Parmesan Mushroom Chicken Wild Rice Soup (Printable)

Rich, creamy soup with chicken, mushrooms, wild rice, and Parmesan perfect for cozy dinners.

# What You Need:

→ Protein & Dairy

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz), diced
02 - 1 cup (3.5 oz) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
03 - 1/2 cup heavy cream

→ Grains

04 - 3/4 cup wild rice, rinsed

→ Vegetables

05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
07 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
08 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
09 - 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
10 - 3 celery stalks, sliced
11 - 10 oz cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
12 - 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried)
13 - 1 bay leaf

→ Liquids

14 - 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Seasonings

15 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
16 - 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley for garnish

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
02 - Add mushrooms and garlic. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes until mushrooms are tender and most liquid has evaporated.
03 - Stir in diced chicken, wild rice, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Pour in chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 40 to 45 minutes until wild rice is tender and chicken is cooked through.
05 - Remove bay leaf. Stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
06 - Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The Parmesan melts into the broth to create a silky depth that beats plain cream any day.
  • It fills your kitchen with a savory aroma that makes everyone wander in to ask when dinner is ready.
02 -
  • Rinsing the wild rice beforehand removes any dusty residue and keeps the broth looking clear and appetizing.
  • Adding the Parmesan at the very end ensures it melts evenly rather than clumping at the bottom of the pot.
03 -
  • For a deeper flavor profile try sauteing the chicken separately to get a nice sear before adding it to the pot.
  • A tiny squeeze of lemon juice at the end can brighten the whole pot if it feels too rich.
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