Creamy Crockpot Chicken Wild Rice Soup
This slow-cooked creamy chicken wild rice soup is a comforting dish perfect for chilly days, featuring tender chicken, nutty wild rice, and rich flavors with minimal prep.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 lb chicken breasts Use boneless for easier shredding.
- 4 pieces carrots, sliced
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 whole onion, diced
- 8-10 cups chicken broth (low sodium recommended) Start with 8 cups and add more for a thinner soup.
- 1 cup uncooked wild rice, rinsed Rinse to ensure proper texture.
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 piece bay leaf Discard after cooking.
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 0.25 cup flour (all-purpose or gluten-free) Use gluten-free if needed.
- 0.5 cup half and half Or replace with coconut milk for dairy-free.
- 0.5 cup whole milk Or replace with cashew cream for dairy-free.
- 0.5 tsp sea salt Adjust to taste.
- 0.5 tsp cracked pepper
Instructions
Preparation
- Dice the onion, slice the carrots, chop the celery, and mince the garlic. Rinse the wild rice under cold water until the water runs clearer.
Cooking
- Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle the garlic, Italian seasoning, thyme, parsley, sea salt, and cracked pepper over the chicken.
- Scatter the diced onion, sliced carrots, and chopped celery over the seasoned chicken.
- Pour in 8 cups of chicken broth, add the rinsed wild rice and the bay leaf. Cover.
- Cook on LOW for 6–8 hours, or until the wild rice is tender and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove the chicken to a cutting board, shred with two forks, and discard the bay leaf. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker.
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, half-and-half, and milk until the flour is fully dissolved with no lumps.
- Slowly pour the dairy-and-flour mixture into the slow cooker while stirring. Let it simmer on LOW for 10–15 minutes to thicken. If the soup becomes too thick, stir in additional broth until you reach your desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot with crusty bread and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
Notes
For a dairy-free version, replace half-and-half and milk with full-fat coconut milk. Rinsing the wild rice improves the final texture. Avoid boxed rice mixes for best results.