Classic and simple, this creamy chicken and wild rice soup is hearty and delicious, and is one of my favorite soups during the fall and winter!

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

It’s finally cooling down around here, and my family is ecstatic that the soup I’ve been serving for the last month can finally be eaten without cranking up the A/C and downing five popsicles afterward.

Mmm, I love soup season, even if I do tend to jump the gun a bit.

This creamy chicken and wild rice soup is the perfect, comforting soup for the cooler temperatures. Dotted with colorful veggies, the simple flavors make this a definite crowd/family pleaser.

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

My friend, Machele, brought this soup to a lunch gathering at my house a few weeks ago. Dunking in bits of this Rustic Crusty Bread (that I had made into an Asiago cheese version, be still my heart), and I was in soup heaven. Speaking of heaven, heaven knows, I didn’t need to be adding carb dunks to a soup already laden with rice, but I couldn’t be stopped. It was too delicious.

Of course, it’s glorious and hearty just by itself. You’ve got to love meals where all the goodness is trapped in one bowl.

Easy enough for a hectic weeknight, my family all agrees (yes, a rare thing), that this creamy wild rice soup is a favorite, and it should go on repeat (and perhaps replace the not-so-well received sausage and bean soup I made last week).

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

As a sidenote, I don’t know if any of you have noticed, but I’ve been a bit of a slacker lately in the What to Serve department. Usually I include two or three links of great side dish ideas when I post a main dish (right down there above the recipe).

I’ve totally forgotten this important detail on the last few main dish recipes I’ve posted. Sorry about that. Can I blame it on something? Too much chocolate? Hmmm. Too little chocolate? Yeah, probably that.

Considering no one has let me know, I’m not sure those ideas are really being used, but hey, the fact that I remembered what I had forgotten feels like a huge success right now. And I like including them for my own benefit (you know, waning brainpower around dinnertime and all that).

This creamy chicken and wild rice soup is delicious without a lot of extra side dishes, but you could throw some fresh fruit or sliced cheese on the table (and additional carbs if you can’t resist, like me) and call it good.

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

What To Serve Fresh fruit
Sliced cheese
Rustic Crusty Bread (or other bread, like these easy breadsticks or a dinner roll)

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Simple Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Yield: 6-8 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter
1/2 to 3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup finely chopped carrots (about 3 to 4 medium carrots)
1 cup finely chopped celery (about 3 stalks)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 cups cooked wild rice or wild rice blend
2 cups cooked, cubed chicken (a rotisserie chicken works great here, see note for other easy solutions)
1 cup half-and-half, evaporated milk or milk (preferably 2% or higher for creaminess)
Chopped chives for garnish (optional)

Instructions

In a large pot, melt the butter and add the onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are mostly tender, 5-7 minutes.
Add the flour and stir to combine, cooking another 30 seconds or so.
Gradually add the chicken broth, stirring or whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Stir in the salt, pepper, and cooked rice.
Bring the soup to a gentle simmer, and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often to make sure it's not sticking on the bottom.
Add the chicken. Stir in the half-and-half or milk. Simmer for 3-4 more minutes. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.
Serve, garnishing with fresh chives (optional).

Notes

Keep in mind the soup calls for cooked rice and chicken. I almost always have rotisserie chicken meat in my freezer, otherwise this simple skillet method works great when you need cooked chicken. You could also use raw chicken, cut it into small bite-size pieces, and cook it at the beginning in a tablespoon of oil or butter. Remove it to a plate before proceeding with the recipe instructions.

Wild rice or a wild rice blend works great in this soup. If you salt the water for the rice (or if it has additional seasonings), make sure to compensate when using salt in the soup.