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The Ultimate Creamy Copycat Panera Style Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Close-up of a creamy chicken wild rice soup, featuring shredded chicken, wild rice, and diced carrots in a white bowl.
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Make this comforting, restaurant-style chicken and wild rice soup at home. This recipe delivers the rich, creamy texture you crave, perfect for chilly days and cozy dinners.

Ingredients

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  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1 cup chopped carrots
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (optional, for extra flavor)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 1 cup cooked wild rice blend
  • 1 cup cooked, shredded chicken breast
  • 1 cup half-and-half or heavy cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  2. Stir in the flour to the softened vegetables. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to create a roux base.
  3. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth until the mixture is smooth and there are no lumps. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally until it thickens slightly.
  4. Stir in the cooked wild rice, shredded chicken, thyme, salt, and pepper. Let the soup simmer gently for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.
  5. Reduce the heat to low. Slowly stir in the half-and-half or heavy cream. Heat the soup through, but do not allow it to boil after adding the dairy.
  6. Taste the soup and adjust salt and pepper as needed before serving hot.

Notes

  • For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend or use 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of cold water (slurry) added at the end of step 3.
  • You can cook the wild rice ahead of time or use pre-cooked rice from a pouch to make this an easy wild rice soup.
  • This recipe works well in a slow cooker; combine all ingredients except the cream in the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours. Stir in the cream during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://rosatasty.com/wild-rice-soup-creamy-copycat-panera-chicken/