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Creamy Slow Cooker Chicken Wild Rice Soup

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A cozy, creamy slow cooker soup featuring tender chicken, nutty wild rice, and a rich, velvety broth. Perfect for comforting meals with minimal hands-on time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 1 cup wild rice or wild rice blend
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup half-and-half or heavy cream
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: fresh parsley for garnish
  • Optional: lemon zest for brightness

Instructions

  1. Chop the onion, carrots, and celery into small, even pieces. Mince the garlic. Trim any excess fat from the chicken breasts or thighs.
  2. Place the chicken at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the chopped vegetables and minced garlic over the chicken. Pour in the wild rice and then the chicken broth. Toss in the dried thyme and bay leaf. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until chicken is tender and wild rice is cooked but slightly firm.
  4. Remove the chicken pieces and shred them with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker.
  5. In a small bowl, mix the softened butter and flour until smooth to make a roux.
  6. Slowly stir the butter-flour paste into the soup. Cook on high for another 15-20 minutes until the soup thickens, stirring occasionally.
  7. Stir in the half-and-half or heavy cream. Heat through for 5 minutes without boiling. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
  8. Remove the bay leaf. Optionally, garnish with fresh parsley or lemon zest before serving.

Notes

If soup is too thick after adding cream, stir in a splash of broth or water to loosen. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil and cream with coconut or almond milk, thickening with cornstarch slurry instead of flour roux. Avoid lifting the slow cooker lid during cooking to maintain temperature. Shred chicken gently to avoid breaking rice.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker soup, chicken wild rice soup, creamy chicken soup, comfort food, easy slow cooker recipe

Find it online: https://sparklechew.com/creamy-slow-cooker-chicken-wild-rice-soup-easy-cozy-comfort-recipe/