creating rice cement that could’ve patched our crumbling dorm walls.
Soup Tsunamis: Overfilled bowls bubble over. Use a container twice the soup’s volume. If it spills, sprinkle baking soda on the mess before wiping—prevents that burnt broth smell.
Tips for Better Texture &Amp; Flavor
Crunchy add-ins post-microwave save lives. Try:
- Smashed ramen noodles (uncooked)
- Leftover french fries as croutons
- A squeeze of lemon from yesterday’s takeout fish
Flavor Hack: Stir in 1 tsp soy sauce or ½ tsp garlic powder before heating. It’s like giving your soup a tiny umbrella drink by the pool.
Also See: Quick Microwave Honey Sriracha Edamame: Ready in Minutes
What Does Canned Soup With Rice Taste Like?
Imagine your childhood chicken soup got a glow-up. The rice softens the soup’s salty punch while adding comforting heft. Broth-based versions taste lighter—think chicken noodle’s chill cousin. Creamy soups become risotto’s lazy sibling, all velvety starch without the arm workout. For a truly effortless meal, lazy microwave canned chicken noodle soup is a perfect choice, providing warmth and nostalgia in minutes.
My first attempt tasted like “regret with a side of sodium,” but nailing the rice-to-soup ratio makes it sing. Add a fried egg on top, and suddenly you’re a brunch influencer.
Also See: Quick & Delicious: Easy 2-minute Ginger Broccoli

Choosing Canned Soup for Microwaving
Not all soups survive the nuke. Avoid anything labeled “chunky” unless you enjoy chewing lukewarm celery chunks that defy physics by being both rubbery and crunchy.
Broth-based Vs. Creamy Soups
Broth soups (chicken noodle, minestrone) heat evenly in 2 minutes. Creamy ones (tomato bisque, clam chowder) need babysitting—stir every 60 seconds to prevent a skin thicker than my winter duvet. To keep toppings crunchy while reheating, try the lid trick. This simple method helps maintain that perfect texture we all love in our soups.
Pro tip: Add a splash of milk to creamy soups post-microwave. It revives their texture better than my morning coffee revives my will to adult.
Low-sodium &Amp; Flavor-boosting Options
Store-brand low-sodium soups cost 30% less but taste like dishwater. Fix them with: For a quick and satisfying meal, consider enhancing them with a few simple ingredients. You can easily transform a bland soup into a delicious microwave soup recipe that warms you up in minutes.
- 1 tsp vinegar (apple cider or white)
- ½ tsp onion powder
- A Parmesan cheese rind (freeze them from takeout)
My food-scientist friend Dave confirms acid + fat = flavor sorcery. Use this power wisely.
Now that we’ve mastered soup selection, let’s talk about the rice that’ll make or break your microwave masterpiece…
Choosing the Right Rice for Microwave Cooking
Rice can make or break your soup. We learned this the hard way after a dorm-room incident involving undercooked jasmine rice and a fire alarm. Let’s save you from similar drama.
Quick-cooking Rice Varieties
Instant rice is your microwave’s best friend. Minute Rice or pre-steamed jasmine varieties cook in 90 seconds flat. Avoid wild or brown rice—they’re as stubborn as my cousin’s 1998 Nokia phone and need 20+ minutes to soften. For quick meals, knowing how to make Minute Rice in the microwave is an efficient cooking hack that saves time and effort. This method allows you to enjoy fluffy rice without the wait.
For texture nerds: Try basmati. Its long grains stay separated in broth better than clingy short-grain types. Just don’t tell Nonna we’re microwaving her sacred risotto rice.
Precooked Vs. Uncooked Rice
Precooked rice (think takeout leftovers) saves time but can turn mushy. Add it after microwaving the soup to preserve texture. Uncooked instant rice? Toss it in raw—it’ll absorb broth flavors like a sponge. Pro tip: ¼ cup uncooked rice per can of soup prevents the dreaded “rice cement” texture. Cheap microwave canned soup combined with instant rice noodles makes for a quick and satisfying meal that’s perfect for busy days.
Recipe Variations for Microwave Soup &Amp; Rice
Boredom is the enemy of budget meals. These three twists kept me sane during my “ramen-and-rent” years. Each costs under $3 and uses pantry staples.
Vegetarian Microwave Soup With Rice
Swap chicken broth for veggie stock. Add frozen peas or diced carrots (they’ll thaw while heating). Secret weapon: A spoonful of peanut butter adds creaminess rivaling pricier cashew creams. Microwave 2 minutes, stir, then top with sriracha for a sweet-heat kick.
Creamy Chicken &Amp; Rice Microwave Combo
Mix canned cream of chicken soup with ¼ cup uncooked instant rice. Microwave 3 minutes, stirring halfway. Stir in a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt post-nuke for tangy richness. Bonus points for crushed Ritz crackers—they’re the edible glitter of poverty cuisine. When looking for quick, affordable meals, microwave options like canned soup and instant rice can be incredibly satisfying and economical.
Spicy Tomato &Amp; Rice Microwave Soup
Combine canned tomato soup with ½ tsp chili powder and ¼ cup instant rice. Microwave 2 minutes. Top with shredded cheddar and microwave 30 seconds more for gooey goodness. It’s like pizza in a bowl, minus the $30 DoorDash fee. For an even creamier option, consider making creamy tomato soup in a one-pot microwave. It’s a quick and delicious way to enjoy a warm bowl of comfort food.
Now that you’ve got rice wisdom and recipe hacks, let’s tackle the real MVP move: storing leftovers without growing a science experiment in your fridge…
Now It’s Your Turn to Try!
We’ve covered everything from choosing the right canned soup to mastering microwave timing for perfect rice texture. Whether you’re craving a creamy chicken combo or a spicy tomato kick, this budget-friendly meal adapts to your taste.
Grab your favorite soup can, pick a rice variety, and let your microwave do the heavy lifting. Just remember to stir halfway through cooking to avoid uneven heating. Your cozy, filling bowl of comfort is minutes away!


