Easy Chicken Wild Rice Soup Recipe

This is the easiest Chicken Wild Rice Soup! The hearty comfort food comes together in one pot with a wild rice blend, veggies and sage.

Chicken wild rice soup is a classic for a reason. It’s SO delicious! You’re going to love this recipe because it’s super straight-forward to make.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Comfort food: Nothing beats a hot bowl of comforting soup on a chilly day!
• One pot recipe: Everything comes together in one pot, which means less dishes for later.

Ingredients and substitutions

• Olive oil – or another neutral cooking oil like avocado or canola oil.
• Chicken breasts – chicken thighs would also be good.
• Mushrooms – use any mushroom blend of your choice.
• Yellow onion – white onion or shallots would also work.
• Garlic – freshly minced garlic is best but jarred minced garlic can be used in a pinch.
• Carrots – double up on the celery or swap out for leeks.
• Celery stalks – use more celery or leeks.
• Italian seasoning – make your own or try using herbs de provence.
• Chicken broth – vegetable broth would be the best substitute here.
• Wild rice blend – try making it with another variety of rice, farro, quinoa or orzo.
• Fresh sage – swap out for 1 tsp. dried sage instead.
• Lemon juice – lime juice would also work here.

How to make wild rice soup

Step 1: Sauté the mushrooms.

Cook until they release their juices.

Step 2: Add the veggies.

Cook the veggies until softened.

Step 3: Add the chicken.

Cook until lightly browned.

Step 4: Add the remaining ingredients.

Add the seasonings, broth and rice.

Step 5: Simmer the soup.

Simmer for 40 minutes.

Step 6: Add the lemon juice.

Add sage and lemon juice, then serve.

Frequently asked questions

Will the rice get mushy in soup?

Wild rice won’t get mushy in soup, because it takes longer to cook. If you use another rice variety, it might get mushy.

How can I thicken this soup?

To make this soup even thicker, add 1 tbsp. flour in with the sautéed veggies before adding the broth. You could also stir in a cornstarch slurry at the end of the cooking time.

Can I use rotisserie chicken to save time?

Absolutely! Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut. Just shred the chicken and add it to the soup during the last 20-30 minutes of cooking.

How to store and reheat

Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Reheat: Warm on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally, or microwave for 1-2 minutes. Add a splash of extra broth if the soup is too thick.

Freeze & reheat from frozen: Freeze in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding broth as needed.

Meal prep tools

• Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning this soup into your weekly lunches.
• I get all my free-range chicken from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
• This is the wild rice blend I use.
• Freeze individual portions of this soup in Souper Cubes for up to 3 months.