Creamy Slow Cooker Chicken Soup (Printable version)

Hearty soup with tender chicken, mushrooms, and wild rice in a rich creamy broth.

# List of ingredients:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 cups sliced cremini or button mushrooms
03 - 1 cup diced carrots
04 - 1 cup diced celery
05 - 1 medium onion, diced
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Grains

07 - 3/4 cup uncooked wild rice, rinsed

→ Liquid & Dairy

08 - 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 1 cup heavy cream
10 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter

→ Seasonings

11 - 1 tsp dried thyme
12 - 1 tsp dried rosemary
13 - 1 bay leaf
14 - 1 1/2 tsp salt, more to taste
15 - 3/4 tsp black pepper

→ Thickener

16 - 1/4 cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour

# Directions:

01 - Add chicken, mushrooms, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, wild rice, thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper to the slow cooker.
02 - Pour in the chicken broth and stir everything together until evenly distributed.
03 - Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and the wild rice is tender.
04 - Transfer the chicken to a plate and shred using two forks, then return the shredded meat to the slow cooker.
05 - Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to form a smooth roux.
06 - Slowly whisk the heavy cream into the roux and heat until the mixture thickens, then stir it into the slow cooker.
07 - Stir well, re-cover, and cook on LOW for an additional 20 to 30 minutes until the soup is creamy and heated through.
08 - Remove and discard the bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed before serving hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The slow cooker does nearly all the heavy lifting while your kitchen fills with the most incredible aroma
  • Wild rice gives it a chewy texture that elevates it way beyond ordinary chicken soup
  • That final swirl of cream and butter turns humble broth into something you would happily serve to anyone at your table
02 -
  • Wild rice takes longer to cook than you might expect so do not rush the initial slow cooker phase or you will end up with crunchy grains
  • Whisking the cream into the roux gradually prevents any lumpy surprises in your finished soup
03 -
  • Chicken thighs truly do make a difference here because they do not dry out during the long cooking time the way breasts sometimes can
  • If you forget to rinse the wild rice the broth will look slightly cloudy but the taste will still be wonderful so do not panic

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