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Cozy Creamy Crockpot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

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A reliable, comforting slow cooker soup featuring tender chicken thighs, chewy wild rice, and a rich creamy broth. This recipe avoids common pitfalls like burning or mushy rice by using a specific low-and-slow method with sautéed aromatics.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and diced into small rounds
  • 3 stalks celery, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup dried wild rice blend (preferably mixed with brown rice)
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon dry thyme
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 1 bay leaf

Instructions

  1. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery; cook for 5-7 minutes until softened. Add garlic in the last minute and cook until fragrant.
  2. Lightly grease the inside of a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray or butter.
  3. Transfer the sautéed vegetable mixture to the slow cooker. Add the dried wild rice blend, thyme, parsley, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Stir to distribute.
  4. Place the chicken thighs on top of the rice and vegetables. Pour in the chicken broth, ensuring ingredients are covered by about an inch of liquid. Stir gently.
  5. Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours. Do not use HIGH heat as it may make the rice mushy and chicken dry.
  6. Check for doneness after 7 hours; rice should be tender but chewy, and chicken easily shreddable. If needed, cook for another 30-60 minutes.
  7. Stir in the heavy cream during the last 30 minutes of cooking to prevent separation.
  8. Remove the bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt or pepper. If too thick, add a splash of broth or water. Serve hot.

Notes

Do not skip the sautéing step for the vegetables, as it builds essential flavor depth. Stir the soup once halfway through cooking to prevent the wild rice from settling and burning on the bottom. Add cream at the very end to maintain a smooth texture. If using chicken breasts, add them in the last 2 hours to prevent drying out. For a dairy-free option, substitute heavy cream with cashew cream.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker soup, chicken and wild rice, crockpot dinner, comfort food, creamy soup, easy weeknight meals, gluten-free soup

Find it online: https://blingbite.com/cozy-creamy-crockpot-chicken-and-wild-rice-soup/