Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Make the best creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup with the convenience of the slow cooker! This easy soup recipe features white meat chicken, wild rice, bacon and plenty of fresh vegetables in a rich, creamy broth. Easy to prepare and even easier to devour, this crockpot soup with wild rice is flavorful comfort food that you can feel good about eating!  

Hey, friends! What’s shakin’?

I’m going to skip all the small talk today, because I have the perfect dish to keep you warm and cozy this winter season, and I can’t wait to share!

And, if lightened-up, hearty, thick and creamy soup is your jam, then boy-oh-boy do I have the perfect soup for you!!

About this chicken wild rice soup recipe 

Thick and creamy soup loaded with tender, bite sized pieces of chicken breast, earthy wild rice and salty bacon; and studded with crisp veggies, fresh herbs, pungent garlic and nutty parmesan.

Basically, this creamy wild rice soup is like a big, warm hug in a bowl!

It’s creamy, comforting, feel good food made simple and easy thanks to the trusty crockpot or slow cooker! With only 15 minutes of hands on prep time, this chicken and rice soup is perfect for fuss free dinners and hectic weeknights!

FAQs

What is cream of wild rice soup?

Wild rice soup is a creamy, comforting soup made with wild rice, chopped vegetables such as onions, carrots and celery, and seasonings such as thyme, sage and rosemary.

Wild rice soup can be vegetarian or it can include chicken.

What is cultivated wild rice? 

While wild rice is true to its name and is grown in the wild, hand-harvested from lakes and rivers, cultivated wild rice is grown under regulated conditions in man-made paddies.

What is wild rice blend?

Wild rice blend is a mixture of different rice, including wild rice. The blends can greatly vary depending on the product, but I’ve found that most wild rice blends actually contain very little wild rice.

Is wild rice better than brown rice?

Both wild rice and brown rice are healthier options than white rice! While both varieties of rice are gluten-free and rich in antioxidants, wild rice is a slightly healthier option than brown rice.

Brown rice does have six times more magnesium, however wild rice contains more fiber, potassium and zinc. As well, cooked wild rice has 40% more protein than brown rice as well as roughly 30% fewer calories.

How to make cream of chicken and wild rice soup?

This recipe for cream of wild rice chicken soup is super easy to prepare thanks to the slow cooker or crockpot. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Season chicken: Place the chicken breasts on a clean work surface and generously with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the bottom of a slow cooker or crock pot.
2. Add the bacon, wild rice, aromatics, veggies, herbs, stock and wine. Add half of the bacon to the cooker, along with the rice, garlic, parmesan, onions, carrots, celery, thyme, sage, rosemary, stock and wine. Season with salt and pepper to taste and stir to combine.
3. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 ½ – 3 hours or LOW for 4 ½- 5 hours.
4. Add cream cheese: Remove the lid and add the cream cheese and grated parmesan to the slow cooker. In a large glass measuring cup, mix the cornstarch with the half and half. Then, pour the mixture into the slow cooker before stirring to combine.
5. Cook again on HIGH for 30 minutes – 1 hour, or until the cream cheese is melted, the chicken is cooked and rice is tender.
6. Stir in the remaining cooked bacon. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt, pepper or additional half and half if you prefer a thinner wild rice chicken soup.
7. Serve: Divide the soup among bowls, garnish with fresh herbs and enjoy!

Tips for the best creamy chicken and wild rice soup

1. This creamy wild rice soup recipe calls for real or cultivated wild rice, not a wild rice blend! The texture of wild rice in this soup is so much better than a wild rice blend!
2. If you want a thinner soup, you can use 5 1/2 cups of chicken stock. However, I recommend sticking with 5 cups of stock. You can always thin the soup out later with half-and-half or more stock if desired.
3. While I used half-and-half, you can use heavy cream if a richer mouthfeel is desired or whole milk if a thinner soup is desired.
4. The cooking times in the easy chicken and wild rice soup recipe below are approximate. The exact cooking time depends on the strength of your slow cooker.

How to make soup with wild rice creamy?

There are a few ways to make wild rice soup creamy depending on the method of cooking. This wild rice soup recipe is made with the convenience of the crockpot and easily made creamy with the addition of cream cheese, half-and-half and cornstarch.

Ways to make wild rice soup more creamy:

• Add cream.  Adding cream is the most obvious way to make wild rice soup creamy. Adding a cup or more cream will give your soup a rich taste and silky mouthfeel.
• Add cornstarch or flour.  This crockpot creamy chicken wild rice soup recipe uses cornstarch mixed with half and half to give the soup plenty of body and thickness. If making wild rice soup on the stove-top, sprinkle your cooked vegetables with flour before adding the liquid to achieve the same thickening affect.
• Add cream cheese or yogurt. Cream cheese or yogurt work similar to cream, adding a rich, creaminess to wild rice soup.

Serving creamy of wild rice and chicken soup

Creamy wild rice soup is definitely hearty enough to serve on its own! However if you are looking to serve a crowd, or make this a more rounded meal, here are some serving options:

• Crusty, toasted bread, breadsticks or cornbread
• Simple side salad or fresh, garden salad

Freezing chicken soup with wild rice

Unfortunately cooked wild rice soup does not freeze well because the half-and-half (or milk/cream) becomes grainy if frozen and the wild rice will turn to mush.

However, you can freeze the uncooked wild rice, veggies, spices and chicken together in a large, freezer-safe, zip-closure bag. That way when you are ready to make chicken wild rice soup all you have to do is pop the contents of the bag into the slow cooker with some chicken stock, a bit of white wine and cook according to the recipe directions!

Rich, comforting and crazy easy to make, this Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup recipe is one you will want to make again and again! Loaded with protein, veggies and healthy carbs, this rice soup is the perfect way to stay warm this winter!

Until next week, friends, cheers – to cozy soups!

Cheyanne

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More soups with chicken!

• Chicken Gnocchi Soup
• Tortellini Chicken Soup
• Chicken Corn Chowder
• Black Bean Soup with Chicken
• Chicken Thai Noodle Soup

More chicken and rice recipes!

• Cranberry Baked Chicken and Rice
• Cumin Chicken with Rice
• Cajun Chicken with Red Beans and Rice

The best Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup recipe👇

Print Recipe

5 from 8 votes

Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup

This easy Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is made with the convenience of the slow cooker!  Rich and packed with chicken, bacon, veggies and wild rice, this crockpot soup is feel good comfort food that is sure to hit the spot and become a family favorite! Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time3 hrs 30 mins

Total Time3 hrs 45 mins

Course: entree, Soup

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bacon, chicken, creamy, crockpot, Slow Cooker, soup, wild rice

Servings: 6

Calories: 585kcal

Author: Cheyanne Holzworth

Ingredients

• 1 pound Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – cut into 1 ½’’ cubes
• Kosher Salt & Ground Black Pepper to taste
• 8 ounces Bacon - cooked & crumbled
• 1 Cup Uncooked Wild Rice - rinsed*
• 4 cloves Garlic – peeled & minced
• 1 Parmesan Rind + ½ cup grated parmesan , plus more for garnish
• 1 small Yellow Onion – peeled & diced
• 2 large Carrots – peeled & diced
• 2 large Stalks Celery – diced
• 1 TBS Fresh Thyme Leaves , plus more for garnish
• ½ tsp EACH: Dried Sage & Dried Rosemary
• 5 -5 ½ Cups Low-Sodium Chicken Stock depending on desired thickness
• 1 Cup Dry White Wine optional
• 4 ounces Cream Cheese – at room temperature & cut into small cubes
• 1 ½ Cups Half and Half *
• ¼ Cup Cornstarch

For serving: Artisan bread, fresh grated parmesan, parsley

Instructions

• Season chicken generously with salt and pepper. Place chicken in the bowl of a 6 quart slow cooker or crockpot.
• Add half of the bacon, rice, garlic, parmesan rind, onion, carrots, celery, thyme, sage, rosemary, stock and wine. Season with salt and pepper to taste and stir to combine. 
• Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 ½ - 3 hours or LOW for 4 ½- 5 hours*. (Chicken and rice will continue to cook in next steps)
• Remove the lid. (Optional – remove and discard parmesan rind.) Add the cream cheese and grated parmesan to the slow cooker. In a large (2 or 4 cup) glass measuring cup, mix the cornstarch with the half and half. Add the mixture to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
• Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes – 1 hour, or until the cream cheese is melted, the chicken is cooked and rice is tender.
• When the soup is done, stir in the remaining cooked bacon. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt, pepper or additional half and half if you like a thinner soup.
• To serve: Divide the soup among bowls and garnish with fresh herbs and more grated parmesan. Enjoy!

Notes

1. This recipe calls for real or cultivated wild rice, not a wild rice blend! The texture of wild rice in this soup is so much better than a wild rice blend!
2. If you want a thinner soup, you can use 5 1/2 cups of chicken stock.  However, I recommend sticking with 5 cups of stock.  You can always thin the soup out later with half-and-half or more stock if desired. 
3. While I used half-and-half, you can use heavy cream if a richer mouthfeel is desired.
4. The exact cooking time depends on the strength of your slow cooker.
5. To make freezer-friendly creamy chicken and wild rice soup:  Freeze the uncooked wild rice, veggies, spices and chicken together in a large, freezer-safe, zip-closure bag.  When you are ready to make the soup all you have to do is pop the contents of the bag into the slow cooker with some chicken stock, a bit of white wine and cook according to the recipe directions!

Nutrition

Calories: 585kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 504mg | Potassium: 879mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 4570IU | Vitamin C: 6.2mg | Calcium: 124mg | Iron: 1.9mg

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