Crockpot Chicken Wild Rice Soup
A comforting and hearty soup made with tender chicken, wild rice, and fresh vegetables, perfect for chilly days.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup wild rice, rinsed and drained
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1-2 teaspoons dried thyme (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- to taste Salt and pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter version)
- 2 cups baby spinach or kale (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
Preparation
- Start by washing and chopping your vegetables. Dice the onion, carrots, and celery, and mince the garlic. Rinse and drain the wild rice thoroughly in cold water.
Cooking
- Lay the rinsed wild rice in the bottom of the crockpot. Then, add the diced onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Next, place the chicken breasts on top of the vegetable mixture.
- Pour the chicken broth over the ingredients in the crockpot. Sprinkle in the dried thyme, rosemary, and season with salt and pepper. Stir gently to combine all the ingredients.
- Cover the crockpot with the lid. Set it to cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, depending on your schedule.
- Once the cooking time is complete, carefully remove the chicken breasts from the crockpot. Use two forks to shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the shredded chicken to the soup.
- Stir in the heavy cream (or half-and-half) and add the baby spinach or kale if using. Allow it to heat through for about 10 minutes.
- Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning as necessary. Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, and serve warm.
Notes
Use fresh ingredients for the best flavor. Rinse wild rice thoroughly to remove excess starch. You can adjust the soup's consistency by adding more broth or cream as needed. Feel free to experiment with different herbs and vegetables for added complexity.