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Creamy Wild Rice Chicken Soup

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This creamy wild rice chicken soup is the ultimate comfort food for cold nights, featuring tender chicken, earthy wild rice, and a velvety finish. It’s easy to make, flexible for dietary needs, and perfect for cozy family dinners or gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (or olive oil for dairy-free)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (rotisserie or leftover turkey)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3/4 cup wild rice, rinsed
  • 1/4 cup brown rice, rinsed (optional)
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup half-and-half (or heavy cream, coconut cream for dairy-free)
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Dice the onion, slice carrots and celery, and mince garlic. Set aside.
  2. In a large soup pot, melt butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 6-8 minutes until veggies are softened and onions are translucent.
  3. Add garlic, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf. Stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in chicken broth and water. Stir to combine and scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  5. Stir in wild rice and brown rice. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 35-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender.
  6. Remove lid, add shredded chicken, salt, and pepper. Stir well and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
  7. In a small bowl, whisk together half-and-half and flour until smooth.
  8. Slowly pour the cream-flour mixture into the soup, stirring constantly. Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until soup thickens and becomes creamy.
  9. Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning. Stir in fresh parsley. Ladle into bowls and garnish with extra parsley if desired.

Notes

For gluten-free, use a gluten-free flour blend or cornstarch. For dairy-free, substitute coconut cream or oat milk and olive oil for butter. Rotisserie chicken saves time. Soup can be frozen before adding cream. Taste and adjust seasoning as you go. Garnish with fresh parsley or chives for color and flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy wild rice chicken soup, comfort food, easy soup recipe, chicken soup, wild rice soup, gluten-free option, dairy-free option, family dinner, cozy soup, cold weather recipe

Find it online: https://norasfoods.com/creamy-wild-rice-chicken-soup-recipe-easy-comfort-food-for-cold-nights/