Crockpot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

This delicious and easy to make Chicken and Wild Rice Soup in the crock pot is the perfect meal for cold winter months. All you need are ingredients for this Panera favorite can easily be found at your local grocery store.

A ladle full of creamy chicken and rice soup.

Why you'll love this recipe

The slow cooker does all the work - whew! No worries about cooking time either- just put it in the crockpot and come home to dinner hours later!

This crockpot chicken and wild rice soup is simple to prepare, and it's loaded with flavor. You'll love the creamy texture of the wild rice, and the delicious chicken broth. It's basically like a cozy hug in a bowl, served up right in your own kitchen.

I thought, why not make a homemade version of my husband's favorite comfort food since he orders chicken soup every single time we go to Panera?

This version is made super easy in the slow cooker, and I've been told this creamy chicken wild rice soup tastes just as good (or better) than the other version.

For another cozy soup recipe check out my Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken Chili and you can see more slow cooker recipes, too!

Ingredients

boneless chicken breasts - or other shredded chicken.
chicken broth or chicken stock - homemade or store bought, your choice.
wild rice - I use a wild rice blend. You can use the leftover wild rice in my rice pilaf with mushrooms.
vegetables - sliced mushrooms, onion, celery and carrots
spices - garlic, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf
butter, milk and flour - to make it rich and creamy and to thicken the soup
Parmesan cheese

Substitutions

Substitution ideas for the chicken are chicken thighs, turkey breast or diced ham.

For the all-purpose flour, you can substitute a 1:1 gluten free flour or cornstarch in the slurry to keep this recipe gluten free.

For the fresh thyme and rosemary, you can substitute dried thyme and dried rosemary.

How to make crock pot chicken and wild rice soup

Chicken and wild rice soup ingredients in the crock pot.

Step 1: Place the boneless, skinless chicken breast, chicken stock, wild rice, mushrooms, onion, celery, carrots, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf in the crockpot.

An oval slow cooker filled with mushrooms chicken and wild rice with broth.

Step 2: Set the crockpot to high for three to four hours or low for seven to eight hours.

A saucepan with a cream sauce and grated Parmesan cheese on top and a wedge of cheese on the side.

Step 3: About 30 minutes before your soup is finished, melt your butter in a small saucepan.

Slowly whisk in flour and cook for 2 to 3 minutes to cook off the raw flour taste until it gives off a nutty aroma. Whisk the milk and Parmesan into the flour mixture.

A whisk incorporating a creamy sauce into the chicken wild rice soup.

Step 4: Stir the flour mixture into in allow the soup to finish cooking for the last 30 minutes.

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Cooked chicken on top of a wild rice soup in the slow cooker.

Step 5: Remove the chicken breast from the pot and shred the chicken into bite-size pieces by using two forks.

Creamy chicken and wild rice soup in the crockpot.

Stir the shredded chicken back into the pot and enjoy.

Variations

I know who you are, you recipe tweakers!

Herbaceous: Try adding various herbs and spices to adjust the flavor profile. Thyme, rosemary, sage, and fresh parsley work well.

Heat it up: Add a dash of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper for some heat.

Shortcut: You can also use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken if you add it to the slow cooker towards the end of the cooking time.

How do I store leftovers?

You can keep it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to five days.

Can I freeze this?

Because this is a creamy soup and has a good amount of dairy, I don't recommend freezing this recipe. You can always ladle some into a wide mouth mason jar and gift it to a friend or neighbor!

If you’d like to save leftovers, here’s exactly how to freeze soup properly so it reheats perfectly later.

FAQ

Can I use rotisserie chicken instead of chicken breast?

Yes, if you want to make the soup without chicken, you can do that. Then, add a pound of cooked, shredded rotisserie chicken during the last 30 minutes of cook time. You could also add a pound of leftover turkey around Thanksgiving time!

Can I make this with white rice or long grain rice?

Yes, but it will have a softer texture after it's done cooking. The wild rice gives a more al dente texture and I feel like it holds up better as it cooks.

How do I reheat creamy chicken and rice soup?

To get it back to the right texture, you will just need to thin it out with a little bit of chicken broth until you get your desired consistency. Reheat in the microwave, or on the stovetop over medium heat.

Serving suggestions

This hearty dish is filling enough to be considered a main dish. Ladle into your soup bowl and serve with crusty bread or even better, bread bowls!

The next time you make crockpot chicken and wild rice soup, leave a recipe review or comment below!

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