Minnesota Chicken Wild Rice Soup Recipe – Made In The Crockpot

This Minnesota classic with knock your socks off! Minnesota chicken wild rice soup made in a slow cooker is the real deal and it’s so easy to make. Creamy, rich, satisfying and filled with texture, this will be a great addition to your dinner rotation!

Original post: March 2017 | Updated: December 2020 and November 2024

Why This Recipe Works

There are about a million reasons why you are about to fall in love with this recipe. Here are a few of them:

• When my goal is to prepare a satisfying  meal for guests but I have limited time, I make this recipe. I chop the veggies the night before (20 minutes tops) and the following morning I cook them up quick and throw everything into the crock pot.
• It is so easy that you will feel like you’re cheating. But the taste! It is creamy, flavorful, satisfying, packed with textures and just so delicious. 
• The leftovers for this already delicious soup are out of this world yummy.
• This creamy chicken soup is a great way to use up leftover chicken.
• It is the absolute perfect comfort food to enjoy, whether you live in the state of Minnesota or not!
• This is my favorite soup to make on a cold winter day.

Recipe Ingredients

• Olive oil
• Garlic – Use fresh minced garlic for best results. In a pinch, replace fresh garlic with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
• Yellow onion – White onion works, too. 
• Celery – Approximately 5-6 stalks of celery creates 2 cups sliced.  
• Carrots – About 4 large carrots creates 2 cups sliced.
• Mushrooms – Fresh mushrooms taste amazing in this nutty wild rice soup!  
• Seasoned salt – Replace with herbs and seasonings of your choice.
• Wild rice – The wild rice adds a Minnesota touch to this creamy chicken wild rice soup, but! If you can’t find wild rice, replace with black rice, brown rice or a wild rice blend. Sometimes wild rice is hard to find at your local grocery store.
• Chicken broth or chicken stock – Either stock or broth can be used.
• Cream of potato soup – The potato flavor adds such a nice touch to this soup, but you can definitely replace it with cream of mushroom soup.
• Cooked, shredded chicken – To save time cooking boneless skinless chicken breasts for this soup, pull and use the meat from a large Rotisserie chicken. Or make your own Rotisserie-style chicken in your Instant Pot!
• Half and half – Replace half and half with heavy cream or whole milk for a super creamy soup.
• Italian parsley – Use fresh for topping just before serving.

How To Make Crockpot Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Step 1

In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, celery, carrots, mushrooms and seasoned salt.

Mix well and cook for 5 minutes, or until veggies are soft and fragrant.

Step 2

In a large slow cooker, combine the vegetable mixture, wild rice, chicken broth and cream of potato soup.

Mix well and cook on low heat for 8 hours or high heat for 4 hours.

Step 3

Thirty minutes before cooking time is up, add the cooked, shredded chicken and half and half. Mix well and cook for the remaining 30 minutes.

Ladle into serving bowls and top with parsley!

Recipe Notes for Minnesota Wild Rice Soup

• Top with slivered almonds for an added crunch and fresh sprinkling of black pepper.
• For an even easier meal, replace fresh veggies with canned or frozen.
• Add a couple bay leaves to your slow cooker before cooking for extra flavor.

Wild Rice Substitute

Here are a few substitutions if you cannot find wild rice or don’t have it on hand:

• Black rice
• Barley
• Bulgar wheat
• Basmati rice
• Lentils

What To Serve With Soup

Soup is an easy, comforting meal to prepare for dinner any time of the year. But what do you serve alongside it? Click over for 33 delicious ideas about what to serve with soup.

How To Thicken Chicken Wild Rice Soup

If your batch of soup isn’t thick enough to your liking, transfer the soup to a large stockpot and set to medium-high heat. While it is heating up, combine 1/2 cup of cold water with 2 tablespoons of corn starch. Whisk or shake until smooth. 

Once the soup begins bubbling on the stove, dial it back to medium-low heat so it is simmering.

Add the slurry to the soup and stir until thick.

How To Store Homemade Soup

Store homemade soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To extend the shelf life, ladle the cooled soup into freezer bags (double bag just to be safe!) and store in the freezer for up to 4 months for best results.

Favorite Soup Recipes

• Instant Pot White Chicken Chili becomes even MORE delicious when made in an Instant Pot. Packed with turkey meat, white beans and veggies, this will quickly become a dinner favorite! 
• Make a batch of comforting Chicken Noodle Soup in the Instant Pot! Using a pressure cooker will save you time and will produce the most perfectly cooked soup you’ll ever taste.
• Slow Cooker Chicken Fajita Soup – Transform Chicken Fajitas into a delicious, savory soup that will quickly become a family favorite! Mix and match vegetables to your liking! 
• Hearty Chicken Soup is the easiest soup you’ll ever make. You’ll likely be able to find all of the vegetables in your pantry. Great dinner option to pull together in a pinch!

More Wild Rice Recipes

Not sure what to do with your bag of hearty wild rice? Here are some ideas!

• Cook according to the package directions and serve as a delicious side dish with a nutty flavor
• Wild Rice with Celery and Onions
• Chicken and Rice Bake
• Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole

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