Creamy Pumpkin Wild Rice Soup

4.34 from 3 votes
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This creamy pumpkin wild rice soup is a cozy fall day in a bowl! It’s made all in one pot with pumpkin puree, hearty wild rice, kale, beans, and warm spices, giving it a uniquely rich savory flavor that makes it the perfect fall soup to warm you up during the chilly weather. 

A bowl of soup with pumpkin seeds and beans.
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It’s officially soup season! We’ve all had or heard of chicken wild rice soup, but have you heard of PUMPKIN wild rice soup? Nothing screams autumn more than this creamy pumpkin wild rice soup recipe. Just one taste of its creamy broth will transport you to a dreamy autumn wonderland. The best part? It’s made all in one big pot!

To prepare this delicious fall comfort food, start by sautéing onions, garlic, and celery. Then, deglaze the pan with a dry white wine, and add in the wild rice. Cook the rice in vegetable broth, and then add the pumpkin, spices, white beans, and water to make the soup. Finally, stir in some kale, top with pepitas, and dig in!

What Do I Need for Creamy Pumpkin Wild Rice Soup?

  • Celery stalks: celery gives this soup a subtle flavor and boost of nutrition. 
  • Dry white wine: we used chenin blanc, but feel free to use your favorite!
  • Wild rice: be sure to use fresh wild rice. If you use older wild rice, it will take more time (and possibly more water) for the wild rice to pop. 
  • Fresh thyme: an herb perfect for enhancing the flavor of this easy soup.
  • Pumpkin puree: the star ingredient, pumpkin puree gives this cozy soup a rich pumpkin flavor.
  • Spices: we used a combination of ground coriander, ground cumin, and ground paprika to flavor the soup. 
  • White northern beans: these beans provide more substance and texture.
  • Kale: kale has an earthy and slightly sweet taste that pairs so well with pumpkin.
  • Pepitas: make sure you use pepitas that are salted and roasted.
  • 7-8-qt. pot: you’ll need a big enough pot to hold all this delicious pumpkin soup!
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Great Jones

Dutch Oven

The Great Jones “The Dutchess” is our favorite Dutch oven for every day cooking. It’s great for one-pot meals, soups, and more!

Black rice in a pot with a wooden spoon.

Substitutions & Variations

Vegetable broth: Swap out the veggie broth with chicken broth if needed.

Kale: ​You’re welcome to leave out the kale or swap it with spinach.

Make it spicy: For spice, add ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes or ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper. 

Extra toppings: Some feta cheese, crackers, or crusty bread would taste excellent with this creamy wild rice soup!

A pot of soup with a spoon in it.

FAQs

Why does my pumpkin soup taste bland?

If you find that your creamy pumpkin wild rice soup is lacking in flavor, add more salt! Salt is an essential ingredient in cooking and helps bring out all the flavors from your ingredients.

How can I tell when the wild rice has “popped”?

You’ll know when your wild rice is done cooking when the kernels start to burst open. To test, take a kernel out of the pot and press it between your fingers. If it is soft and easy to break apart, then you know that it’s cooked! You can also give it a taste — wild rice should be tender with a slightly nutty flavor. 

Should I rinse rice before adding it to soup?

Yes. Rice is an important ingredient in making a delicious soup, but it needs to be properly rinsed before adding it to the pot. Rinsing your rice helps remove any dirt, chemicals, or bugs that may be present (a common problem in wild-harvested rice), but for some types of rice, rinsing will also reduce excess starch, which can make soups too thick.

A pot full of soup with a spoon in it.

How to Store Pumpkin Wild Rice Soup

Store any leftover wild rice soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 to 5 days.

Freezer Directions

To freeze, place your leftover soup in a freezer-safe, airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months.

A bowl of soup with a hand holding a spoon.

Serving Suggestions

With all these great ingredients, you could easily serve this soup as a main course! But soup is always better accompanied by a side. 

You can keep it classic and dunk a piece of baguette into your soup, or try this delicious soup with fall salads like this Apple Burrata Salad or Roasted Butternut Squash and Blackberry Harvest Salad

Can’t get enough vegetables? Some roasted veggies would also be great as a side. These Roasted Root Vegetables, Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots, or Perfect Roasted Sweet Potatoes would be bom.com.

4.34 from 3 votes

Creamy Pumpkin Wild Rice Soup

This creamy pumpkin wild rice soup is an easy one-pot meal that uses rich pumpkin puree, wild rice, and other cozy fall flavors.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8
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Ingredients 

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 2 teaspoons sea salt, separated
  • 7 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 celery stalks, diced
  • cup dry white wine, we used chenin blanc
  • 1 cup wild rice
  • 8 cups vegetable broth, separated
  • 1 bunch fresh thyme, tied with cooking twine
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
  • 30 oz. pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground paprika
  • 30 oz. white northern beans, liquid included
  • 4 cups chopped kale, packed
  • cup pepitas, salted and roasted

Instructions 

  • Heat the olive oil in a 7-8-qt. pot over medium heat.
  • When the olive oil is fragrant, add the onion to the pot and season with ½ teaspoon of salt. Saute the onion for 8-10 minutes or until translucent.
  • Add the garlic and celery and saute for an additional 2-3 minutes.
    A pot full of onions and spices with a wooden spoon.
  • Deglaze the pan with white wine and scrape any brown bits from the bottom of the pot.
  • Add the wild rice to the pot and toss with the other ingredients. Toast the wild rice for 3-4 minutes and then add in 5 cups of the vegetable broth. Bring to a boil.
    Black rice in a pot with a wooden spoon.
  • Add the remaining salt, fresh thyme, and pepper. Cover and turn the heat to simmer. Cook for 40 minutes, stirring periodically.
    A pot of soup with a spoon and a sprig of thyme.
  • After 40 minutes, check to ensure the wild rice has begun to pop or is al dente (it will continue to cook). If the wild rice is still very crunchy, simmer for another 15 minutes.
  • Remove the bundle of thyme. Add the pumpkin, coriander, cumin, paprika, white beans, and the remaining water to the pot and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the rice reaches the desired consistency.*If you want the soup to be thinner, add 1-3 cups of water until it reaches the desired consistency.
    A pot of soup with a spoon in it.
  • Stir in the kale and cover. Let the kale cook down for 5 minutes.
    A pot full of soup with a spoon in it.
  • Top the soup with roasted pepitas and serve.
    A bowl of soup with bread and spinach.

Tips & Notes

  • Be sure to use fresh wild rice. If you use older wild rice, it will take more time (and possibly more water) for the wild rice to pop.
  • Option to leave out the kale.
  • For spice, add ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes or ⅛ teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
    Add any additional salt that is desired.

Watch It

Nutrition

Calories: 322 kcal, Carbohydrates: 54 g, Protein: 15 g, Fat: 6 g, Fiber: 13 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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Erin
Erin
January 21, 2024 7:25 pm

3 stars
The spice profile here was not what I was expecting but somehow, even with all the cumin and coriander, flavor was still flat. I’m not sure what it’s missing; acid?
I think I would flip it entirely next time. Wild rice and pumpkin say more sage to me. I’ll try that route!

Hillary
Hillary
October 8, 2023 8:25 pm

I’m making this recipe now; it calls for 8 cups of broth but only tells you what to do with 5 cups. Then is talks about adding more water… should that say broth? Thanks!