Creamy Mushroom Chicken & Wild Rice Soup Recipe: Cozy Comfort

Comfort swirls through every spoonful of this creamy mushroom chicken and wild rice soup that promises warmth and satisfaction.

Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly in a rich, velvety broth packed with tender chicken and earthy mushrooms.

wild rice adds delightful texture and nutty undertones to each comforting bite.

Savory herbs and aromatic vegetables create depth that tantalizes the palate with complex flavors.

Robust and nourishing, this soup transforms simple ingredients into a memorable meal.

The combination of chicken, mushrooms, and wild rice delivers a soul-soothing experience that beckons you to ladle up pure deliciousness.

One spoonful will transport you to a cozy kitchen filled with irresistible aromas and culinary magic.

Why Chicken and Mushroom Rice Soup Comforts

• Customize Your Flavor Profile: Easily adjust seasonings to match your taste preferences, making this recipe a personalized culinary adventure that keeps every bite exciting and unique.
• Tackle a Gourmet Dinner Challenge: Transform ordinary ingredients into a restaurant-quality meal that impresses family and friends with minimal professional cooking skills required.
• Create a Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Meal: Combine the richness of cheesy Alfredo, tender chicken, and nutritious broccoli into a single dish that satisfies diverse palate preferences and dietary needs.
• Streamline Your Cooking Process: Leverage one-skillet techniques and simple assembly methods that minimize kitchen cleanup while maximizing flavor complexity and meal satisfaction.

Everything Needed for Creamy Soup Bowls

• Chicken: Tender protein that adds substance and flavor to the soup.

• Wild Rice: Hearty grain that provides texture and nutritional depth to the soup.

• Fresh Mushrooms, Dried Mushrooms: Earthy ingredients that create rich, complex flavor profiles in the soup.

• Butter, Milk, Parmesan Cheese: Creamy components that contribute richness and smooth texture to the soup.

• Onion, Carrots, Celery, Garlic, Thyme: Foundational ingredients that build a robust and flavorful base for the soup.

• Chicken Broth: Savory liquid that forms the primary cooking and flavor foundation of the soup.

• White Miso Paste: Fermented ingredient that adds a deep, umami dimension to the soup.

• Salt, Pepper: Essential flavor adjusters that balance and enhance the overall taste of the soup.

Steps to Prepare Chicken Mushroom Wild Rice Soup

Step 1: Sizzle Mushroom Magic

Grab a pan and crank up the heat to medium-high. Drop in butter and watch it melt.

Toss in sliced mushrooms and let them dance around until they release their juicy goodness and the liquid vanishes – about 10-15 minutes of delicious simmering. Scoop those golden beauties aside.

Step 2: Veggie Symphony

• Diced onions
• Chopped carrots
• Sliced celery

Cook these veggie friends until they’re soft and tender, around 8-10 minutes.

Step 3: Aromatic Awakening

Sprinkle in minced garlic and fresh thyme. Let them sizzle and release their magical fragrances for about a minute.

Step 4: Liquid Comfort Build

Pour in chicken broth, wild rice, cooked chicken, and those previously sauteed mushrooms. Bring everything to a rolling boil, then dial down the heat.

Cover and let simmer gently until rice becomes perfectly tender – roughly 20-30 minutes.

Step 5: Creamy Finale

Swirl in milk and grated Parmesan cheese.

Stir until cheese melts into silky smoothness. Season with salt and pepper to make your taste buds sing.

Bonus Flavor Boosters:

Dried Mushroom Trick: Soak dried mushrooms in boiled water for 20 minutes. Add soaked mushrooms and their liquid for extra depth.

Umami Upgrade: Stir in white miso paste before final seasoning for a savory twist.

Notes for Making Hearty Soup at Home

• Soak dried mushrooms in hot water to extract deep, rich umami flavors that elevate the soup's overall taste profile.
• Grate Parmesan cheese freshly to ensure smooth melting and prevent clumping in the soup.
• Check wild rice periodically during simmering to prevent overcooking, maintaining a pleasant chewy consistency.
• Replace wheat-based ingredients with gluten-free alternatives like tamari instead of traditional soy sauce or miso.
• Substitute chicken with firm tofu or plant-based chicken alternatives to create a delicious meat-free version of the soup.

Creative Mixes for Mushroom Chicken Soup

• Vegetarian Rice and Mushroom Soup: Replace chicken with firm tofu or plant-based chicken alternative. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth for a complete vegetarian version.
• Gluten-Free Wild Rice Soup: Ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free. Use tamari instead of traditional soy sauce if miso is added. Check wild rice package for gluten-free certification.
• Low-Sodium Mushroom Chicken Soup: Use low-sodium chicken broth. Reduce added salt. Replace Parmesan with nutritional yeast for flavor without extra sodium. Increase herbs like thyme and rosemary for additional taste.

Pairings for Creamy Wild Rice Soup Bowls

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Select a chardonnay or sauvignon blanc with bright acidity to cut through the soup's creamy richness and complement the earthy mushroom flavors.
• Serve with Rustic Crusty Bread: Choose a sourdough or country-style bread with a hearty crust to soak up the soup's delicious broth and add textural contrast.
• Match with Herbed Green Salad: Create a light side salad with mixed greens, fresh herbs like parsley or chives, and a tangy vinaigrette to balance the soup's creamy and savory profile.

Storing Chicken and Mushroom Soup Safely

• Store leftover soup in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Cool completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth.
• Pour soup into freezer-safe containers, leaving 1-inch space for expansion. Freeze for maximum 3 months. Avoid freezing dairy-based soups for best texture.
• Thaw frozen soup in refrigerator overnight. Warm gradually over medium-low heat, stirring frequently. Add splash of chicken broth if soup seems too thick.
• Transfer portion to microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval. Check temperature to ensure even warming.

FAQs

• What kind of rice works best in this soup?

Wild rice is ideal due to its nutty flavor and hearty texture. It maintains its shape and adds a wonderful earthy element to the soup, providing more complexity than regular white rice.

• Can I use fresh or frozen chicken for this recipe?

Both work great. If using fresh chicken, cook and shred it beforehand. For frozen chicken, thaw completely and then shred or dice before adding to the soup.

• Is this soup nutritionally balanced?

Yes, it’s a complete meal with protein from chicken, complex carbohydrates from wild rice, and nutrients from vegetables like carrots, celery, and mushrooms. The combination offers a well-rounded nutritional profile.

Creamy Mushroom Chicken And Wild Rice Soup Recipe

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4.8 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 54 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Hearty Creamy Mushroom Chicken and Wild Rice Soup promises comfort in every spoonful, blending earthy mushrooms with tender chicken and nutty wild rice. Warmth from this delightful recipe will embrace you, making cold evenings feel wonderfully inviting.

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Ingredients

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Main Proteins:

• 1.5 cups cooked chicken, diced or shredded
• 6 cups chicken broth

Grains and Vegetables:

• 1 cup wild rice or a blend
• 1 pound mushrooms, sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped

Dairy and Seasonings:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup milk or cream
• 1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Enhance mushroom depth by steeping dried mushrooms in boiling water for 20 minutes, reserving the flavorful liquid.
2. Create a flavor foundation by sautéing sliced mushrooms in butter over medium-high heat until moisture evaporates completely, approximately 12 minutes.
3. Without cleaning the pan, melt additional butter and gently cook diced onion, carrots, and celery until vegetables soften and become translucent, around 9 minutes.
4. Introduce minced garlic and thyme, stirring quickly to release aromatic oils without burning, about 45 seconds.
5. Pour in chicken broth, incorporate wild rice, cooked chicken, sautéed mushrooms, and reserved mushroom liquid. Bring mixture to a robust boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer covered, allowing rice to become tender, roughly 25 minutes.
6. Gradually blend milk and grated Parmesan cheese into the soup, stirring continuously until cheese melts smoothly and incorporates completely.
7. Enhance final flavor profile by whisking in white miso paste, then season with salt and pepper to individual taste preferences.
8. Let soup rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and develop deeper complexity.

Notes

• Elevate mushroom depth by using a mix of fresh and dried mushrooms for complex, layered umami flavors.
• Transform this soup into a gluten-free version by replacing regular Parmesan with nutritional yeast and using certified gluten-free wild rice.
• Reduce dairy content by substituting heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream for a lighter, plant-based alternative.
• Boost protein content by adding extra shredded rotisserie chicken or plant-based chicken substitute for more substantial meal prep.

• Prep Time: 29 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 230 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 620 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0.1 g
• Carbohydrates: 16 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 17 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg