Parmesan Mushroom Chicken Wild Rice (Printable)

Comforting blend of chicken, mushrooms, and wild rice in a savory Parmesan cream broth.

# What You’ll 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 thyme
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:

01 - Heat olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery, sautéing for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
02 - Add mushrooms and garlic to the pot, cooking 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 to combine ingredients.
04 - Pour in chicken broth and 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, then stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan. Simmer uncovered for 5 minutes and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
06 - Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The combination of wild rice and mushrooms creates this incredible earthy backdrop that makes you feel like youve wandered into a cozy cabin in the woods, even when youre just at your kitchen table.
  • Its one of those rare soups that manages to be both light enough for a weeknight dinner yet substantial enough that nobody walks away hungry.
02 -
  • Wild rice takes significantly longer to cook than regular rice, and theres no good shortcut here – I once tried to rush it and ended up with soup featuring teeth-breaking rice kernels.
  • Dont add the Parmesan all at once or it might clump; sprinkle it gradually while stirring for the smoothest incorporation.
03 -
  • The soup will thicken considerably as it cools, so if youre reheating leftovers, keep extra broth on hand to adjust the consistency to your preference.
  • Grate your Parmesan on the finest setting of your grater to ensure it melts seamlessly into the broth rather than clumping or sinking to the bottom.
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