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Creamy Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

creamy slow cooker chicken and wild rice soup - featured image
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A velvety, thick, and comforting slow cooker soup featuring tender chicken chunks and chewy wild rice in a luscious creamy broth. Perfect for cozy nights and easy to prepare with simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs for more richness)
  • 1 cup (190 g) wild rice blend (wild and brown rice mix recommended)
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 cups (960 ml) low-sodium organic chicken broth
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream (or canned coconut milk for dairy-free)
  • 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons (24 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped (or ½ teaspoon dried thyme)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Dice the carrots, celery, and onion into uniform ¼-inch (0.6 cm) pieces. Mince the garlic. Cut the chicken breasts into 1½-inch (3.8 cm) bite-sized chunks.
  2. Optional: In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Sprinkle in flour and stir constantly for 2 minutes to form a roux and remove raw flour taste.
  3. Add the sautéed vegetables (or raw diced vegetables if skipping sauté), chicken pieces, wild rice blend, chicken broth, and thyme to the slow cooker. Stir gently to combine.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, until rice is tender but still slightly chewy and chicken is cooked through and tender. Avoid cooking longer than 6 hours to prevent mushy rice.
  5. About 15 minutes before serving, stir in the heavy cream. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. If soup is too thick, add a splash of broth or water to loosen.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

Use a wild rice blend for best texture and even cooking. Sautéing vegetables and making a roux adds depth but can be skipped for convenience. Add cream near the end to avoid curdling. Check soup at 4 hours to prevent overcooking rice and chicken. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk. For gluten-free, use gluten-free flour or cornstarch as thickener. Shred chicken after cooking for a rustic texture if preferred.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker soup, chicken soup, wild rice soup, creamy chicken soup, comfort food, easy slow cooker recipe, dairy-free option, gluten-free option

Find it online: https://zestynora.com/creamy-slow-cooker-chicken-and-wild-rice-soup-easy-homemade-recipe-for-comfort/