This creamy chicken and wild rice soup is a family favorite, loaded with tender chicken, sweet carrots, and a blend of wild rice for a hearty, comforting bowl.
Perfect for lunch or dinner, this one-pot soup is easy to reheat and makes great leftovers.
Why make this soup
A warm bowl of soup is the ultimate comfort food. This creamy chicken and wild rice soup fills you up and soothes the soul without a lot of fuss.
It cooks in one pot: once the rice is tender, you stir in cooked chicken and cream for a rich, satisfying finish. Making it from scratch gives you control over ingredients and flavor.
Key ingredients
- Wild rice mix (or all wild rice)
- Cooked chicken (leftovers or a cooked breast, diced)
- Chicken broth or stock
- Onion, garlic, carrots, celery
- Cornstarch (to thicken)
- Milk and cream or half-and-half
Wild rice mix
Wild rice mix usually contains a combination of wild rice with white and brown rice and sometimes red rice. Choose a plain mix without added seasonings so the soup’s flavors remain balanced. You can also use all wild rice if you prefer.
Step by step directions
- Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots and celery; sauté until softened, 5–8 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in the wild rice mix, then pour in chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook about 45 minutes or until the rice is tender.
- Stir in diced cooked chicken and season with salt, pepper, and thyme.
- In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch with water until smooth, then stir into the soup and simmer 10 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Pour in milk and half-and-half (or cream), heat through gently, and serve.
Recipe tips
- Dice onions, carrots and celery evenly so they cook at the same rate.
- For richness use whole milk plus half-and-half or heavy cream. To reduce fat, use all milk and increase cornstarch by 1–2 tablespoons to maintain thickness.
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper before serving.
- Garnish with chopped chives or parsley for freshness.
Recipe Faqs
Yes. Cool the soup, refrigerate it, and reheat gently over medium-low heat. If it thickens in the fridge, thin with a little milk when reheating.
Creamy soups with milk or cream don’t hold texture well after freezing, so freezing is not recommended.
More Great Soup Recipes
- Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Corn Chowder
- Creamy Potato Soup
- Ham and Bean Soup
- Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
- Creamy Chicken Orzo Soup
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment and share a photo.
Explore more soup recipes in your collection.
-
Chicken Gnocchi Soup
-
Bean with Bacon Soup
-
Carrot Ginger Soup
-
Vegetable Stock
Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Kathy Berget
Equipment
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 small diced onion
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 3/4 cup wild rice mix
- 1 cup cooked chicken, diced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups half and half
Instructions
- In a soup pot over medium heat add oil. Add celery, onion, and carrots and sauté 5–8 minutes until soft. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Add chicken broth and wild rice, stir, and simmer covered about 45 minutes until the rice is tender.
- Stir in cooked chicken, salt, pepper and thyme.
- Mix cornstarch with water until smooth and pour into the soup while stirring. Simmer 10 minutes.
- Stir in milk and half-and-half. Heat through gently and serve.
Notes
- Dice vegetables to uniform pieces for even cooking.
- Use whole milk with half-and-half or cream for a richer soup; for a lighter version use all milk and add extra cornstarch to thicken.
- Adjust seasoning to taste before serving.
- Garnish with fresh chives or parsley if desired.
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutrition information is an estimate and should be used as a guideline. For precise values, calculate nutrition using the exact ingredients you use.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 28 g
Protein: 14 g
Fat: 17 g
Tag your photo on Instagram and share your experience.