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. Anywho – this slow cooker chicken and rice soup is the bomb dot com 😉
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
- Place chicken, rice, veggies, herbs and broth in slow cooker and set temp to ‘low’. Cook 5-6 hours.
- After time is up, carefully remove chicken and shred. Place back in 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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What’s the Best Rice to Use?
Use regular wild rice, not white, pre-cooked or a wild rice blend….just straight up wild rice.
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 a Gluten Free Chicken and Rice Soup?
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 1/2 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1/2 tablespoon of cold water in a cup and pour/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/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.
Because there’s rice in there, leftovers may thicken. Upon reheating, you may need to add a little broth to loosen.
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 Soup Recipes You May Enjoy
- Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup – Similar to this creamy chicken and wild rice soup, this split pea soup with ham is simply made in the slow cooker. It’s hearty and just the thing you’ll want on a cold day!
- Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup – Such a comfort food classic! With lots of chicken, veggies, egg noodles and dill, it’s super flavourful.
- Roasted Cauliflower Leek Soup with Cheddar – This savoury soup is loaded with veggies and is so yummy with a big hunk of crusty bread for dunking!
- Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Soup – This fall classic is super creamy from the addition of Greek yogurt. So good!
- Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup from Annie of Ciao Chow Bambina – Hearty, creamy and topped with bacon…what’s not to love?
Hope you love this homemade chicken and rice soup as much as we do!
Until next time, take care and chit chat again soon,
Dawn
Make this easy chicken and rice soup? That’s awesome! Love it if you left a comment below. Many thanks!
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Easy Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless and skinless chicken breasts (or boneless/skinless chicken thighs)
- 3/4 cup wild rice , rinsed
- 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
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (up to 1.5 cups if you want things super creamy)
Suggested Garnish
- fresh parsley or chives – garnish, optional
Instructions
- Place all ingredients (except butter, flour, and cream) in slow cooker, turn on low and cook 5 to 6 hours. (I place chicken first, then rice, veggies, herbs and stock).
- After 5 to 6 hours, 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 stove-top 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 parsley or chopped chives, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Boneless/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.
- Because there’s rice in there, leftovers may thicken. Upon reheating, you may need to add a little stock to loosen.
- 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.
- For more recipe tips, see body of post above.
Nutrition (estimate only)
Do you think I could substitute the flour? I’m gluten free
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 🙂
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.
Me too! Thanks so much Elaine 🙂
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 🙂
For sure! Thank you Sabrina 🙂
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.
Me too! Thanks Cathy! Stay warm 🙂
I love this soup! Wild rice is so fun. I always have some on hand. Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks so much Mimi 🙂
Wild rice is an underused ingredient and is perfect for your comforting soup.
I agree! Thanks Karen 🙂
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
Me too! Thank you Haylie! Hope you love it 🙂
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!
Right?? Thanks so much, Leanne! Stay warm too 🙂
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!
Haha! I hear ya 😉 Virtually handing you a spoon, Ben 🙂 Thanks so much!
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?
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!
Any soup made in a slow cooker is my kind of meal. This is such a hearty and satisfying soup for these winter days!
I agree! Thank you Kevin 🙂
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!
Yay! Thanks so very much, Laura! Enjoy :)!!
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! 😉 .
Totally! Thanks Kathy…I sure will 😉
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:)
Woo ho! Enjoy, my friend 🙂
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!
I’m sure 😉 Thank you Katherine! Hope you guys love it as much as we do 🙂 Have an awesome week!
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!
I agree! So warming, isn’t it?? Thanks so much, Kelly! Have a lovely week 🙂
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!
Me too! Hope you love it! Thanks Marissa 🙂
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
I agree!! Thanks so much, my friend! Have a wonderful week 🙂 XOXO
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!!
Wow! You really love it! I can see why 😉 Thanks so much, David! Have a great week!
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!
Totally! Thanks Mary Ann! Hope you love it 🙂 Have a wonderful week too!
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!
Right? Glad I’m not the only one 😉 Thanks Kelsie! Have a great week too!
This soup is just perfect for the snowy weather we are having here! Love that it’s a slow cooker version! Yum!
Definitely! Thanks so much Lauren 🙂