This slow cooker chicken and rice soup is filled with lots of chicken, wild rice and veggies for one comforting meal that’s sure to warm you up on the coldest of days. It’s like a big ol’ hug in a bowl!
I seem to be on a soup kick lately. I can’t help myself! They’re just too simple to whip up. Plus, I can’t stand the cold and I need all the comfort food I can get.
The older I get, the less I can handle being chilly. As I think about it, I guess I’m quite finicky because I don’t like it too hot either. Anyway, this slow cooker chicken and rice soup is totally delicious!
Ingredients Needed
What I love about this slow cooker chicken and rice soup (besides the taste, of course), is aside from a couple minor finishing things at the end, it’s all dump and go.
Place everything in your slow cooker and go about your business. Come back a little while later, serve yourself a bowl and enjoy!
All you need is:
- A good quality store-bought broth (or homemade)
- Chicken breast
- Wild rice
- Carrots and celery
- Aromatics, like onion and garlic
- Seasoning, like salt, pepper, dried herbs and bay leaves
- A touch of cream
- And, if you like, flour and butter to make a flour roux (totally optional)
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup
Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
- Next, add rice.
- Veggies are added next.
- Pour in broth and seasoning. Cover and cook.
- After time is up, carefully remove chicken and shred. Place back into slow cooker.
- Add cream and stir.
- Make a roux on the stovetop and stir into slow cooker.
- Portion, garnish and enjoy!
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Best Rice to Use
Use regular wild rice, not white, pre-cooked or a wild rice blend.
Do I Have to Cook Wild Rice Before Adding to Soup?
No! Just put it right into the slow cooker as it is and it will cook along with the rest of the ingredients.
What is a Flour Roux?
A roux is a mixture of flour and fat, usually as equal proportions, and used as a thickening agent in soups, stews, sauces and gravies. Most often butter is used as the fat component (as used in this chicken rice soup).
Making a roux is easy! Simply melt butter in a pan, stir in flour to form a paste and cook for a few minutes until it forms a paste and the flour taste is gone. You don’t want to overcook or brown the roux too much because it will lose some of it’s thickening abilities if you do this.
Can I Make This Soup Gluten Free?
Absolutely! Wild rice is naturally gluten free.
So, instead of using a flour roux to thicken the slow cooker chicken soup, use a cornstarch slurry. Simply mix about ½ tablespoon of cornstarch with ½ tablespoon of cold water in a cup and stir into the slow cooker and cook for a few minutes during the last few minutes of cook time.
Cornstarch is a more potent thickening agent than flour, so that’s why you need less cornstarch than flour.
Remember, if you want things even thicker you could always add more cornstarch slurry.
More Recipe Tips
Boneless and skinless chicken breasts in this recipe, but you could use chicken thighs or a combo of both, if you prefer.
Cook time is 5 to 6 hours on low. Since each slow cooker varies, check on at 5 hours.
If you want the soup thicker, add more roux.
This chicken wild rice soup is just a touch creamy, but not overwhelmingly so. If you want a super creamy chicken and wild rice soup, simply add more cream, up to 1.5 cups.
‘Unsalted’ chicken broth was used here. If you use anything otherwise, like ‘low sodium’ or regular, you will have to adjust salt accordingly.
More Cozy Soup Recipes
- Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
- Roasted Cauliflower Leek Soup with Cheddar
- Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup
- Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup from Ciao Chow Bambina
Hope you love this homemade chicken and rice soup as much as we do!
If you make this easy chicken and rice soup, please leave a comment below. Love to hear how you enjoyed!
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Easy Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless and skinless chicken breasts (or boneless and skinless chicken thighs)
- ¾ cup wild rice , rinsed and drained
- 1 onion , peeled and chopped
- 3 stalks carrot , peeled and chopped
- 3 stalks celery , chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 2 teaspoons dried Herbes de Provence (or mixture of thyme, oregano, and rosemary, or similar herbs)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1.5 teaspoons black pepper
- 8 cups unsalted chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ½ cup heavy cream (up to 1.5 cups if you want things super creamy)
- Fresh parsley or chives (garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Place all ingredients (except butter, flour, and cream) in a slow cooker, cover, turn on low and cook 5 to 6 hours (I place chicken in the slow cooker first, then rice, veggies, herbs and broth).
- After 5 to 6 hours (and when chicken is fully cooked), carefully remove chicken, place in a bowl and shred meat with two forks. Place chicken back into slow cooker.
- Stir in cream.
- Then, melt butter on the stovetop in a small non-stick pot or pan. Add flour and stir to form a paste, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir into slow cooker. Remove and discard bay leaves.
- Portion and garnish with chopped parsley or chives, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Boneless and skinless chicken breasts in this recipe, but you could use chicken thighs or a combo of both, if you prefer.
- Cook time is 5 to 6 hours on low. Since each slow cooker varies, check on at 5 hours.
- If you want the soup thicker, add more roux.
- This chicken wild rice soup is just a touch creamy, but not overwhelmingly so. If you want a super creamy chicken and wild rice soup, simply add more cream, up to 1.5 cups.
- ‘Unsalted’ chicken broth was used here. If you use anything otherwise, like ‘low sodium’ or regular, you will have to adjust salt accordingly.
Nutrition (ESTIMATE ONLY)
Nutrition estimate (if provided) is based on 1 serving.
Nutrition information (if provided) is provided as a courtesy and should be considered an estimate only. Ingredients can vary and Girl Heart Food makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are guidelines only.
Jo
Do you think I could substitute the flour? I’m gluten free
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Hi Jo! Most certainly! You can use 1/2 tbsp of cornstarch mixed with 1/2 tbsp of cold water. Pour into slow cooker and warm through until thickened. You can add more if you like things extra thick. Enjoy 🙂
Elaine
Love Dump & Go soups like this one! And having something simmering in the slow cooker seems to make those chilly winter days a little warmer! Pinned.
Girl Heart Food
Me too! Thanks so much Elaine 🙂
Sabrina
Yum, so delicious and comforting. I love the creaminess from slow cooking it with rice and the roux. Definitely a family favourite one pot wonder 🙂
Girl Heart Food
For sure! Thank you Sabrina 🙂
Cathy
I love dump and go recipes! This soup is just the thing for a cold day like the one we’re having here! Wild rice makes it really special.
Girl Heart Food
Me too! Thanks Cathy! Stay warm 🙂
mimi rippee
I love this soup! Wild rice is so fun. I always have some on hand. Thanks for the recipe!
Girl Heart Food
Thanks so much Mimi 🙂
Karen (Back Road Journal)
Wild rice is an underused ingredient and is perfect for your comforting soup.
Girl Heart Food
I agree! Thanks Karen 🙂
Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl
Love a cozy soup – especially in the Winter! This one looks particularly amazing! Love the addition of the wild rice! Definitely putting this one on my list to try 🙂 <3
Girl Heart Food
Me too! Thank you Haylie! Hope you love it 🙂
Leanne | Crumb Top Baking
I’m totally on a soup kick too lately. I just want to hibernate in my house and eat all the cozy, comfort food until April! And this creamy chicken soup would definitely be on the menu! Love the convenience of making it in the slow cooker! What a perfect soup to prep on a Sunday afternoon. Stay warm Dawn!
Girl Heart Food
Right?? Thanks so much, Leanne! Stay warm too 🙂
Ben|Havocinthekitchen
January and February are the months when I enjoy soup a lot – indeed, I don’t see any other serious purpose these months could possibly serve haha. We normally just make a huge pot on Sunday to enjoy throughout the week. And you cannot beat the combo of chicken and rice; that’s quintessence of winter comfort food, in my book. Now, pass me a huge spoon please!
Girl Heart Food
Haha! I hear ya 😉 Virtually handing you a spoon, Ben 🙂 Thanks so much!
Valentina
I don’t have a slow cooker, but thinking this would be great in my Dutch oven. 🙂 Love the addition of theherbs de provence. Yum! Looks so delicious. I’ve been experimenting with making a roux with gluten-free flour (my son has Celiac Disease). Have you ever tried it?
Girl Heart Food
Yes, that would totally work! And a little less cooking time 😉 I haven’t tried a roux with gluten free flour, but do often thicken with a cornstarch slurry. That would work here too 🙂 Hope you enjoy this soup, Valentina! Thanks so much!
Kevin
Any soup made in a slow cooker is my kind of meal. This is such a hearty and satisfying soup for these winter days!
Girl Heart Food
I agree! Thank you Kevin 🙂
Laura
I’m totally on that same page, Dawn! Take the chill away with a nice big pot of hearty delicious soup! I can’t get enough either and this recipe will just add to my growing repertoire – my family thanks you! Pinning!
Girl Heart Food
Yay! Thanks so very much, Laura! Enjoy :)!!
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
This is comfort in a bowl. I’m with you about not wanting to be cold and this soup is the perfect remedy. I really like that it can be made in the slow cooker – easy peasy! Keep those soups coming! 😉 .
Girl Heart Food
Totally! Thanks Kathy…I sure will 😉
Milena
Mmm, love how creamy and comforting it looks! I have all the ingredients for this soup (love wild rice!) so my slow cooker can start getting excited. Easy dinner tonight:)
Girl Heart Food
Woo ho! Enjoy, my friend 🙂
Katherine | Love In My Oven
Flour-ey, hah! It’s a word in the food blogging world I’m sure. I LOVE your soup kick. Soup and winter go hand in hand! This one is on the must-try list. So hearty and comforting! Hope you had a great weekend Dawn!
Girl Heart Food
I’m sure 😉 Thank you Katherine! Hope you guys love it as much as we do 🙂 Have an awesome week!
Kelly | Foodtasia
Dawn, this soup looks delicious! Love the wild rice in it. And slow cookers are the best. Nothing says welcome home like opening the door to the lovely smells of a cooked meal. I’m with you on the temperature – there’s such a narrow comfort range!
Girl Heart Food
I agree! So warming, isn’t it?? Thanks so much, Kelly! Have a lovely week 🙂
Marissa
I’m all about cooking in my slow cooker right now and this soup looks incredibly delicious! Can’t wait to try it! Thank you for the inspiration, my friend!
Girl Heart Food
Me too! Hope you love it! Thanks Marissa 🙂
[email protected]
If there’s ever a time to be on a soup kick, it is now! We need all the comfort we can get – the weather has been rather arctic!! This soup fits the bill, my dear! Delicious! Happy Monday! XOXO
Girl Heart Food
I agree!! Thanks so much, my friend! Have a wonderful week 🙂 XOXO
David @ Spiced
Oh man, I absolutely love wild rice in a soup! Funny story: we actually requested a soup with wild rice in it for the starter course at our wedding dinner. Yeah, we like it that much! Not only does the rice bring so much flavor, but the texture is perfect when combined with a yummy, creamy soup. Needless to say, this recipe is going on the short list here in our house. It sounds and looks delicious, Dawn!!
Girl Heart Food
Wow! You really love it! I can see why 😉 Thanks so much, David! Have a great week!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
This looks like one delicious bowl of comfort Dawn! So packed with heartiness! Can’t wait to add it to our soup lineup! Pinned! Hope you have a wonderful week!
Girl Heart Food
Totally! Thanks Mary Ann! Hope you love it 🙂 Have a wonderful week too!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
This looks so good, Dawn! Like you, I seem to grow less tolerant of cold by the day and it’s been more chilly here than usual. All I feel like eating is soup and I’d love to sit down to a bowl of this today! Have a great week!
Girl Heart Food
Right? Glad I’m not the only one 😉 Thanks Kelsie! Have a great week too!
Lauren Vavala | DeliciousLittleBites
This soup is just perfect for the snowy weather we are having here! Love that it’s a slow cooker version! Yum!
Girl Heart Food
Definitely! Thanks so much Lauren 🙂