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    Home » Recipes » Soup and Stew Recipes

    Easy Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup

    Published: January 12, 2019 Updated: May 26, 2020 / By: Dawn | Girl Heart Food 44 Comments

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    Bowl of chicken and rice soup garnished with parsley.

    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 hug in a bowl!

    Bowl of chicken and rice soup garnished with parsley.

    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)
    Ingredients for a homemade chicken and rice soup recipe.

    How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup

    Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:

    1. Place chicken breasts and rice in the slow cooker.
    2. Veggies are added next.
    3. Pour in broth and seasoning. Cover and cook.
    4. After the cook time is up, carefully remove chicken and shred. Place back into the slow cooker. Remove and discard bay leaves.
    5. Stir cream into soup.
    6. Make a roux on the stovetop and stir into the slow cooker.
    Collage of steps to make slow cooker chicken and rice soup.

    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.

    Close-up of a bowl of chicken and rice soup garnished with parsley.

    Can I Thicken Without Flour?

    Absolutely!

    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.

    Tips for Making This Recipe

    • 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.
    Bowl of chicken and rice soup alongside celery, parsley and a bay leaf.

    More Cozy Soup Recipes

    • Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup With Ham
    • Homemade Chicken Soup With Spinach and Dill
    • Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Leek Soup With Cheddar
    • Butternut Squash Sweet Potato Soup

    If you make this easy chicken and rice soup, be sure to leave a comment below!

    Bowl of chicken and rice soup alongside herbs and veggies.

    Easy Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup

    Dawn | Girl Heart Food
    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 hug in a bowl!
    5 from 17 votes
    Print Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 5 hrs 5 mins
    Total Time 5 hrs 15 mins
    Course Lunch, Main Course, Soup
    Servings 8 servings
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 pound boneless and skinless chicken breasts
    • ¾ cup wild rice, rinsed and drained
    • 1 onion, peeled and chopped
    • 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
    • 3 ribs celery, chopped
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 2 teaspoons Herbes de Provence, or mixture of dried thyme, oregano, and rosemary, or similar herbs
    • 2 teaspoons salt
    • 1.5 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
    • 8 cups low sodium 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
    • Chopped fresh parsley or chives, garnish to taste (optional)

    Instructions

    • Place chicken breasts into the slow cooker. Then, add wild rice, onion, carrots, celery, bay leaves, garlic, Herbes de Provence, salt, black pepper and broth.
    • Cover, turn on low and cook 5 to 6 hours.
    • After 5 to 6 hours (and when chicken is fully cooked through), carefully remove chicken, place into a bowl and shred meat with two forks. Place chicken back into slow cooker, stirring in. Remove and discard bay leaves.
    • Then melt butter on the stovetop in a small saucepan or non-stick frying pan. Add flour and stir to form a paste. Cook, stirring, for about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir the flour paste into the slow cooker.
    • Stir in cream. 
    • To serve, divide the soup into bowls and top 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 approximately 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 (flour and butter paste).
    • 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.

    A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.

    Keyword easy chicken and rice soup, homemade chicken and rice soup, slow cooker soup

    Tried this recipe?

    If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jo

      August 28, 2019 at 12:36 am

      Do you think I could substitute the flour? I’m gluten free

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        August 28, 2019 at 8:43 am

        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 🙂

        Reply
    2. Elaine

      January 23, 2019 at 7:59 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 24, 2019 at 2:15 pm

        Me too! Thanks so much Elaine 🙂

        Reply
    3. Sabrina

      January 22, 2019 at 8:28 pm

      5 stars
      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 🙂

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 23, 2019 at 10:45 am

        For sure! Thank you Sabrina 🙂

        Reply
    4. Cathy

      January 21, 2019 at 2:34 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 22, 2019 at 2:38 pm

        Me too! Thanks Cathy! Stay warm 🙂

        Reply
    5. mimi rippee

      January 19, 2019 at 12:03 pm

      I love this soup! Wild rice is so fun. I always have some on hand. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 22, 2019 at 2:32 pm

        Thanks so much Mimi 🙂

        Reply
    6. Karen (Back Road Journal)

      January 19, 2019 at 11:44 am

      Wild rice is an underused ingredient and is perfect for your comforting soup.

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 22, 2019 at 2:32 pm

        I agree! Thanks Karen 🙂

        Reply
    7. Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl

      January 16, 2019 at 4:30 pm

      5 stars
      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

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 22, 2019 at 2:26 pm

        Me too! Thank you Haylie! Hope you love it 🙂

        Reply
    8. Leanne | Crumb Top Baking

      January 16, 2019 at 7:08 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 16, 2019 at 2:59 pm

        Right?? Thanks so much, Leanne! Stay warm too 🙂

        Reply
    9. Ben|Havocinthekitchen

      January 15, 2019 at 9:00 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 16, 2019 at 2:59 pm

        Haha! I hear ya 😉 Virtually handing you a spoon, Ben 🙂 Thanks so much!

        Reply
    10. Valentina

      January 15, 2019 at 6:24 pm

      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?

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 16, 2019 at 2:58 pm

        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!

        Reply
    11. Kevin

      January 15, 2019 at 4:06 pm

      5 stars
      Any soup made in a slow cooker is my kind of meal. This is such a hearty and satisfying soup for these winter days!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 16, 2019 at 2:57 pm

        I agree! Thank you Kevin 🙂

        Reply
    12. Laura

      January 15, 2019 at 1:23 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 16, 2019 at 2:57 pm

        Yay! Thanks so very much, Laura! Enjoy :)!!

        Reply
    13. Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop

      January 15, 2019 at 10:09 am

      5 stars
      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! 😉 .

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 16, 2019 at 2:56 pm

        Totally! Thanks Kathy…I sure will 😉

        Reply
    14. Milena

      January 15, 2019 at 10:02 am

      5 stars
      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:)

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 16, 2019 at 2:56 pm

        Woo ho! Enjoy, my friend 🙂

        Reply
    15. Katherine | Love In My Oven

      January 14, 2019 at 10:58 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 16, 2019 at 2:56 pm

        I’m sure 😉 Thank you Katherine! Hope you guys love it as much as we do 🙂 Have an awesome week!

        Reply
    16. Kelly | Foodtasia

      January 14, 2019 at 6:48 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 16, 2019 at 2:55 pm

        I agree! So warming, isn’t it?? Thanks so much, Kelly! Have a lovely week 🙂

        Reply
    17. Marissa

      January 14, 2019 at 4:58 pm

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 16, 2019 at 2:55 pm

        Me too! Hope you love it! Thanks Marissa 🙂

        Reply
    18. [email protected]

      January 14, 2019 at 11:03 am

      5 stars
      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

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 16, 2019 at 2:54 pm

        I agree!! Thanks so much, my friend! Have a wonderful week 🙂 XOXO

        Reply
    19. David @ Spiced

      January 14, 2019 at 9:17 am

      5 stars
      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!!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 14, 2019 at 11:02 am

        Wow! You really love it! I can see why 😉 Thanks so much, David! Have a great week!

        Reply
    20. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen

      January 14, 2019 at 9:08 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 14, 2019 at 11:02 am

        Totally! Thanks Mary Ann! Hope you love it 🙂 Have a wonderful week too!

        Reply
    21. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen

      January 14, 2019 at 8:50 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 14, 2019 at 11:01 am

        Right? Glad I’m not the only one 😉 Thanks Kelsie! Have a great week too!

        Reply
    22. Lauren Vavala | DeliciousLittleBites

      January 13, 2019 at 7:42 pm

      5 stars
      This soup is just perfect for the snowy weather we are having here! Love that it’s a slow cooker version! Yum!

      Reply
      • Girl Heart Food

        January 14, 2019 at 11:00 am

        Definitely! Thanks so much Lauren 🙂

        Reply

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