Crock Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup Recipe
This comforting Crock Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup combines tender chicken breasts, nutty wild rice, fresh vegetables, and a creamy broth for a hearty and delicious meal. Slow-cooked to perfection, this soup is ideal for warming up on a chilly day with its rich flavors and satisfying texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Soup Base
- 1.5 pounds chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 1 cup wild rice blend (rinsed)
- 3 ribs celery (diced)
- 2 large carrots (peeled and diced)
- 1 large onion (diced)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 ounces baby bella mushrooms (sliced)
Thickening Sauce
- ½ cup butter (1 stick)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
Instructions
- Layer Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Place the chicken breasts evenly in the slow cooker. Add rinsed wild rice, diced celery, carrots, onion, and minced garlic on top of the chicken.
- Add Broth and Seasonings: Pour in the chicken broth along with salt, black pepper, dried thyme, and bay leaves, ensuring all ingredients are submerged.
- Slow Cook: Cover with the lid and cook on low for 6 hours, allowing flavors to meld and chicken to become tender. In the last 30 minutes, add the sliced baby bella mushrooms to the pot.
- Shred Chicken and Remove Bay Leaves: Once cooking is complete, remove bay leaves and take out the chicken breasts. Use two forks to shred the chicken finely, then return it to the slow cooker and stir well.
- Prepare the Thickening Sauce: In a separate saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and cook for one minute while continuously stirring to eliminate lumps.
- Add Milk and Thicken: Slowly whisk in the whole milk until the mixture becomes smooth and thickened, creating a creamy sauce.
- Combine and Serve: Stir the thickened sauce into the soup until fully incorporated. Serve hot and enjoy your hearty Crock Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup.
Notes
- Rinsing the wild rice blend helps remove excess starch and prevents the soup from becoming gummy.
- Shredding the chicken ensures tender bites distributed evenly throughout the soup.
- Add mushrooms during the last 30 minutes to prevent overcooking and retain their texture.
- Use low heat for slow cooking to develop deeper flavors and tender chicken.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper at the end if needed.