Warm up with a bowl of this comforting creamy chicken and wild rice soup, packed with tender chicken and hearty wild rice for a satisfying meal.
This recipe is designed for busy weeknights, offering a delicious and filling option that comes together without a lot of fuss. It’s a true family favorite, perfect for chasing away a chill or simply enjoying a wholesome dinner.
You’ll find this creamy chicken and wild rice soup to be a delightful addition to your meal rotation. It’s a dish that feels both indulgent and nourishing, making it a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a comforting yet easy-to-prepare dinner.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Warm up with a bowl of this comforting creamy chicken and wild rice soup, packed with tender chicken and hearty wild rice for a satisfying meal. This recipe is designed for busy weeknights, offering a delicious and filling option that comes together without a lot of fuss. It’s a true family favorite, perfect for chasing away a chill or simply enjoying a wholesome dinner.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. 1. Saute the aromatics: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped yellow onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften and the onion becomes translucent.
2. 2. Add the garlic and seasonings: Stir in the minced garlic and dried thyme. Cook for another minute until the garlic is fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
3. 3. Create the roux: Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the cooked vegetables. Stir constantly for 1-2 minutes, allowing the flour to cook slightly and form a paste with the oil and vegetable juices. This is your roux, which will thicken the soup.
4. 4. Whisk in the broth: Gradually pour in the chicken broth, whisking continuously to prevent lumps from forming. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, until the soup begins to thicken slightly, which should take about 5 minutes.
5. 5. Incorporate chicken and rice: Add the cooked wild rice blend and shredded or diced cooked chicken to the pot. Stir everything together and let it simmer for another 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the ingredients to heat through.
6. 6. Finish with cream and seasoning: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream. Season with black pepper and salt to taste. Continue to stir gently for 2-3 minutes, just until the soup is heated through but not boiling, as boiling can cause the cream to separate.
7. 7. Serve and garnish: Ladle the hot soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired, for a touch of freshness and color.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: simmer
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Keywords: chicken, wild rice, soup, creamy, comfort food, easy, weeknight, family friendly, poultry, dinner
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This creamy chicken and wild rice soup is a winner for so many reasons. First, it’s incredibly comforting and satisfying, making it ideal for a cozy family dinner or a hearty lunch. The combination of tender chicken, earthy wild rice, and a rich, creamy broth creates a flavor profile that appeals to almost everyone, even picky eaters. It’s a fantastic way to use up leftover cooked chicken, which significantly cuts down on preparation time, making it perfect for those hectic weeknights when you need a delicious meal on the table fast. This recipe is also very forgiving and adaptable, allowing for simple substitutions based on what you have on hand. It’s a dish that truly delivers on flavor and warmth without demanding hours in the kitchen, making it a go-to for busy parents, individuals looking for easy meal prep, or anyone craving a wholesome, delicious soup.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Gathering your ingredients before you start cooking is a great way to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience. This recipe uses common pantry staples and fresh produce that are easy to find at any grocery store.
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup cooked wild rice blend
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Salt to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
For the chicken, you can easily use a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, which makes this recipe even quicker. If you’re cooking chicken specifically for this soup, boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs work wonderfully. Simply boil or bake them until cooked through, then shred or dice. The wild rice blend often comes with other long-grain rice varieties, which adds a nice texture and flavor complexity to the soup. If you only have plain wild rice, that will work perfectly too. For the vegetables, feel free to use a pre-chopped mirepoix mix from the produce section to save even more time. Any brand of chicken broth will do, but a low-sodium option allows you to control the saltiness of the soup more easily.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This creamy chicken and wild rice soup is designed to be a quick and efficient meal, perfect for fitting into a busy schedule.
- Preparation time: 15 minutes
- Cooking time: 20 minutes
- Total time: 35 minutes
These times assume you are starting with pre-cooked chicken and wild rice. If you need to cook the chicken and rice from scratch, you’ll need to factor in that additional time, but even then, this recipe remains a relatively fast option for a homemade meal.
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Making this creamy chicken and wild rice soup is straightforward. Follow these steps for a delicious and comforting meal.
- Sauté the aromatics: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped yellow onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften and the onion becomes translucent. You’ll see the colors brighten and the vegetables become tender.
- Add the garlic and seasonings: Stir in the minced garlic and dried thyme. Cook for another minute until the garlic is fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can turn bitter quickly.
- Create the roux: Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the cooked vegetables. Stir constantly for 1-2 minutes, allowing the flour to cook slightly and form a paste with the oil and vegetable juices. This is your roux, which will thicken the soup.
- Whisk in the broth: Gradually pour in the chicken broth, whisking continuously to prevent lumps from forming. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, until the soup begins to thicken slightly, which should take about 5 minutes.
- Incorporate chicken and rice: Add the cooked wild rice blend and shredded or diced cooked chicken to the pot. Stir everything together and let it simmer for another 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the ingredients to heat through.
- Finish with cream and seasoning: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream. Season with black pepper and salt to taste. Continue to stir gently for 2-3 minutes, just until the soup is heated through but not boiling, as boiling can cause the cream to separate.
- Serve and garnish: Ladle the hot soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired, for a touch of freshness and color.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This creamy chicken and wild rice soup is wonderfully versatile, making it easy to adapt to your family’s preferences or what you have on hand. For a kid-friendly twist, you can cut the carrots into fun shapes or use smaller pasta shapes like ditalini instead of some of the wild rice for a different texture. If you have extra vegetables, feel free to toss them in – frozen peas, corn, or chopped mushrooms would all be delicious additions. For a heartier soup, you could add some diced potatoes or sweet potatoes along with the other vegetables in the initial sautéing step.
Serving this soup is simple. It’s a complete meal on its own, but it pairs beautifully with a crusty bread for dipping, a side salad for a lighter contrast, or even some warm biscuits. For a party or buffet, keep the soup warm in a slow cooker on the “warm” setting, allowing guests to serve themselves. Offer a small bowl of fresh parsley, croutons, or a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese as optional toppings for an extra touch. You can also add a dash of hot sauce for those who like a little kick.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have small pitfalls. Being aware of these common mistakes can help ensure your creamy chicken and wild rice soup turns out perfectly every time.
One frequent mistake is overcooking the cream. When you add the heavy cream, it’s important to reduce the heat to low and simply heat the soup through without bringing it to a rolling boil. Boiling cream can cause it to curdle or separate, leading to a grainy texture. Stir gently and remove from heat once it’s warmed.
Another common issue is lumpy soup when adding the flour. To avoid this, make sure you whisk the flour into the vegetables thoroughly to create a smooth roux before gradually adding the chicken broth. Whisk continuously as you pour in the broth, starting with a small amount to make a smooth paste, then adding the rest. This helps dissolve the flour evenly and prevents lumps.
Undercooked vegetables can also be a problem. Ensure you sauté the onions, carrots, and celery long enough in the first step – about 5-7 minutes – until they are tender-crisp. This allows them to soften and release their flavors into the soup. Don’t rush this initial step.
Finally, not seasoning adequately can lead to a bland soup. Taste the soup after adding the cream and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. Remember that different brands of chicken broth vary in their sodium content, so always taste and adjust at the end. A pinch of extra salt can make a huge difference in bringing out all the flavors.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
This creamy chicken and wild rice soup is fantastic for meal prep and leftovers, but proper storage and reheating are key to maintaining its delicious texture.
To store leftovers, allow the soup to cool completely to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
When reheating, gently warm the soup on the stovetop over low to medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. If the soup has thickened considerably in the fridge, you might want to add a splash of extra chicken broth or even a little milk or cream to thin it back to your desired consistency. Avoid reheating at a high boil, especially if you added cream, as this can cause the soup to separate. Microwave reheating is also an option; heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until warmed through.
Making this soup ahead is a great idea for busy days. You can prepare the entire soup as directed, cool it, and store it in the refrigerator. The flavors often deepen overnight, making it even more delicious the next day. If you plan to freeze the soup, it’s best to omit
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
