Description
This creamy mushroom chicken and wild rice soup is the ultimate comfort dish — hearty, flavorful, and nourishing. Packed with earthy cremini mushrooms, juicy chicken breast, sweet potatoes, and a velvety touch of cream, it’s a satisfying one-pot meal perfect for cold nights.
Ingredients
1 cup wild rice (I used a wild rice blend)
3 cups water
6 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced (for sautéing)
1 tablespoon olive oil (for mushrooms)
¼ teaspoon salt (for mushrooms)
1 tablespoon olive oil (for chicken)
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (for chicken)
¼ teaspoon salt (for chicken)
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped
6 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced (for broth)
5 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (for broth)
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon salt (I used Morton table salt)
5 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth or water
1 cup heavy cream
Fresh thyme, for garnish
Instructions
1. Rinse the wild rice thoroughly under cold water for about 1 minute.
2. Bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Add the rice and cook according to package instructions (about 45–60 minutes). Drain and set aside.
3. In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add 6 oz mushrooms and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cook undisturbed for 3–5 minutes, stir once, then cook 1 more minute. Remove and set aside.
4. In the same pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season chicken breasts with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Sear 1–2 minutes per side (not cooked through). Leave chicken in pot.
5. Add chopped sweet potatoes, 6 oz more mushrooms, garlic, and spices to the pot.
6. Pour in 5 cups of broth. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, and cook for 15–20 minutes until chicken and potatoes are cooked through.
7. Remove the chicken, shred it or slice finely, and return it to the pot.
8. Stir in the cooked wild rice. Simmer gently on low until warmed through.
9. Remove from heat, then stir in heavy cream.
10. Serve hot, topped with reserved mushrooms and fresh thyme.
Notes
Use Morton table salt for best seasoning control.
To prevent cream separation, only add it after removing the soup from heat.
For dairy-free version, use unsweetened coconut milk instead of cream.
Do not freeze with cream added. Freeze without cream and stir it in after reheating.
Soup thickens over time. Add more broth when reheating if needed.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American