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Cozy Chicken Wild Rice Soup

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A warm, creamy, and comforting chicken wild rice soup perfect for chilly sweater weather. This easy homemade recipe combines tender chicken, nutty wild rice, and fresh herbs for a satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced (rotisserie chicken works great)
  • 1 cup wild rice or wild rice blend
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour if needed)
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half (can substitute coconut milk for dairy-free)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Chop the onion, carrots, celery, and mince the garlic.
  2. In a large soup pot, melt 3 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of flour and stir constantly for 2-3 minutes until light golden and nutty smelling.
  3. Add chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5-7 minutes until vegetables soften but do not brown.
  4. Add minced garlic, thyme, and bay leaf. Stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Slowly whisk in 6 cups chicken broth, blending well with roux and vegetables. Add 1 cup wild rice. Bring to a gentle boil.
  6. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45-50 minutes until wild rice is tender but chewy. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Add extra broth or water if soup thickens too much.
  7. Stir in 2 cups cooked chicken. Warm through over low heat for 5 minutes if chicken is cold.
  8. Pour in 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half and stir gently. Heat through but do not boil to avoid curdling.
  9. Season with salt and pepper, starting with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper, adjusting to taste.
  10. Remove bay leaf, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, and serve hot.

Notes

Do not rush the roux; cook until golden to avoid raw flour taste. Rinsing wild rice is optional but can remove debris. Keep soup at a low simmer to prevent tough rice and cloudy broth. Add cooked chicken near the end to keep it tender. For thicker soup, simmer uncovered for last 10 minutes. Use rotisserie chicken to save time. To avoid curdling, add cream off heat and warm gently.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken wild rice soup, cozy soup, comfort food, easy chicken soup, homemade soup, wild rice recipe, creamy soup, sweater weather recipe

Find it online: https://fuzzyforker.com/cozy-chicken-wild-rice-soup-recipe-easy-homemade-comfort-for-sweater-weather/