Congee is the traditional Chinese rice porridge made by slowly simmering rice in a flavorful liquid base until the grains break down into a thick, creamy, porridge-like consistency. The traditional preparation uses chicken or pork broth as the base; the Dr. Kellyann version builds on Bone Broth Classic Chicken for the deeper protein and nutritional profile. Congee has been a daily breakfast and sick-day comfort food across China and other Asian cultures for thousands of years, prized for its gentle easily-digestible character. Dr. Kellyann's benefits of drinking bone broth for breakfast guide covers the morning framework.
After two decades of clinical practice, Dr. Kellyann observed that congee fits particularly well into Western daily rhythm as both a sick-day comfort food and a weekly rotation recipe for weekend breakfast or weeknight dinner. The slow-simmered preparation produces a result that reads as deeply nourishing while using relatively simple ingredients. The recipe below produces the traditional preparation adapted for daily Western kitchen use.
What Congee Is
Congee is defined by its texture: a thick, creamy, porridge-like consistency produced by cooking rice in significantly more liquid than typical rice preparation for a longer time. Where standard cooked rice uses a 2:1 liquid-to-rice ratio for 20 minutes, congee uses a 8:1 or 10:1 ratio for 1 to 2 hours. The extended cooking breaks down the rice grains, releases their starch, and produces the signature creamy texture.
The flavor base and toppings vary across regional and family traditions. The common thread: a quality liquid base, simple seasonings, and toppings that add protein, texture, and flavor variety to each bowl. Research indexed in NIH's PubMed database has explored the broader category of warm whole-grain preparations in daily eating patterns.
The Dr. Kellyann Chicken Congee Recipe
Ingredients (Serves 4 to 6)
1 cup jasmine or long-grain white rice. 10 cups Bone Broth Classic Chicken. 1 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into coins. 2 cups cooked shredded chicken. Toppings (choose any combination): sliced scallions, soft or hard-boiled egg, sliced soft-boiled egg, Chinese fried shallots, chopped cilantro, white pepper, soy sauce or tamari, sesame oil, fresh lime wedges, hot sauce or chili oil, pickled vegetables.
Method
Rinse the rice in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water until the water runs mostly clear. Combine rinsed rice, Bone Broth Classic Chicken, and ginger slices in a large pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer.
Simmer uncovered for 1 to 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot. The congee is ready when the rice grains have broken down and the mixture has a thick, creamy, porridge-like consistency. If too thick, add additional Bone Broth Classic Chicken to loosen. If too thin, simmer longer to reduce.
Add the shredded chicken in the final 5 minutes to warm through. Remove ginger slices before serving. Ladle into bowls and let each person add their preferred toppings. Serve immediately.
Why Bone Broth Elevates Traditional Congee
Traditional congee is made with water or thin stock as the base. Using Bone Broth Classic Chicken as the base meaningfully elevates the nutritional profile of the finished bowl. The concentrated protein and amino acids from bone broth produce a congee that delivers meaningful daily protein alongside the comforting rice base. For midlife women pursuing daily protein adequacy, this upgrade transforms congee from a low-protein breakfast into a protein-contributing meal.
The Cleveland Clinic has covered the role of warm breakfast preparations in daily eating patterns. The full Bone Broth collection provides flavor variety for different congee variations beyond the classic chicken version.
Variations
Beef Congee
Substitute Classic Beef Bone Broth for the chicken broth and use thinly sliced beef (added raw in the final 2 to 3 minutes to cook through) instead of chicken. The beef version is particularly popular for cold-weather and more substantial preparations.
Breakfast Congee
Simplify the toppings for a breakfast context: one soft-boiled egg, sliced scallions, a drizzle of sesame oil, and a splash of soy sauce. This produces a breakfast congee that is quick to prepare and nourishing for the morning. For women pursuing protein-forward breakfast, add additional shredded chicken or an extra egg to boost the per-meal protein target.
Sick-Day Congee
Simplify further for sick-day preparation: just the congee base, ginger slices left in longer for the warming spice, and minimal toppings (scallions and a drizzle of sesame oil). The gentle easily-digestible texture fits the compromised appetite of someone fighting a cold while providing hydration and nutritional support. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Nutrition Source has covered daily eating patterns during illness in the broader dietary guidance.
Vegetarian Congee
Substitute vegetable broth for the bone broth and omit the chicken. Add roasted mushrooms, braised greens, or tofu as the protein-forward topping. This produces a vegetarian version that fits plant-based eating patterns while maintaining the comforting congee character.
Storage and Reheating
Congee stores well in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days. It will continue thickening during storage as the rice absorbs more liquid. Reheat gently on the stovetop with additional Bone Broth Classic Chicken or water to restore the original creamy consistency.
For meal prep, prepare a large batch of plain congee base on Sunday and portion into individual containers. Add fresh toppings each morning for breakfast variety through the week. This produces 5 to 7 breakfast portions from a single preparation session.
Making Congee a Weekly Rotation
For women incorporating congee into weekly rotation, Sunday batch preparation makes sense as the practical anchor. One large pot provides breakfast or dinner portions through much of the week. The topping variety keeps the daily consumption fresh. Dr. Kellyann's guide on benefits of drinking bone broth for breakfast covers the morning framework that congee fits particularly well. The Dr. Kellyann Bone Broth Diet 21-day framework integrates recipes like congee as weekly rotation options that support the broader framework.
When to See a Doctor
Cold or flu symptoms warranting medical evaluation include high fever (over 103 degrees), difficulty breathing, severe or persistent symptoms beyond expected timeframes, dehydration signs, or symptoms unusual for your typical illness pattern. Congee is comfort food during illness; it does not replace medical evaluation when symptoms warrant care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is congee?
Congee is a traditional Chinese rice porridge made by slowly simmering rice in a flavorful liquid base until the grains break down into a thick, creamy, porridge-like consistency. The traditional preparation uses an 8:1 or 10:1 liquid-to-rice ratio cooked for 1 to 2 hours, producing the signature creamy texture. Congee has been a daily breakfast and sick-day comfort food across China and other Asian cultures for thousands of years, prized for its gentle easily-digestible character.
How do you make chicken congee with Bone Broth Classic Chicken?
Combine 1 cup rinsed jasmine rice with 10 cups Bone Broth Classic Chicken and 1 inch sliced ginger. Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for 1 to 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally. Add shredded chicken in the final 5 minutes. Serve topped with scallions, soft-boiled egg, cilantro, sesame oil, and other preferred toppings. The Bone Broth Classic Chicken base elevates the traditional preparation with meaningful daily protein and nutritional profile.
Is Bone Broth Classic Chicken congee good when you have a cold?
Yes, chicken congee is one of the most traditional sick-day comfort foods across Asian cultures, prized for its gentle easily-digestible character that fits compromised sick-day appetites. The Bone Broth Classic Chicken base provides warm hydration and nutritional support during illness. For sick-day preparation, simplify the toppings to just scallions and a drizzle of sesame oil. See a doctor if symptoms warrant evaluation; congee is comfort food during illness, not treatment.
How long does congee take to make?
Traditional congee takes 1 to 1.5 hours of simmering time to produce the signature creamy texture, though active preparation time is minimal (about 10 minutes to rinse rice, combine ingredients, and set to simmer). For meal prep, prepare a large batch of plain congee base on Sunday and portion into individual containers; add fresh toppings each morning for breakfast variety through the week. This produces 5 to 7 portions from a single preparation session.