Place the diced chicken pieces in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add the salt, Italian seasoning, mustard powder, paprika and chili flakes and stir to coat the chicken. Set aside.
1 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces, 1 tsp. kosher salt, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, 1/4 tsp. mustard powder, 1/4 tsp. paprika, 1/4 tsp. chili flakes
Heat a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Melt the butter and then add in the onions, carrots and celery. Add kosher salt to taste. Saute, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for another 30 seconds or so.
3 Tbsp. butter, unsalted, 1 medium yellow onion, diced, 3 large carrots, peeled and diced, 3 stalks celery, diced, 4 cloves garlic, minced
Add the seasoned chicken pieces and cook until no longer pink. Then stir in the thyme and rosemary.
1 Tbsp. fresh thyme, chopped, 1 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
Add the flour and stir to coat the vegetables and chicken pieces.
1/4 cup all purpose flour
Slowly pour in the chicken broth, half & half, soy sauce and hot sauce. Then add in the rice and stir. Turn the heat up to medium-high to bring to a boil and then turn the heat back down to low to simmer the soup until the rice cooks and the soup thickens, ~15-20 minutes. Be sure to stir frequently so the rice doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot.
6 cups chicken broth, 1 cup half and half, 1 Tbsp. soy sauce, 1 Tbsp. hot sauce, 1 cup long grain white rice, uncooked
Note: Since this soup is made with the rice cooked directly in the soup, the rice absorbs a lot of the broth and the starch released from the rice thickens the soup. Add more broth or water as desired to thin out the soup, especially when reheating leftovers.
Taste the soup, add more hot sauce, salt, pepper, etc. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with shaved Parmesan, black pepper and fresh parsley and enjoy.
garnish: Parmesan cheese, black pepper, fresh parsley, salt and pepper, to taste