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Cozy One-Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup: Easy 30-Minute Meal

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A comforting, creamy chicken and wild rice soup that comes together in just 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, this one-pot meal is forgiving, flexible, and tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 cup wild rice blend (e.g., Lundberg brand)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prep all ingredients: dice onion, carrots, and celery into small, even pieces (about 1/4-inch cubes). Mince garlic. Cut chicken into 1-inch chunks. Measure rice and broth.
  2. Melt butter in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and onion is translucent.
  3. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly.
  4. Add chicken pieces and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned on the outside (not fully cooked through).
  5. Pour in chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon.
  6. Add wild rice blend, dried thyme, dried rosemary, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir well. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
  7. Check rice after 20 minutes; it should be tender but still have a slight chew (like al dente pasta). If too firm, cook another 5 minutes.
  8. Remove and discard bay leaf.
  9. Stir in heavy cream (if using) and let warm through for 2-3 minutes. Do not let it boil after adding cream.
  10. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed. Optionally, add a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten flavors.
  11. Ladle into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot with crusty bread or a simple side salad.

Notes

For meal prep, slightly undercook the rice as it will continue to soften overnight. If soup thickens upon standing, add a splash of broth when reheating. For dairy-free, skip cream or use full-fat coconut milk. For vegetarian, use vegetable broth and add chickpeas or white beans instead of chicken.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken and wild rice soup, one-pot soup, easy weeknight dinner, creamy chicken soup, wild rice soup, comfort food, 30-minute meal

Find it online: https://vexifood.com/cozy-one-pot-chicken-and-wild-rice-soup-easy-30-minute-meal/