Why You’ll Love this Comforting Chicken Wild Rice Soup
Every spoonful of this Chicken Wild Rice Soup brings a symphony of comfort to your table.
I’m obsessed with how the tender chicken, hearty wild rice, and fresh vegetables merge into pure culinary magic. On chilly evenings, nothing satisfies quite like this aromatic blend of herbs and savory broth.
What I love most? It’s impressively simple yet tastes like you’ve been cooking all day. The combination of sage, oregano, and coriander creates depth without overwhelming.
And that splash of white wine at the end? Game-changer. Perfect for weeknight dinners or impressing weekend guests. Comfort food that’s actually good for you.
What Ingredients are in Comforting Chicken Wild Rice Soup?
This chicken wild rice soup is a perfect balance of protein, complex carbs, and vegetables, all swimming in a fragrant, herby broth. What makes it special is the beautiful combination of fresh herbs and aromatics that build a flavor foundation, while the wild rice adds a delightful nutty texture that regular rice just can’t match.
The splash of white wine toward the end brightens everything up with a subtle acidity that makes all the flavors pop.
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 cup wild rice or wild rice mix
- 16 ounces chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tomatoes, finely chopped and peeled
- 1 onion, coarsely chopped
- 1 carrot, sliced on the diagonal
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon rubbed sage
- 1/4 teaspoon basil
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup frozen peas
- 1/4 cup white wine
Feel free to adjust this recipe to your taste preferences or what you have on hand. Can’t find wild rice? A wild rice blend works beautifully too, though pure wild rice delivers that signature chewy texture.
For a richer soup, you could substitute homemade chicken stock for the broth, and if you’re cooking for someone who avoids alcohol, simply replace the white wine with a tablespoon of lemon juice to achieve that same brightness.
And don’t skip the fresh herbs if possible—they make a world of difference compared to their dried counterparts.
How to Make this Comforting Chicken Wild Rice Soup
Making this soul-warming soup is wonderfully straightforward, beginning with a fragrant sauté that builds your flavor foundation. Start by heating 1½ tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of coarsely chopped fresh parsley, 1 coarsely chopped onion, 2 peeled and finely chopped tomatoes, 2 finely chopped garlic cloves, 1 diagonally sliced carrot, and your herbs—½ teaspoon oregano, ¼ teaspoon rubbed sage, ¼ teaspoon basil, and ¼ teaspoon ground coriander. Don’t forget a sprinkle of salt and pepper! Sauté everything until the onions become translucent and tender, releasing all those beautiful aromatics into the oil.
Now comes the body of the soup. Pour in 16 ounces of chicken broth, then add 1 cup of wild rice (or wild rice mix) and 2 chicken breasts. Bring everything to a gentle simmer, then lower the heat, cover the pot, and let it work its magic for about 45 minutes. During this time, the rice will absorb the flavorful broth while the chicken cooks to tender perfection. If you notice the soup becoming thicker than you’d like (wild rice can be quite thirsty!), simply add a bit more water to reach your desired consistency.
Once the time is up, remove the chicken pieces and let them cool slightly before removing the meat from the bones and returning the bite-sized chicken pieces back to the pot.
For the finishing touch that really elevates this soup from good to magnificent, stir in ¼ cup of frozen peas and ¼ cup of white wine. Let everything simmer for an additional 15 minutes, allowing the peas to cook through and the wine to mellow into the broth.
The result? A comforting bowl where each spoonful delivers tender chicken, nutty wild rice, and vegetables swimming in a fragrant broth that warms you from the inside out. And honestly, doesn’t the kitchen smell amazing while this is cooking? That’s how you know something wonderful is about to happen at the dinner table.
Comforting Chicken Wild Rice Soup Substitutions and Variations
While the classic version of this chicken wild rice soup delivers pure comfort in a bowl, several adaptations can customize it to your taste preferences or pantry availability.
Don’t have white wine? Use a splash of lemon juice instead for brightness. Vegetable broth can replace chicken broth for a lighter flavor profile. I sometimes swap in rotisserie chicken when I’m short on time—total game-changer.
For a creamier version, try stirring in half a cup of heavy cream during the final simmer. Mushrooms add earthiness, spinach boosts nutrition, and a pinch of red pepper flakes gives it welcome heat.
The possibilities? Nearly endless.
What to Serve with Comforting Chicken Wild Rice Soup
When serving comforting chicken wild rice soup, pairing it with the right accompaniments elevates your meal from simple to spectacular.
I love offering a crusty artisan bread or buttery garlic breadsticks for dipping—nothing beats sopping up that herb-infused broth with warm bread.
A simple side salad with vinaigrette works beautifully too. Think crisp greens with apple slices and walnuts for textural contrast.
Sometimes I serve cheese and crackers alongside for nibbling between spoonfuls.
For dessert? Keep it light with fresh berries or a slice of lemon pound cake. Trust me, these pairings create a balanced meal that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.
Final Thoughts
After spending years perfecting this chicken wild rice soup recipe, I can honestly say it’s become my family’s ultimate comfort food staple. The balance of tender chicken, nutty wild rice, and garden vegetables creates a symphony of flavors that warms you from the inside out.
What I love most about this soup is its versatility—adjust the broth thickness to your preference, swap herbs based on what’s in your garden, or add a splash more wine for extra depth. It’s forgiving that way.
Chicken Wild Rice Soup
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add parsley, onion, tomatoes, garlic, carrot, oregano, sage, basil, and coriander. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté until the onions become translucent and tender.
- Pour in the chicken broth, then add wild rice and chicken breasts. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Lower heat, cover the pot, and cook for about 45 minutes. If the soup becomes too thick, add a bit more water to reach desired consistency.
- Remove chicken pieces and let cool slightly. Remove meat from bones and return bite-sized chicken pieces to the pot.
- Stir in frozen peas and white wine. Let simmer for an additional 15 minutes until peas are cooked through.
