Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

This Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is a family-favorite recipe, filled with chicken, vegetables and wholesome dairy, making it a hearty and nutritious comfort food that I know my family needs during the school week. This recipe was created with America’s Dairy Farm Families and Importers, in partnership with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. However, the views and opinions included are my own.

Believe it or not, after a fun-filled, relaxing summer, we are gearing up for back-to-school life. In fact, today is my kids’ official first day of school. I know, it just doesn’t seem right to start this early, does it? I say this every year.

With the transition to back-to-school comes a new schedule and routine that we are all very familiar with – one that includes homework, after school activities and sports and alarm clocks. For me, it means getting on the ball with putting dinner on the table – a meal that is nutritious, will be eaten by everyone and comes together easily. Back-to-school means it’s time for the slow cooker to help out in the kitchen during the week. My family loves creamy soups made with milk and this Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is one I make for them often. It’s filled with chicken, vegetables, whole grains and dairy that provides them with the fuel they need to jump back into their busy school life.

Soup is one of my favorite meals and I learned a couple of years ago that adding milk to the broth makes the soup creamier and was a surefire way to get my kids more excited about having soup for dinner. Cheese and cute oyster crackers help too. Knowing that the milk we drink and use in foods like this soup is more than likely coming from a family-owned and operated dairy farm near my neighborhood makes me feel more than good. I only learned of this recently, but not only is milk produced in every state, but most milk only travels 300 miles from farm to store. I love supporting the farm-to-table movement and this is one way to support local dairy farmers, just by drinking milk from your grocery store!

What I love about this soup is that it is chock-full of chicken and vegetables, making it hearty and nutritious at the same time – the perfect comfort food for a busy school night. It comes together simply in the slow cooker but can be easily made on the stove top as well.

Shredded cheese gets added into the soup at the end, adding the richness and creaminess that I know my family loves in their soup. I add just enough cheese to enhance the flavor.

Some of my family’s favorite creamy soups are this Lightened Up Broccoli and Cheese Soup and this Baked Potato Soup.

Print Recipe

Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Yield: 6 - 8 servings

Prep Time:10 minutes

Cook Time:4-6 hours

Ingredients:

• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 carrots, cut into half-moons
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1/2 cup wild rice
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup 2% milk
• 1 cup water
• 1.5 lbs chicken breast
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• 4 oz colby jack cheese, shredded

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients, except cheese, in slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cook on high for 4 hours, or on low for 6 hours.
2. Once soup is ready, carefully remove chicken breasts and place on cutting board. Cut chicken into chunks, or shred chicken using two forks. Place back into soup. Stir in shredded cheese. Serve hot.

This post is created with America’s Dairy Farm Families and Importers, in partnership with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. However, the views and opinions included are my own.