Cozy Wild Rice and Orzo Chicken Soup
Ingredients
- ¾ lbboneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1yellow onion
chopped
- 4whole cloves garlic
peeled
- 1 cdry wild rice blend
- 1 ½ ccarrots
chopped
- 1 cchopped celery
- 1rounded tablespoon poultry seasoning)
(see note
- ½ tsppaprika
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 6 clow-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cfresh baby spinach or kale
- ¾ cdry orzo pasta
- ¼ cchopped fresh parsley
- 1 cheavy cream or whole milk
- 6 tbspsalted butter
- 8fresh sage leaves
- shaved parmesan
for serving
Directions
Instant pot
- 1
1. In the bowl of your instant pot, combine the chicken, onion, garlic, wild rice, carrots, celery, poultry seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour over the broth and add 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook on high pressure for 12 minutes. Quick release the steam.2. Switch the instant pot to sauté. Remove the garlic cloves and set aside. Shred the chicken with 2 forks. Stir in the spinach and orzo. Cover and cook 6-8 minutes, or until the orzo is al dente. Stir in the cream and parsley. If the soup needs more liquid, add additional water. 3. Add the butter, garlic, and sage to a skillet set over medium heat. Mash the garlic into the butter, allowing the butter to brown and some of the garlic to get crispy. Remove from the heat.4. Ladle the soup into bowls and spoon over the sage butter. Top with parmesan and parsley. Enjoy!
Crockpot
- 1
1. In the bowl of your slow cooker, combine the chicken, onion, garlic, wild rice, carrots, celery, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper. Pour over the broth and add 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. 2. Crank the heat on the slow cooker to high. Remove the garlic cloves and set aside. Shred the chicken with 2 forks. Stir in the spinach and orzo. Cover and cook 20-30 minutes, or until the orzo is al dente. Stir in the cream and parsley. If the soup needs more liquid, add additional water. 3. Add the butter, garlic, and sage to a skillet set over medium heat. Mash the garlic into the butter, allowing the butter to brown and some of the garlic to get crispy. Remove from the heat.4. Ladle the soup into bowls and spoon over the sage butter. Top with parmesan and parsley. Enjoy!
Stove
- 1
1. In a large soup pot, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook until fragrant and softened, about 5 minutes. Pour over the broth. Add the chicken and wild rice, and season with salt and pepper. Bring the pot to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, cover and reduce the heat to low, cook 35-45 minutes, until the rice is tender.2. Remove the garlic cloves and set aside. Shred the chicken with 2 forks. Stir in the spinach and orzo. Cook another 6-8 minutes, or until the orzo is al dente. Stir in the cream and parsley. If the soup needs more liquid, add additional water. 3. Add the butter, garlic, and sage to a skillet set over medium heat. Mash the garlic into the butter, allowing the butter to brown and some of the garlic to get crispy. Remove from the heat.4. Ladle the soup into bowls and spoon over the sage butter. Top with parmesan and parsley. Enjoy!
Cozy Wild Rice and Orzo Chicken Soup
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Ratings & Reviews
Based on 256 ratings
Rating Breakdown
About this Recipe
Craving a truly satisfying and warming meal perfect for chilly evenings? This Cozy Wild Rice and Orzo Chicken Soup delivers a comforting embrace in every spoonful, offering a homemade taste that’s ready in under an hour.
What makes this soup truly special is the thoughtful combination of ingredients that build layers of flavor and texture. The earthy chew of wild rice blends beautifully with tender orzo pasta, all suspended in a savory, aromatic broth. It's a deeply nourishing dish that feels gourmet but is surprisingly simple to put together, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights when you need something hearty without compromise.
Prepare for a deeply flavorful and aromatic experience. The soup is robust with the earthy, nutty notes of a wild rice blend, complemented by fresh sage and parsley. Tender chicken pieces provide a lean, satisfying protein, while a colorful medley of carrots, celery, and onion adds natural sweetness and body. Stirring in fresh baby spinach or kale brings a touch of vibrant green, and the final swirl of heavy cream or whole milk creates a luxuriously silky texture that beautifully balances the soup's heartiness. Each spoonful is a complete and comforting meal, offering warmth and satisfaction.
This versatile recipe welcomes your personal touch and adapts easily to what you have on hand. You can easily swap boneless, skinless chicken breasts for thighs for a richer flavor, or even use pre-cooked, shredded chicken to reduce prep time further. If you prefer, kale makes an excellent substitute for spinach, and whole milk can stand in for heavy cream for a slightly lighter touch without sacrificing too much creaminess. For a vegetarian approach, simply omit the chicken and consider adding a can of drained cannellini beans or extra mushrooms for bulk.
This Cozy Wild Rice and Orzo Chicken Soup is the quintessential comfort food, ideal for family dinners on a cold night or a hearty weekend lunch. Serve it piping hot with a crusty baguette for dipping, and garnish generously with freshly shaved Parmesan and a sprinkle of fresh parsley for an elegant, inviting finish.