We’ve had some complaints about the rice being too mushy in the soup. The rice does absorb the liquid and becomes soft. You can see this in the recipe photo. I think it takes on the texture of a cooked pasta, which I think is good. The chicken, broth, vegetables, and spices in this soup are all delicious and cook beautifully in the slow cooker. If you are concerned about the rice, omit it from the slow cooker and stir in 2 to 3 cups cooked rice (brown, white, or wild) to the soup before you serve it.