Chicken Wild Rice Soup

4.95 from 17 votes
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This is truly the ultimate chicken wild rice soup recipe! It’s packed with tons of veggies, wild rice, shredded chicken, and a yummy creamy broth.

Chicken wild rice soup in a bowl.
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Ultimate Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Soup for days you say? That’s right! This classic chicken wild rice soup recipe will give you enough food for days because boy does it make 6 hefty servings. And you bet your bippy you can also easily double or triple this recipe.

This chicken wild rice soup is one of our most popular soup recipes. We love how hearty it is made with cooked wild rice, chicken breast, tons of veggies and the most delicious creamy broth.

Plus, we’re big wild rice fans and it truly does make creamy chicken wild rice soup one of our favorite soups!

Why you’ll love it!

There are lots of chicken wild rice soup recipes on the internet, but until you’ve had ours, you’re missing out.

  • Amazing meal prep: Chicken wild rice soup is an excellent meal prep idea because it will literally give you soup for days. This particular recipe serves 6 and you can easily double it and freeze for later!
  • Healthy: Our chicken wild rice soup recipe is made with lean shredded chicken, wild rice, and tons of veggies making it high in protein and fiber.
  • Made in no time! In less than 45 minutes you can have dinner on the table!
Ingredients for chicken wild rice soup ready to be mixed together.

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup Ingredients

This chicken wild rice soup is packed with simple, real ingredients that come together to make the most nourishing soup:

Meat

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breast: we’re us -ing chicken breast in this recipe, but you could always swap for chicken thighs if you like dark meat better.
  • Chicken broth: chicken broth is a great base for this recipe because it really does enhance the chicken flavor of the soup.
Homemade Chicken Broth.

Try it!

Homemade Chicken Broth

Make this homemade chicken broth and use it in your favorite soup recipe! This broth is the most flavorful chicken broth on the internet. You can use it in soups, chilis, sauces, and more!

Grains

  • Wild rice – we’re keeping things simple and using cooked wild rice. So, you can either precook homemade wild rice OR you can buy store-bought cooked wild rice for ease. 

Veggies

One thing we love about this soup is that you can pretty much add any veggie your heart desires. Here’s what we’re using.

  • White onion
  • Carrots
  • Green pepper
  • Garlic cloves
  • Chopped kale

Want to add even more veggies? Try adding: celery, peas, or potatoes.

Spices, Seasonings & Fresh Herbs

We are all about flavorful soup. While typically chicken wild rice soup is pretty “vanilla,” ours is truly packed with so much amazing flavor.

  • Worcestershire sauce: a splash of Worcestershire sauce adds delicious savory flavor and just the right amount of vinegar.
  • Fresh thyme sprigs: fresh thyme is a classic wild rice soup flavor.
  • Salt and ground black pepper: always flavor your soup to taste! We recommend taste testing your soup during all stages to make sure it’s properly seasoned with salt and black pepper.
  • Garlic powder: a little bit of garlic does the soul good.

Roux AKA Creamy Broth

There’s brothy soup loves out there and creamy soup lovers out there. Chicken wild rice soup is made with an amazing creamy broth and it’s actually really basic and simple using the following ingredients:

  • Olive oil: we’re using olive oil as our fat for the roux, but you can always use butter instead.
  • White whole wheat flour: a little flour is what is going to cream up this soup! We’re using white whole wheat, but you can also use all-purpose or gluten-free all-purpose flour, too.
  • 2% milk: milk is used to help create that creamy broth base.

Secret ingredient

Every soup deserves a secret ingredient and ours is Greek yogurt! Instead of using heavy cream, we’re using Greek yogurt to really cream things up and add a nice balance to all of the flavors in this soup.

Important tips: make sure that when you add the Greek yogurt to the soup that it is not boiling. Also, make sure to use full-fat Greek yogurt. If you do these 2 things, the yogurt will not curdle.

Ingredients for chicken wild rice soup in a stock pot with chicken broth.

Easy Ingredient Swaps

Don’t fret if you don’t have everything this recipe calls for! You can make easy substitutions or swaps and still end up with a delicious soup. Some easy swaps you can make:

  • Greek yogurt –> Feel free to use sour cream instead or even 1/4 cup of heavy cream
  • Chicken broth –> Vegetable broth or beef broth
  • Garlic cloves –> Granulated garlic powder will work
  • White onion –> Yellow onion or red onion
  • Carrots –> Parsnips or another root vegetable
  • Green kale –> Another hearty green like purple kale or swiss chard
  • Any vegetables –> Got extra veg on hand? Feel free to add any of the following: mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli, etc.
Broth being poured over chicken breasts and other ingredients for chicken wild rice soup.

How to Make a Roux

No need to be intimidated by the roux in this soup! You’ll whip it up no problem while the rest of your soup cooks to perfection in these 5 easy steps. Plus, there is no cornstarch involved!

  1. In a medium saucepan (separate from the soup), you’ll heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium/high heat.
  2. When the olive oil is fragrant, add flour to the saucepan and whisk the olive oil together with the flour until a paste forms.
  3. Then, slowly whisk the milk into the mixture, stirring consistently until the milk thickens (this usually takes 4-6 minutes).
  4. Remove from heat and whisk the garlic powder, salt and pepper into the roux.
  5. You’ll add the roux into the soup at the very end. Voila!
Roux being poured into chicken wild rice soup to make it creamy.

How to Cook Wild Rice – 2 Ways!

We walk you through. the two easiest ways we like to cook wild rice HERE, and you can choose between:

  • Instant Pot wild rice
  • Stove top wild rice

Another method if you’re looking for quick and easy is to buy a packet of already cooked wild rice. Most major grocers carry it, and it truly does make this portion of the recipe easy peasy.

Make it Gluten-Free

Hoping to make this creamy soup gluten-free? All you have to do is omit the Worcestershire sauce (we suggest replacing it with a splash of vinegar) and swap the white whole wheat flour for a gluten-free all-purpose flour.

If you do those two things, you should be good to go!

Chicken wild rice soup in a stock pot.

How to Store Wild Rice Soup

Got leftovers? Here are a few storage tips to follow to make sure your soup lasts for as long as possible!

Refrigerator: Transfer the soup into a glass container and seal tightly. Refrigerate for up to 5 days.

How to Freeze Slow Chicken Wild Rice Soup

  1. Let your soup cool completely before transferring into a freezer-safe gallon-size bag or Tupperware.
  2. Seal and then place in the freezer.
  3. Will last for up to 3 months.
  4. To reheat, let thaw on the counter and then transfer into a large pot on the stove or even reheat in your slow cooker.
Chicken wild rice soup in a bowl ready to be enjoyed.

 

4.95 from 17 votes

Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Try our creamy chicken and wild rice soup recipe for a hearty, creamy soup that's loaded with veggies, wild rice and chicken breast.
Prep: 25 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8
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Ingredients 

  • 1- lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 1 teaspoon salt, separated
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper, separated
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large white onion, minced
  • 1 large carrot, cut into half-moons (~1 cup chopped)
  • 1 large green pepper, diced
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 8-10 sprigs fresh thyme, tied into a bundle
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups chopped kale
  • 3 cups cooked wild rice, ~1.5 cups, uncooked*
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup full-fat Greek yogurt

Roux

Instructions 

  • Begin by seasoning the chicken breasts with 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
  • Then, heat a large dutch oven or stockpot over medium/high heat. Add one tablespoon olive oil. 
  • When the olive oil is fragrant, add the chicken breast to the pot. Sear the chicken breast for 2 minutes on each side. Remove from the pot (you don’t want the chicken to be fully cooked). 
  • Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the pot and add the onion, carrot, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and sauté for 4-5 minutes. 
  • Add the green pepper, garlic, and remaining salt and pepper to the pot and saute for another 3 minutes. 
  • Finally, add chicken breast, fresh thyme bundle, and broth to the pot. Be sure the chicken breast is submerged in the broth. Bring to a boil. 
    a person pouring olive oil into a pan with vegetables to prepare chicken wild rice soup.
  • Once the boiling, cover the pot and turn the heat to low, and let the soup simmer for 10 minutes. 
  • While the soup is simmering, prepare the roux. In a separate medium saucepan, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium/high heat. 
  • When the olive oil is fragrant add the flour to the saucepan and whisk the ingredients together until a paste forms. 
  • Slowly whisk the milk into the mixture, stirring consistently until the milk thickens. This usually takes 4-6 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and whisk the garlic powder, salt, and pepper into the roux. 
  • Once the soup has simmered for 10 minutes, remove the chicken from the pot and shred the chicken. Set aside. 
  • Place the kale, cooked wild rice, and Worcestershire sauce into the pot and stir until the kale wilts. 
    a chicken and wild rice soup with carrots and greens in it.
  • Then, add the Greek yogurt and the roux to the pot and mix until combined. 
    a bowl of chicken wild rice soup being poured.
  • Add the shredded chicken to the soup, mix, bring to a simmer so all ingredients are warm. 
    chicken wild rice soup
  • Serve and enjoy! 

Tips & Notes

  • When adding the Greek yogurt, make sure that your soup is not boiling. Also, full-fat Greek yogurt is important too. If you do these two things, your yogurt will not curdle in the soup.

Watch It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”otaqkDCv” upload-date=”2020-11-27T10:00:00.000Z” name=”Wild Rice Soup” description=”A super simple homemade wild rice soup recipe made with tons of veggies and a better-for-you roux! “]

Nutrition

Calories: 352 kcal, Carbohydrates: 26 g, Protein: 28 g, Fat: 13 g, Fiber: 3 g, Sugar: 6 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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About Emily Richter

Emily is Fit Foodie Finds' editor-in-chief. She has a master's degree in strategic communication, and a passion for food. She is an incredible at-home cook making her writing an important part of the content creation process.

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Kaity
Kaity
October 26, 2023 1:11 pm

5 stars
This recipe is one of my faves! I’ve made it a few times, and discovered I really need to work on my roux making abilities lol but it still turns out delicious. Question: I wonder about making the wild rice in the soup mixture itself? Like boiling it in the chicken broth with some other goodies while the chicken is cooking? I got to the end and forgot the rice had to be cooked! lol

Lee Funke
October 30, 2023 11:23 am
Reply to  Kaity

This can absolutely be done! We have a similar recipe where we cook the wild rice right in the soup — https://fitfoodiefinds.com/creamy-pumpkin-wild-rice-soup/#wprm-recipe-container-216441

Nicole Quattro
Nicole Quattro
January 23, 2022 8:19 am
Recipe Rating :
     

5 stars
This soup was so delicious! Even my husband, who eyed the ingredients with suspicion and slight aspersion, was won over by the taste.

Hannah
Hannah
January 20, 2021 12:10 am
Recipe Rating :
     

5 stars
This soup is thick and delicious, and was even better reheating for lunch the next day. Next time I will cook the wild rice ahead to cut down on overall cook time and dirty pots, but love the healthy ingredients and how filling it is! I used almond milk and added mushrooms and celery (instead of green pepper).

Kara L
Kara L
December 14, 2020 4:58 pm
Recipe Rating :
     

5 stars
This soup was great! I got distracted and didnโ€™t follow the recipe exactly but it still turned out great

Lee Funke
December 15, 2020 8:23 am
Reply to  Kara L

Glad it still tasted yummy ๐Ÿ˜€

Katy Millerman
Katy Millerman
December 9, 2020 11:24 am
Recipe Rating :
     

5 stars
Making this tonight! I don’t have kale though.. could I substitute it with spinach? Thanks! ๐Ÿ™‚

Lee Funke
December 9, 2020 8:24 pm
Reply to  Katy Millerman

Yes of course!!

Jessie
Jessie
November 29, 2020 7:28 pm
Recipe Rating :
     

5 stars
This is so delicious! Substituted avocado oil instead olive, used less rice and added celery. I think next time I would make it the same way and add cauliflower rice. Definitely will be making this again.

Lee Funke
November 30, 2020 10:46 am
Reply to  Jessie

Oh I love the cauli rice idea!

Maria Pastore
November 29, 2020 6:04 pm
Recipe Rating :
     

5 stars
Never made a roux before! For a second I thought about skipping it (not for difficultly, more for just time) and I’m glad I didn’t. It doesn’t take long and completely makes this soup (IMO). I actually made it with Bob’s Red Mill paleo baking flour and I used cashew milk instead of regular. I also used coconut yogurt instead of Greek and Forbidden rice instead of wild. For broth, I had some homemade bone broth that I combined in the pot with boxed veggie broth plus water to get the full 4 cups. I mixed in Power Greens instead of kale, though the kale would have been heartier…next time. Basically, I just used what I had, but the roux, thyme, chicken, and other veggies were as instructed and it’s so delicious. Can’t wait for lunch or dinner tomorrow.

Lee Funke
November 29, 2020 6:18 pm
Reply to  Maria Pastore

Love all your changes and so glad your roux worked! Thanks for the thoughtful review, lady!

Maureen
Maureen
November 29, 2020 5:14 pm
Recipe Rating :
     

5 stars
This was delicious and so easy! I used rotisserie chicken to make it even easier. It was flavorful and would be really easy to add in other veggies.

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Lee Funke
November 29, 2020 6:19 pm
Reply to  Maureen

LOVE the rotisserie chicken add!

Megan Oftelie
Megan Oftelie
November 29, 2020 3:39 pm
Recipe Rating :
     

5 stars
one of the best recipes I’ve tried from FFF!! Easy without sacrificing flavor. I added 1/4 cup diced bacon, too. I will be adding this recipe to my regular routine!

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Lee Funke
November 29, 2020 6:19 pm
Reply to  Megan Oftelie

Oh wow BACON. Yes.

Fateem
Fateem
November 29, 2020 3:11 pm
Recipe Rating :
     

5 stars
This recipe was so easy and so delicious!! I was looking for a cozy meal to round out my meal prep for the week and this one popped up, after adding all things to my shipt order I was in business! It came together quickly and is so yummy!! Thanks for sharing your amazing creations!

IMG_6901.jpg
Lee Funke
November 29, 2020 6:19 pm
Reply to  Fateem

Shipt FTW! It’s been our go-to lately!