Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup combines tender chicken breast, a fragrant blend of herbs, wild rice, and vegetables like carrots, celery, and onion in a rich, buttery broth thickened with a roux and finished with cream and lemon zest. This hearty soup offers a comforting texture and layered flavors suitable for warming meals.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup wild rice blend uncooked
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion (1 small onion)
- 1 cup carrot 2 medium, diced
- 1 cup celery 3 ribs, diced
- 7 Tbsp butter diced, divided
- 1 large garlic minced (1 1/2 tsp, clove
- 4 1/2 cups chicken broth low-sodium
- 1/4 tsp of each dried thyme, marjoram, sage and rosemary (or 1 tsp fresh, minced of any)
- salt to taste, ground black pepper
- black pepper to taste, ground black pepper
- 1 lb chicken breast boneless skinless halves
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp lemon zest
Instructions
- Prepare rice according to directions listed on package.
- Halfway through the rice cooking, in a separate large pot, melt 1 Tbsp butter over medium heat. Add onion, carrots and celery and saute 4 minutes, add garlic and saute 30 seconds longer.
- Add chicken broth, thyme, marjoram, sage, rosemary and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Increase heat to medium-high, add chicken and bring mixture to a boil.
- Cover pot with lid, reduce to medium-low heat and allow mixture to simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 12 - 16 minutes (rotating chicken to opposite side once during cooking for thicker chicken breasts - if they don't fully immerse in broth).
- Remove chicken and set aside on cutting board to cool 5 minutes then shred into small bite size pieces. Leave soup covered over warm heat.
- Meanwhile in a separate medium saucepan, melt remaining 6 Tbsp butter over medium heat. Add flour and cook 1 1/2 minutes, whisking constantly.
- Then while whisking vigorously, slowly pour milk into butter/flour mixture. Whisk in heavy cream. Cook mixture, stirring constantly until it thickens.
- Add milk mixture to soup mixture in pot along with shredded chicken, cooked rice, and lemon zest. Stir well and remove from heat.
- Let soup cool slightly and serve.
Notes
- Use a wild rice blend such as Lundberg Wild Blend Rice for optimal flavor and texture if available.
- Cook the rice separately according to package instructions before combining with soup.