Hands down, one of the best soups for the cooler months is Chicken and Wild Rice Soup. The further I’ve moved from Minnesota over the years, the less I hear about it. But come Fall each year – it’s something that I long for! After a day of planting my fall bulbs, it always warms me up.
Wild rice is considered a Minnesota traditional food, grown, harvested and distributed by several indigenous American tribes that are found in northern Minnesota.
My love for chicken and wild rice soup is no secret; peak in my freezer at any given time and you’ll find a few bags of this delicious soup, stored up for that cold fall or winter day. Chicken and wild rice soup is also so yummy when that cold or flu hits, so I love to have it on hand for that friend that falls sick or when the kiddos aren’t feeling well.
Chicken and wild rice soup freezes SO well! I always make way more than we’re going to eat in a week so I can keep stock-piling my stash and never run out.
Packed with Fresh, Healthy Vegetables
Where to Buy the Best Wild Rice
I honestly can’t find wild rice on the shelves in my local grocery store; the closest I can find a “wild rice blend” located in the bulk foods section in my natural grocery store. However, the internet abounds with lots of delicious options.
This time, I went with a brand that I located on Amazon. The price was very reasonable and it has great reviews. My order came with 4 generous bags of black gold!
A little goes a long way, so I suspect that this recent order will last me the year. I keep my rice stored in the bag in which it shipped, in the pantry next to all my other grains. If a recipe calls for brown rice or even white rice, I’ll sub in wild rice.
Choosing the Best Slow Cooker
One of the best gifts I ever received as a newlywed was my first large Crock Pot. I’ve said it a hundred times – Crock Pots make me look like a great cook! Nothing compared to that slow cooked, all-day flavor of rich soups, hearty roasts, spicy chili – the list goes on.
Choosing the right slow cooker is important, and you can’t go wrong with a good old fashioned Crock Pot. There’s a REASON everyone knows the brand. They’re reliable, easy to use, and easy to clean.
Don’t judge – I own three Crock Pots. One for small appetizer dips, a small two-person 4-Quart size, and the large 7-Quart one. For this soup, you can use either the small or the large one. Or adapt as you see fit!
Making Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
This hearty Chicken and Wild Rice Soup couldn’t be easier to make! I love a simple slow cooker soup, and this is one of them…with one extra step. The wild rice has to be cooked ahead of time to help it along.
Cooking Wild Rice
Wild rice requires a lot of liquid to cook, so I prefer to cook mine a little ahead of time. Cook your wild rice according to the package – generally a 1:3 or 1:4 rice/liquid ratio.
Prep Your Vegetables
While the wild rice is cooking, prepare your vegetables. I love big chunks of vegetables in my soup (which makes it heartier, in my opinion), so I cut mine to a 1 inch thickness.
Put It All Together
Combine the vegetables, chicken stock, frozen or thawed chicken breast, and spices in your slow cooker. Add the cooked rice when it’s ready. Cook on high in your slow cooker/Crock Pot for 4 hours or low for 8 hours and enjoy!
The Recipe