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Cozy One-Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup

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A warm, comforting one-pot soup featuring tender chicken, earthy root vegetables, and nutty wild rice, perfect for chilly evenings and busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound / 450g), cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 3/4 cup (140g) wild rice or wild rice blend
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 1 large parsnip, peeled and diced
  • 1 small celery root (celeriac), peeled and cubed (optional)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups (1.4 liters) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk or heavy cream (optional; can substitute almond or oat milk for dairy-free)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Ingredients (10 minutes): Chop carrots, parsnip, onion, and celery root into small, uniform pieces. Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks. Mince garlic.
  2. Sauté Aromatics (5 minutes): Heat olive oil and butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds without browning.
  3. Add Root Vegetables and Chicken (5 minutes): Add diced carrots, parsnip, and celery root. Stir and soften for about 3 minutes. Add chicken pieces and cook until edges start to brown, about 2 minutes.
  4. Stir in Wild Rice and Herbs (1 minute): Add wild rice blend, thyme, and bay leaf. Stir to coat ingredients with butter and oil.
  5. Add Broth and Simmer (40 minutes): Pour in chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer gently with lid slightly ajar for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through. Add extra broth or water if soup is too thick.
  6. Finish and Season (5 minutes): Remove bay leaf. Stir in milk or cream if using. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Adjust seasoning as needed.
  7. Serve Warm: Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh thyme or parsley if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Brown chicken lightly to add flavor but avoid overcooking as it will finish cooking during simmering. Use low heat for gentle simmering to keep rice texture pleasant. Stir occasionally but gently to prevent sticking. Adjust liquid as needed since wild rice absorbs a lot. Remove bay leaf before serving. For thicker soup, mash some cooked root vegetables before adding cream. Can substitute almond or oat milk for dairy-free version. Soup tastes better the next day as flavors meld. Add extra broth or water when reheating leftovers to loosen consistency.

Nutrition

Keywords: one-pot soup, chicken soup, wild rice soup, comfort food, root vegetables, easy dinner, gluten-free, cozy meal

Find it online: https://cheerycrisp.com/cozy-one-pot-chicken-wild-rice-soup-recipe-easy-homemade-comfort-meal/