Creamy Chicken Mushroom Wild Rice (Printer-friendly)

Hearty slow cooker soup with tender chicken, mushrooms, wild rice, and creamy broth.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 cups sliced cremini or button mushrooms
03 - 1 cup diced carrots
04 - 1 cup diced celery
05 - 1 medium onion, diced
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Grains

07 - 3/4 cup uncooked wild rice, rinsed

→ Liquid & Dairy

08 - 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 1 cup heavy cream
10 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter

→ Seasonings

11 - 1 tsp dried thyme
12 - 1 tsp dried rosemary
13 - 1 bay leaf
14 - 1 1/2 tsp salt, plus more to taste
15 - 3/4 tsp black pepper

→ Thickener

16 - 1/4 cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour

# How To Make It:

01 - Add chicken, mushrooms, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, wild rice, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper to the slow cooker.
02 - Pour in the chicken broth and stir everything together to distribute evenly.
03 - Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and the wild rice is tender.
04 - Transfer the chicken to a plate and shred it using two forks, then return the shredded meat to the slow cooker.
05 - In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour to form a roux and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
06 - Slowly whisk the heavy cream into the roux and heat until the mixture thickens, then stir it into the slow cooker.
07 - Stir well, re-cover, and continue cooking on LOW for an additional 20 to 30 minutes until the soup is creamy and heated through.
08 - Remove and discard the bay leaf, taste the soup, and adjust seasoning as needed. Ladle into bowls and serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The wild rice gives every spoonful a satisfying chew that regular rice simply cannot match
  • Six hours of hands off cooking means your kitchen smells incredible all afternoon without you lifting a finger
02 -
  • The roux can clump if you pour the cream in too fast, so add it in a thin stream while whisking constantly
  • Wild rice takes longer than you think to soften, do not be tempted to cut the cooking time short or you will end up with hard grains in the middle
03 -
  • Throw in a handful of fresh spinach right after you add the cream mixture for a pop of color and extra nutrition
  • If you forget to rinse the wild rice, you might find tiny dark bits floating around, harmless but not the prettiest presentation

Go Back