Start by heating the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the celery, carrots, and onion. Let these vegetables sauté for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to soften and become aromatic. This step helps bring out their natural sweetness and builds flavor in the pot.
Next, stir in the minced garlic and cook it for about a minute until fragrant. Then, sprinkle the flour over the vegetables. Stir constantly for another minute to allow the flour to cook and lose its raw taste. This forms a roux that will thicken your soup as it simmers.
Slowly pour in the chicken broth, stirring well and scraping the bottom of the pot to dissolve the flour. Stir in the Italian seasoning, uncooked jasmine rice, and the heavy cream. Raise the heat to high. Once the mixture begins to boil gently, stir it again, then reduce the heat to low and partially cover the pot. Let it simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking.
Now add the chicken breast pieces. Simmer the soup for another 7–10 minutes, or until both the chicken and rice are fully cooked. The chicken should be tender, and the rice soft. Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper as needed. Don’t be shy with seasoning—this is what ties all the flavors together.
This soup thickens as it sits, so if it becomes too dense for your liking, simply stir in a bit more chicken broth. If you're not serving it right away, you can cook the rice separately and add it just before serving to maintain the ideal texture. Serve hot with warm crusty bread or a green salad for a complete, comforting meal.