Slow Cooker Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Enjoy a cozy bowl of our simple slow cooker chicken wild rice soup. It's seasoned just right for a delicious taste. Perfect for those cold, long days, this easy soup can be prepared in the morning, ready to warm you up after a busy day.

In this post, I'll walk you through making the creamiest slow cooker wild rice soup. You'll get a list of ingredients, a step-by-step cooking process, and some useful tips to make sure your chicken wild rice soup in a crockpot tastes absolutely delicious.

Explore more delightful slow cooker soup recipes! Give these a try: Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup  and Chicken Pot Pie Soup.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Creating Chicken Wild Rice Soup in a Slow Cooker: A Step-by-Step Guide
• Tips
• Storage
• How to Reheat
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

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Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you'll need to make crockpot wild rice soup:

1. Chicken Breast: Provides lean protein and a hearty base for the soup.
2. Dried Wild Porcini Mushrooms: Add a rich, earthy flavor to the soup, enhancing its depth.
3. Yellow Onion: Imparts a sweet and savory taste, serving as a flavor base for the soup.
4. Garlic: Enhances the overall savory profile, adding depth and complexity to the dish.
5. Carrots: Bring sweetness and a vibrant color to the soup, contributing to its overall flavor and texture.
6. Celery: Adds a mild, crisp flavor, providing a refreshing element to the soup.
7. Butter: Enhances richness and adds a smooth texture to the soup.
8. Wild Rice Blend: Offers a chewy texture and nutty flavor, contributing to the heartiness of the soup.
9. Heavy Cream: Provides creaminess and a luxurious texture to the soup.
10. Low Sodium Chicken Broth: Serves as the liquid base, infusing the soup with savory chicken flavor.
11. Salt: Essential for seasoning, bringing out the natural flavors of the ingredients.
12. Black Pepper: Adds a bit of heat and a peppery kick to the soup.
13. Bay Leaf: Imparts a subtle, aromatic flavor to the soup.
14. Thyme: A fragrant herb that adds earthy and citrusy notes, enhancing the overall flavor profile of the soup.

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Creating Chicken Wild Rice Soup in a Slow Cooker: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to make a tasty Creamy Wild Rice Chicken Soup in your slow cooker with these easy steps:

1. Soak the Mushrooms. Begin by placing porcini mushrooms in a small dish and adding boiling water. Let them soak for about 15 minutes. Strain the soaking liquid before cooking.
2. Cook the Vegetables and Aromatics. Heat butter in a pan over medium heat. Saute onions until softened and browned. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Include carrots, mushrooms, and celery stalks, cooking until softened.
3. Place the Vegetables and Chicken into a Slow Cooker. Transfer the vegetable mixture to the bottom of the crockpot. Place the chicken on top, add bay leaf, thyme, and pour in low sodium chicken broth.
4. Slow Cook the Soup. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours. Add wild rice into the slow cooker about halfway through the cooking process. If you're concerned about the rice getting mushy, use pre-cooked rice and add it 10 minutes before serving.
5. Shred the Chicken. Approximately 20-30 minutes before the cooking is done, remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and shred it into small pieces. Pour in the heavy cream to make the soup thicker and less liquid.

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Tips

Here are some tips to enhance your experience while making Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup in a Slow Cooker:

1. Pre-soak Porcini Mushrooms: Enhance flavor by soaking porcini mushrooms in boiling water for 15 minutes before adding to the soup. Keep in mind that the soaking liquid has a potent flavor that can overpower the dish. For this reason, I strongly recommend using the mushrooms without the soaking liquid.
2. Saute for Flavor: Sauteing onions until softened and browned, along with adding fragrant garlic, creates a flavor-rich base for your soup.
3. Vegetable Softening: Ensure the carrots, mushrooms, and celery are properly softened before transferring them to the slow cooker. This step contributes to the overall texture and taste.
4. Layering in the Crockpot: Placing the vegetable mixture at the bottom and placing the chicken on top ensures even cooking and flavor distribution.
5. Timing the Wild Rice: Add the wild rice about halfway through the cooking process to prevent it from becoming overly mushy. If concerned, opt for pre-cooked rice and add it towards the end. Remember, the different textures and brands of wild rice can impact the final result of the soup, so the cooking time might be different.
6. Shred Chicken Before Finishing: Around 20-30 minutes before completion, remove the cooked chicken, shred it into small pieces, and return it to the slow cooker. This enhances the soup's texture.
7. Perfecting the Creamy Texture: Pour in the heavy cream towards the end to achieve a thicker and less liquid consistency for your soup.
8. Adjusting Rice Consistency: If you prefer your rice less mushy, use pre-cooked rice and incorporate it just before serving.
9. Taste Testing: Regularly taste the soup and adjust seasoning if needed. This ensures a perfectly balanced flavor.
10. Garnish Creatively: Elevate your soup by garnishing with fresh herbs, a sprinkle of black pepper, or a dollop of sour cream when serving.

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Storage

By following these steps, you ensure your wild rice chicken soup stays fresh and delicious for an extended period. To store your wild rice chicken soup:

1. Cooling: Let the soup cool at room temperature for a maximum of 2 hours.
2. Container: Once fully cooled, transfer the soup into an airtight container or use individual serving containers for easy reheating.
3. Refrigeration: Properly stored, the chicken soup can last in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
4. Freezing: For longer storage, freeze the soup. It can keep well in the freezer for 4-6 months.

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How to Reheat

To reheat your wild rice chicken soup:

1. From Refrigerator: If the soup is stored in the refrigerator, transfer the desired portion to a saucepan.
2. Heat Gently: Reheat the soup gently over medium heat, stirring occasionally to ensure even warming.
3. Avoid Boiling: Avoid boiling the soup to prevent a change in texture. Heat until it reaches your preferred serving temperature.
4. From Freezer: If the soup is frozen, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating using the same stovetop method.

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Products used in this recipe: Lundberg Wild Blend Rice, Organic Heavy Whipping Cream from Horizon.

Check out these popular recipes:

• Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
• Instant Pot Brisket
• Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs

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📖 Recipe