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Cozy Fall Harvest Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

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A hearty, creamy chicken and wild rice soup made with butternut squash, perfect for fall gatherings. This comforting one-pot meal uses a clever blending trick for a velvety texture without heavy cream.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • 1 cup uncooked wild rice
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash
  • 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
  • 1 cup frozen corn kernels
  • ½ cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5-7 minutes until onions are translucent and vegetables have softened.
  2. Add minced garlic, thyme, rosemary, and smoked paprika. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Add uncooked wild rice and stir for 2 minutes to toast slightly.
  4. Pour in chicken broth and water, add bay leaf, and stir. Bring to a boil over high heat.
  5. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
  6. Add cubed butternut squash, stir, re-cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until squash is tender and rice is fully cooked.
  7. Remove bay leaf. Using an immersion blender, blend about 1½ to 2 cups of the soup until smooth (or blend in batches in a regular blender). Return blended mixture to pot.
  8. Stir in shredded chicken and frozen corn. Simmer for 5-10 minutes until heated through.
  9. Remove pot from heat. Stir in heavy cream or coconut milk. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  10. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley.

Notes

For a dairy-free version, use full-fat coconut milk instead of heavy cream. The soup thickens as it sits; add a splash of broth when reheating. For best flavor, make a day ahead. To save time, use a rotisserie chicken.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken soup, wild rice soup, fall soup, harvest soup, creamy chicken soup, butternut squash soup, comfort food, gluten-free soup

Find it online: https://evabake.com/cozy-fall-harvest-chicken-and-wild-rice-soup/