Recipe: Slow-Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
If what you crave in a soup is pure comfort, perhaps with a side of childhood nostalgia, then you should get out your slow cooker right now. With a medley of shredded chicken, wild rice, thick-cut veggies, and a creamy broth, this easy soup nails cozy and comforting.
The Easy Way to Get Your Wild Rice Fix
As much as I love the nutty bite of wild rice, it is far too easy to grow impatient waiting for it to cook. But it’s slow cook time is actually a quality that makes it a prime candidate for a slow-cooker soup.
Filled with shredded chicken and classic soup veggies like celery and carrots, this soup is a set-it-and-forget-it recipe that asks little of you and lets you go about your business for as long as eight hours.
Add a Creamy Finishing Touch
At the very end of cooking, you make a buttery roux to thicken the soup and add a splash of whole milk to give it a creamy, luxurious texture.
Slow-Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Serves 6 to 8
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 8 cups
low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 pound
boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup
wild rice
- 1
medium onion, diced
- 3
medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 3
medium celery stalks, chopped
- 1 teaspoon
dried thyme
- 2
bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons
unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons
all-purpose flour
- 1 cup
whole milk, at room temperature
Instructions
Place the broth, chicken, wild rice, onion, carrots, celery, thyme, bay leaves, and salt in a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Cover and cook on the LOW setting for 7 to 8 hours, or on the HIGH setting for 3 to 4 hours.
Transfer the chicken to a cutting board or large plate, and use 2 forks to shred the meat. Return the chicken to the slow cooker.
Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until it's completely incorporated. Cook for about 2 minutes, whisking constantly. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil, then cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture is smooth and thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add and stir into the soup. Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.