Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup has been a family favorite soup recipe for years! Warm, comforting chicken soup with wild rice, carrots, celery, and shredded chicken in a creamy soup. This slow cooker soup recipe is a dump & go crock pot recipe that cooks all day and makes the most tender, perfectly flavored chicken.
If your family loves creamy soups like mine then be sure and try this cream cheese chicken soup and this creamy chicken noodle soup.
Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup Recipe (Made in the Slow Cooker)
This creamy and comforting chicken wild rice soup has been a favorite at my house. Easy to make with a box of wild rice, some fresh veggies, chicken broth, and chicken breasts. The chicken gets fall apart tender and so flavorful thanks to the seasoning packet included in the rice box.
Even kids will love this chicken and vegetable filled soup thanks to the creamy texture and mild taste. Our favorite way to eat this soup is inside bread bowls!
What You'll Need
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this soup recipe, along with some tips I have for what to use.
- Chicken Broth - It's best to use full salt chicken broth, rather than reduced-sodium, in this recipe. You want that extra salt to hold up to the long cook time. The slow cooker can mute flavors over the long cook time.
- Water
- Chicken Breasts - Use boneless, skinless chicken breast in this recipe. If they are really large then cut them in half, lengthwise or just in half is fine.
- Carrots - I use baby carrots for this recipe. No need to peel and they're already small so all you have to do is slice them thin.
- Celery
- Rice-a-Roni Wild Rice Mix - Do not discard the seasoning packet as you will need it for the seasonings.
- Flour + Salt + Pepper + Butter - This is the base for the roux. A roux is just a thickening mixture that makes a creamy soup thick and creamy. I use salted butter.
- Fat-Free Half & Half Milk - I prefer this when I make it. You can also use whole milk or 2% milk, and 1% milk would probably work fine too.
How To Make Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
With only a few minutes prep time this creamy chicken soup is fairly easy to make. It does require an extra step for right before serving to get that creamy and thick base.
Slow Cooker : Add the broth, water, carrots, celery, wild rice mix, and the seasoning packet from the rice. Lay the chicken breasts in the broth.
Cook : Cook on LOW heat for 6-7 hours.
Chicken : Take the chicken breasts out and shred with two forks. Add back into the soup.
Roux : Melt the butter, in a saucepan, over medium-high heat. Once melted, add the flour, salt, & pepper. Stir for 1 minute with a whisk. Slowly add the half & half milk, while whisking constantly. Once mixed well and smooth, it will be thick, pour into the slow cooker and stir.
Tips For Success
Here are a few of my tips to help this recipe be a success in your kitchen.
- Use Fat-Free Half & Half : Half and half milk is half cream and half milk. You want the fat-free version of this in this soup. I have tried using the regular, full-fat milk and it is really thick. I prefer the fat-free half & half milk when I make this. You can also use whole milk or 2% if that's what you have in your fridge.
- Don't Pre-Cook The Wild Rice : Do not cook the rice before adding it into the slow cooker! It will cook to perfection in the cook time. Promise.
- Seasoning Packet : I know some don't like using the seasoning packets but there really is no substitute for it. I guess you could find out what is in those seasoning packets and then replicate it, but I don't have any tips on that. The seasoning packet adds all the flavor you need. It really is yummy.
- Carrots : To make it easy use baby carrots in this recipe. No need to peel them and they are already small in size so all you have to do is slice them.
- Chicken Broth : I think it's best to use full salt chicken broth, rather than the reduced-sodium broth, in this recipe. You want that extra salt because of the longer cook time. The slow cooker tends to mute flavors because it cooks for several hours. Reduced-sodium broth can be used if that's what you prefer.
Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup FAQ's
- Serving Suggestions
- I love to make my one hour rolls for this recipe, if you want something really easy then try my easy parmesan garlic knots, or this easy breadsticks recipe.
- You can also buy some French bread or other crusty roll in the deli of the grocery store, or even some frozen rolls that you heat up in the oven.
- This soup is also really good served in a bread bowl. Use the extra bread to dip into the creamy soup!
- How Long Will Leftovers Last?
- Leftovers of the soup will keep well in an air-tight container, like Tupperware with a lid, for 3-4 days. Once chicken is cooked it should only be in the fridge for 3-4 days. Heat up leftovers in the microwave or in a soup pot on the stove top.
- Can Creamy Based Soups Be Frozen?
- Soups that contain milk or cream, like creamy soups and chowders, don't hold up well in the freezer. The dairy will take on a grainy texture and separate when defrosted or rewarmed. If you want to freeze this creamy chicken wild rice soup then don't add the creamy base. Cook the soup in the slow cooker according to directions. Shred the chicken and add it back in. Let soup cool and then freeze in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, let the soup thaw in the fridge, and then make the roux (the creamy milk base) and add it in before serving.
More Family Favorite Soup Recipes
Minestrone Soup : Full of all the good stuff like spinach, pasta, beans, and veggies. You won't even miss the meat in this one!
Hamburger Soup : One of the most popular soup recipes on my site. Hearty, comforting, and simple to make with frozen veggies and ground beef.
Pasta Fagioli Soup : Just like Olive Garden but way better! A jar of spaghetti sauce really adds lots of richness and flavor.
Creamy Tomato Basil Soup : Made in the slow cooker with canned tomatoes and fresh parmesan cheese.
Cheesy Vegetable Chowder : One of my favorites! Cheesy and creamy, and a surprise ingredient thanks to the gravy mix packet. Trust me, it's good.
Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup
Ingredients
- 1 carton (32 oz) chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 box (4.3 oz) Rice-a-Roni Long Grain & Wild Rice
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups fat-free half & half
Instructions
- Add chicken broth, water, carrots, celery, wild rice, seasoning packet (included in box) into the insert of the slow cooker. Stir together and put chicken breasts inside.
- Cover with lid and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours.
- When done cooking take out chicken breasts and shred with two forks. Return back to the slow cooker.
- In small bowl combine the flour, salt, and pepper.
- In a medium saucepan over medium high heat, melt the butter. Add in the flour mixture and stir with a whisk. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
- Slowly add in the half & half milk, while whisking constantly, until smooth and incorporated. Cook and stir for a few minutes until slightly thickened. This won't take long.
- Pour into the slow cooker, stir together to combine, and let cook on low for an additional 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
As soon as this Florida heat cools down, I'm gonna try this out. I love a good soup, and this looks like it's very promising!
I've been craving a hearty soup lately (yes even in the 100 degree heat in Texas). I don't discriminate when it comes to eating and weather. July is my birthday month too so happy birthday to you!! Thank you for sharing with us at Merry Monday!
Oh, yay for July birthdays!! I'm with you on the soup and weather thing...... I eat it anytime 🙂
Love the recipe but too much butter, do you think it would be good with !/2 the amount?
Hi Betty. Yes, I am sure you could reduce the butter. I would not reduce it more than half. I have never done it so I can't promise that the texture will be the same. Maybe not quite as rich & thick? I'm sure it would still be good! I hope you try it.
I will, thank you!
How many servings is this?
Hey Janelle! If I had to guess I would say 6 adult servings. I have a large 5 qt crock pot and it is about 3/4 full, and we always have lots of leftovers. It makes really yummy leftovers 🙂 I hope that helps you.
What about the seasoning packet?
Sorry Barb. My comment approval and reply, from my end, have been having trouble lately. You add the seasoning packet along with the broth and the vegetables and the dried rice. I have changed the recipe. Thanks for letting me know.
How many servings does this make?
When I make this we always have leftovers. My family is 2 adults and then 4 kids (3 who eat dinner). I would say at least 6 healthy size adult servings.
How would you prepare this on the stove ?
I wish I could help you. I have never made this on the stove top so I would not even know what to suggest or where to start.
I love your recipes but they would be so much better if the nutritional information was provided.
Well thank you!I have actually been looking into a recipe card that provides nutrition info. Although, with some of the recipes I post I would rather just not know 🙂 I will try and get it figured it out soon and see what I can do.
Made this for dinner today. Followed instructions to a T. Turned out delicious. Loved it!!!
So good to hear! We LOVE this soup. Even my "rice-haters" gobble this stuff up.
Can you use regular Wild Rice instead of 1 box (4.3 oz) Rice-a-Roni Long Grain & Wild Rice
Yes, you can but you would need to add your own seasonings since you won't be using the seasoning packet that comes with the rice. My friend just posted this recipe that uses the wild rice not from the box. You could give it a try 🙂 http://tornadoughalli.com/2017/11/slow-cooker-chicken-wild-rice-soup/
I made this recipe and it was yummy except that I thought the carrots were not as soft and the rice was a little too soft. Maybe I should cook the veggies in the broth for a little bit and then add the rice and water and seasoning packet? Just wondering if anyone else had this happen. Thanks for a good recipe.
I've never had a problem with the carrots not softening. Be sure you are shredding your own carrots. The pre shredded carrots you get in the store are thicker and bigger, so yes those ones probably will not soften up as much. Shred your own on a cheese grater and they should soften just fine 🙂
Made this a month ago for the first time. I’ve made it at least 5x’s since then. My whole family LOVES it.
Yay! I love hearing stuff like this. My family loves this one too.
This recipe sounded so yummy, but I was already too late in the day to attempt the crock pot and had tons of leftover shredded chicken from the night before, so I tried a stove top version and it turned out SO YUMMY!! So I thought I would share for those of you curious if this works on the stove top or not! Since I already had cooked shredded chicken ready to go, I also cooked the rice beforehand. In a large pot I sautéed my veggies first, then poured in my chicken broth (subtracting the amount of water I used to cook my rice in) and brought to a boil. I turned the stove top down to a simmer, and added in my chicken and rice, meanwhile preparing the butter/flour/half and half mixture exactly as you did, and then added it into the simmering soup, I allowed it to simmer for another 30 minutes before serving and it was a big hit! I definitely want to try the crockpot version when I am more prepared but even quick on the stovetop this soup turned out so yummy, it's going to be a staple from now on! Thank you for sharing 🙂
I made this today, and it tastes good but it's really thick! I added and extra two cups of water when it was almost done, and it's still really thick.
This recipe is amazing. My go to for company. I have made it at least 5 times already. So delicious every time. Everyone raves about it! And many have asked for the recipe. So, I've shared! Thank you!!
I love reading comments like this. So happy you love this recipe and thank you for sharing the recipe!
Perfect soup recipe for a chilly, rainy fall evening! It turned out so good I had to quickly get it in the fridge so I wouldn’t eat 4 servings! Even my 2 picky, soup hating kids devoured it! Thank you so much, I’ve been sharing this with all my mama friends!
Hi. Have you tried it in an Instant Pot? I'm thinking 30 - 40 minutes? Thanks!
I have not tried this recipe in the IP. I know there are recipes for the Instant Pot version of this soup out there (I would search Pinterest) but this particular one is for the slow cooker.
All 3 of my small, picky eaters ate this up!
It looks delicious!! So you put the chicken breasts in the crock pot raw?
Yes put raw chicken in the slow cooker. The cook time is several hours so it ends up getting super tender and falls apart with a fork. So yummy!
I’ve been making this soup on and off since 2017 and it’s still at the top of my list.
I love that! Thanks for being here and making this recipe. So happy to hear you Love it.