Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup Recipe

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Creamy Chicken wild rice soup is one of our favorite soups, it is perfect for when you need a cozy soup for a cold winter night. This delicious soup can be made as a triple batch and somehow taste better each time you warm it. My family enjoys it plain, but when I'm feeling extra, I'll serve it with sourdough bread to elevate the meal. 

Recipe Overview: Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup Recipe

  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Baking Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • 🍞 Serving: 12
  • Calories: 566 calories per serving
  • 🍂 Flavor Profile: Rich and comforting, with tender chicken, nutty wild rice, and a creamy, savory broth seasoned with herbs.
  • 👌 Difficulty: Easy — straightforward for home cooks looking for a hearty, satisfying soup.

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This creamy chicken wild rice soup is the ultimate comfort food. It is super easy to make, and it is a great option to have for dinner and then reheat the next day or two for lunches. We are a homeschool family, so coming up with lunches every day is a challenge of its own, it requires a lot of thinking ahead. Soups come in super handy for us even outside of soup season, and the easy warm up and cleanup is a bonus. 

It does take an hour or more to cook this soup because wild rice takes longer to cook. I am using leftover shredded chicken so that's a step less I have to do. I'll also include a section below on how you can add chicken if you don't have any leftover. You can totally skip the chicken too. I used to make this creamy soup as a side dish to dinner, but the past few times I just thought since it's almost a whole meal on its own, why not just throw some chicken in as protein and have it as your meal.

cooked wild rice

Ingredients for Creamy Wild Rice Soup:

  • 4-6 cups cooked wild rice
  • 8 strips of bacon
  • 4 large carrots
  • 1 onion
  • 4 stalks celery
  • 2 quarts chicken stock
  • fresh thyme, sage, rosemary, parsley (dried herbs work just fine)
  • salt and pepper
  • garlic powder
  • all-purpose flour
  • whole milk
  • heavy cream
  • shredded cheese
  • cooked shredded chicken
chicken soup on a spoon

How to make Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup:

  1. Start by cooking the wild rice according to the package instructions. When it is ready, pour it over a drain. 
  2. Dice carrots, onion and celery. 
  3. In your large dutch oven over medium heat, sauté the bacon until it is crisp around the edges. 
  4. Leaving the bacon fat in with the bacon, add your chopped onions, celery and carrots. If you are using leftover bacon, do add another oil like olive oil or butter. 
  5. Add fresh herbs generously.
  6. Add a teaspoon of black pepper, tbls of salt, and a tbls of garlic powder. 
  7. Let that sauté for a couple minutes, just to give the vegetables a head start.      
  8. Add your broth and wild rice and let it come to a boil. Turn it back and let it simmer for about 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. 
  9. Whisk the flour and the cold milk together in a separate bowl until its clump-free. When the soup is at a boil/simmer, pour in your flour mixture. 
  10. Let that come to a simmer again, you should be able to see that it has thickened up a bit. 
  11. Add your shredded cheese now, and your chicken.
  12. Turn off the heat and add the heavy cream. 
  13. Stir, serve and enjoy a bowl of divine nourishment.

How to prepare chicken for this soup if you don't have leftover chicken:

Take 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, trim them and cube them into small pieces. After you add your broth and wild rice to your large soup pot, add the diced raw chicken in too and let that cook for about 15-20 minutes instead of 10. You could also use shredded rotisserie chicken. 

pouring milk into soup

FAQ

Can I use different types of rice?

Yes! Wild rice works especially well because it holds its texture. Brown or white rice will also work—just cook them according to their package directions before adding. I don’t recommend quick-cooking rice since it can turn mushy.

Can I make this in a crock pot or slow cooker?

Yes. Cook the rice separately first, then add it to the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients (except the cream and cheese). Cook on low for 4–6 hours, then stir in the cream and cheese at the end until melted and smooth.

Can I make this dairy-free?

Absolutely. Skip the cheese and cream and use coconut milk instead for a creamy, dairy-free version.

How should I serve this soup?

It’s hearty enough on its own, but it’s especially good with crusty sourdough bread or a simple green salad if you want something lighter.

How do I store leftovers?

Store in the fridge in an airtight container for several days. The rice will continue to absorb liquid, so add a splash of broth or water when reheating if it thickens too much.

Can I freeze this soup?

Yes! Let it cool completely, then freeze in airtight containers. When reheating, you may need to add a little broth and adjust seasoning to bring the flavor back.

bowls of chicken wild rice soup

Other soup recipes you will enjoy:

Lightened-up bacon cheeseburger soup

Easy taco soup recipe {and what to serve with it}

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creamy chicken wild rice soup
chicken wild rice soup

Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup Recipe

Packed with herbs, nutty wild rice, veggies and chicken, this soup is everything you need to warm up on a chilly day.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 566 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large dutch oven
  • 1 Medium bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 4-6 cups cooked wild rice drained
  • 4 large carrots chopped
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 4 stalks celery chopped
  • 2 quarts chicken stock
  • 1 tbls sage, thyme, rosemary, parsley fresh or dried
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • cup flour
  • 1 ¾ cup milk
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup shredded cheese cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups chicken cooked and chopped
  • 8 strips bacon chopped

Instructions
 

  • Start by cooking the wild rice according to the package instructions. When it is ready, pour it over a drain.
  • Dice carrots, onion and celery.
  • In your large dutch oven over medium heat, sauté the bacon until it is crisp around the edges.
  • Leaving the bacon fat in with the bacon, add your chopped onions, celery and carrots. If you are using leftover bacon, do add another oil like olive oil or butter.
  • Add fresh herbs generously.
  • Add a teaspoon of black pepper, tbls of salt, and a tbls of garlic powder.
  • Let that sauté for a couple minutes, just to give the vegetables a head start.
  • Add your broth and wild rice and let it come to a boil. Turn it back and let it simmer for about 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
  • Whisk the flour and the cold milk together in a separate bowl until its clump-free. When the soup is at a boil/simmer, pour in your flour mixture.
  • Let that come to a simmer again, you should be able to see that it has thickened up a bit.
  • Add your shredded cheese now, and your chicken.
  • Turn off the heat and add the heavy cream.
  • Stir, serve and enjoy a bowl of divine nourishment.

Notes

What to serve with this:

Sometimes I serve it just plain, but there's nothing plain about it. When I warm it for the 2nd or 3rd time I'll either add a side salad or sourdough bread. But the soup is packed with protein, veggies, carbs and fats so you really don't need anything else.

Nutrition

Calories: 566kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 12gFat: 47gSodium: 981mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
5 from 2 votes

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Recipe Rating




3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is my husband and I’s new favorite soup! I’ve made it a few times in the past months and we like it more every time!!