Description
A comforting, one-pot wild rice soup made with shredded chicken, fresh thyme, and creamy broth. This rustic dish is perfect for cold days and uses simple pantry ingredients for maximum flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and diced
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup wild rice (blend of wild and brown rice)
- 6 cups chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast or thighs, shredded
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4–5 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: 1 cup green beans, 1 cup sliced mushrooms, 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, lemon zest
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Dice onion, carrots, and celery; mince garlic; strip thyme leaves.
- Melt butter in a large Dutch oven or stockpot over medium heat.
- Add onion, carrots, and celery; sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to brown it.
- Add wild rice and toast for 1-2 minutes to release nutty flavors.
- Pour in chicken broth and add bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.
- Cover partially and simmer for 45-50 minutes until wild rice is tender.
- Add shredded chicken and fresh thyme leaves; simmer for 5 minutes to heat through.
- Stir in heavy cream and heat gently for 2 minutes (do not boil).
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Remove bay leaf.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley, black pepper, and optional sour cream or crusty bread.
Notes
Wild rice takes time to cook, so simmer low and slow. Toasting the rice before adding broth enhances flavor. If the soup is too salty, add a diced potato while simmering to absorb excess salt. For a lighter version, use half-and-half or milk instead of heavy cream. Fresh thyme is preferred over dried for better flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 22
Keywords: chicken soup, wild rice soup, comfort food, one pot meal, winter soup, thyme chicken soup, healthy soup, meal prep