Chicken Congee (Chinese Rice Porridge)

Chicken congee is one of the most comforting dishes in Chinese cuisine: soft, warm, nourishing, and incredibly cozy. This creamy rice porridge is cooked slowly in chicken broth until the rice breaks down completely and turns into a silky, spoonable bowl of comfort.

It is perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, cold days, sick days, or any day when you want something simple but deeply satisfying. Add grilled chicken, a fried egg, bok choy, green onions, sesame oil, and crunchy toppings — and you have the ultimate comfort food.

Ingredients

For the congee

• 1 cup white rice
• 8–10 cups chicken broth
• 1 small piece of fresh ginger, grated
• Salt, to taste

For serving

• Grilled or cooked chicken, sliced
• 1 fried egg per serving
• Bok choy, blanched or lightly sautéed
• Green onions, finely chopped
• Furikake
• Sesame seeds
• Sesame oil

Instructions

1. Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs mostly clear.
2. Place the rice in a large pot and add 8 cups of chicken broth.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently.
4. Cook for 1–1.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until the rice breaks down and the mixture becomes thick and creamy. Add more broth if you prefer a thinner congee.
5. Stir in the grated ginger and season with salt to taste.
6. Prepare the toppings: slice the chicken, fry the egg, and cook the bok choy.
7. Spoon the hot congee into bowls.
8. Top with chicken, fried egg, bok choy, green onions, furikake, sesame seeds, and a drizzle of sesame oil.
9. Serve hot and enjoy every spoonful.

Tips

• For a richer flavor, use homemade chicken broth.
• If the congee becomes too thick, simply add more broth or hot water.
• You can use leftover roasted, grilled, or boiled chicken.
• For extra creaminess, cook the congee longer and stir more often near the end.

Serving Ideas

Chicken congee is very flexible. You can serve it with chili oil, soy sauce, pickled vegetables, soft-boiled eggs, mushrooms, crispy garlic, or fresh herbs. It is a perfect base for whatever toppings you have at home.

Storage

Store leftover congee in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It will thicken as it cools, so add a little water or broth when reheating.