Description
A comforting, healthy, and creamy one-pot chicken and wild rice soup that is perfect for busy weeknights. It requires minimal cleanup, is freezer-friendly, and packed with protein and nutrients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or chicken breast/rotisserie chicken)
- 1 cup wild rice blend (wild and brown rice)
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 large carrots, diced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or coconut milk (optional)
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Chop onion, dice carrots and celery, mince garlic, and measure broth and thyme.
- Melt butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until onions are translucent and veggies soften.
- Add garlic and fresh thyme in the last minute of sautéing.
- Add wild rice blend and stir to coat in butter/veggies. Toast for 1 minute.
- Pour in chicken broth, scraping up bits from the bottom. Add bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes until rice is tender.
- Add chicken pieces (if using raw) and simmer for another 10-15 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F. If using rotisserie chicken, add in the last 5 minutes to heat through.
- Remove from heat. Discard bay leaf.
- Stir in lemon juice and taste for seasoning. Add heavy cream or coconut milk if desired.
- Serve hot, optionally topped with fresh parsley or extra thyme.
Notes
Use a heavy-bottomed pot to prevent sticking. Toasting the rice before adding broth enhances flavor. Fresh thyme is preferred over dried. If soup is too watery, simmer longer or let sit off heat with lid on. If using chicken breast, monitor closely to prevent drying out.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 28
Keywords: one-pot soup, chicken and wild rice soup, healthy family dinner, meal prep, comfort food, easy weeknight dinner