Description
This Chicken, Mushroom & Wild Rice Soup is a cozy and hearty classic. With tender chicken, earthy mushrooms, and nutty wild rice in a creamy broth, it’s the ultimate comfort food for cold days satisfying, nourishing, and full of flavor.
Ingredients
For the Soup Base:
2 tbsp butter or olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 celery stalks, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz (225 g) cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
1 cup uncooked wild rice (or a wild rice blend)
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (rotisserie or leftover)
1 tsp dried thyme
½ tsp dried rosemary
1 bay leaf
Salt and black pepper, to taste
For the Creamy Finish:
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1½ cups milk (whole or 2%) or half-and-half
½ cup heavy cream (optional, for extra richness)
Instructions
1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat butter or olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and mushrooms, cooking another 3 minutes until fragrant.
2. Stir in wild rice, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
3. Pour in chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer gently for 45–50 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
4. Stir in shredded chicken and cook another 10 minutes to heat through.
5. In a small saucepan, melt 3 tbsp butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk until smooth and slightly thickened (3–4 minutes).
6. Stir the roux into the soup. Add cream if desired. Simmer for 5 more minutes until thick and creamy. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
7. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh thyme or parsley. Serve with crusty bread for the perfect cozy meal.
Notes
Use rotisserie chicken for a quick shortcut.
For a dairy-free version, substitute coconut milk or almond milk and olive oil for butter.
The soup thickens as it cools — thin it with extra broth before reheating.
Stores well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Soup, Comfort Food, Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: Chicken Mushroom Wild Rice Soup, Creamy Chicken Soup, Wild Rice Soup Recipe, Comfort Food Soup, Cozy Winter Soup