• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Life Around The Table
  • Home
  • Fall Favorites
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Fall Favorites
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Fall Favorites
    • Recipe Index
    • About Me
    • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ร—
    Home ยป Recipes ยป Recipes

    Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup

    Published: Dec 5, 2021 ยท Modified: Jun 19, 2023 by Christy Faber ยท 17 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup is like a warm hug in a bowl. Itโ€™s deliciously creamy, herby, and hearty.ย  Itโ€™s made with lots of vegetables, whole milk and cream but the special ingredient is small bites of sweet and tart dried cranberries.ย  Itโ€™s also the perfect way to use leftover turkey after Thanksgiving or Christmas.

    Bowl of wide rice soup with dried cranberry garnish on a staged table.

    I love the festive look of this soup from the flecks of green herbs and red bites of dried cranberry.ย  Autumn Wild Rice Soup is the perfect easy recipe for any holiday event, especially if you follow the meal withย Chocolate Orange Pudding Cake.


    This nourishing soup delivers a comforting, flavorful, and heartwarming meal that's perfect for sharing with anyone.

    For more cozy recipes to warm your heart in the cold months visit my recipes for Creamy Carrot and Parsnip Soup, Vegetarian Stroganoff, Spicy Sausage Pasta and Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Substitutions & Variations
    • How To Make Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • What Should I Serve with Cranberry Wild Rice Soup?
    • More Cozy Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • This soup contains all the flavors you associate with autumn, Thanksgiving or even Christmas dinner. It's the ultimate comfort food!
    • Ideal for using up leftover turkey from Thanksgiving or Christmas.
    • The addition of dried cranberries adds delightful bursts of sweet and tart flavor in every bite.
    • Nutritious and filling!
    • Freezer-friendly.

    Ingredients

    All ingredients required to make wild rice soup in mixing bowls and mason jars on a marble countertop.
    • Broth - I used a bouillon soup cube and dissolved it in 4 cups of water for this recipe. But homemade broth or store bought liquid broth would work wonderfully! The more flavorful the broth, the more flavorful the soup.
    • Wild rice - I have used various types of rice blends over the years for this recipe. Choose your favorite rice blend and just taste test grains of rice to ensure they are tender before proceeding to adding the dairy.
    • Carrots and Celery - finely dice these vegetables for a more enjoyable texture in the final soup.
    • Milk and Cream - purchase dairy products that contain simple ingredients. Many store bought creams contain unnecessary stabilizers and additives.
    • Celery seed - In my opinion, celery seed is one of the most crucial soup ingredients. I love the flavor it imparts!

    See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

    Substitutions & Variations

    • Wild Rice: If you don't have wild rice on hand, you can use brown rice or barley or even swap for orzo. (Note the cook time on the packages so you can know approximately how long each grain would take to cook in the soup.)
    • Chicken: Feel free to substitute the chicken with turkey or store bought rotisserie chicken for a big time saver!
    • Top the soup with homemade sugar free granola for a delicious garnish that adds a satisfying crunch to each spoonful.

    I have not experimented with any other substitutions or alterations for this recipe. If you decide to make any changes by adding or substituting ingredients, I would love it if you could share your results with us by leaving a comment below.

    How To Make Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup

    Here are the step-by-step instructions to make this recipe.

    Step 1: Chop vegetables and prep ingredients.

    Before beginning, chop all your vegetables and set out all the ingredients.

    chopped onion on a wooden cutting board.

    Step 2: Cook the chicken.

    Cook the cubed chicken in a large soup pot or Dutch oven until lightly browned and fully cooked. Set aside.

    Cubed chicken, browned, resting in a Dutch oven on a marble countertop.

    Step 3: Soften the onions.

    In the same pot, melt 2 tablespoon of butter. Add the chopped onions and cook for several minutes until softened.

    Cooked, chopped. onion in the bottom of a Dutch oven.

    Step 4: Cook the carrots and celery.

    Add the finely diced carrots and celery and cook for several more minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Diced carrot and celery mixed with cooked onion in the bottom of a Dutch oven.

    Step 5: Add the broth, wild rice and bay leaves.

    Add the chicken broth, wild rice and bay leaves.  Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes or until the carrots and rice grains are tender.

    Broth filling a Dutch oven of diced carrot and celery, cooked onion with wild rice and bay leaves floating on top.

    Step 6: Add spices, cranberries and dairy.

    Reduce the heat, remove the bay leaves and add the remaining spices, dried cranberries (snip each cranberry two or three times with kitchen scissors for smaller bites), milk and cream.

    Cream, dried cranberries and spices floating on top of soup mixture in a Dutch oven.

    Step 7: Add chicken and adjust for seasoning.

    Stir in the cooked chicken and taste the soup. Take your time to carefully adjust for seasoning, adding more salt and pepper as needed.

    Cooked chicken sitting on top of wild rice soup inside of a Dutch oven with a wooden spoon laying in the pot, partially submerged.

    Step 8: Thicken the soup (optional) and garnish and serve.

    If the broth requires thickening, make a slurry by melting ยผ cup of butter in a separate small saucepan and whisking  ยผ cup of flour into it.  Stir for several minutes. Add the slurry to the soup to thicken. Bring the soup back to temperature, stirring constantly.

    Taste again for seasoning. Serve the soup with a garnish of fresh herbs (such as parsley or thyme) and a sprinkle of snipped dried cranberries.

    Round ladle full of wild rice soup coming up from a pot of soup.

    Expert Tips

    • Prepare all ingredients before beginning. This makes for a more enjoyable and stress free cooking experience.
    • For smaller bites of cranberry throughout, I snip the cranberries two to three times with kitchen scissors. 
    • I provide the option to thicken the soup.  Depending on the brand of wild rice sometimes the rice itself lends enough starch to thicken the broth but if you find the broth too thin, you can add a slurry of butter and flour to thicken. Instructions below in the recipe card. 
    • Before you add the milk and cream, check that the carrots and rice grains are cooked and tender. 
    • Once youโ€™ve added the milk and cream ensure to not let the soup reach a boil again. If the dairy gets too hot it will separate. 
    • For a beautiful presentation when serving, sprinkle fresh herbs and a few dried cranberries on each soup bowl.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I freeze this soup?

    Yes, you can make this soup ahead of time and freeze it. I recommend putting in all the ingredients except the milk and cream. Freeze the soup without the dairy and add it on the day you are going to serve it.

    Can I make this soup ahead of time?

    Definitely. This is a great soup to make the day before. The flavors will only get better if allowed to sit for 24 hours in the fridge. When you bring the soup back up to temperature for serving, be careful not to let the temperature reach a boiling point as this will cause the milk to separate.

    Can I use precooked rice?

    Absolutely! If using precooked rice, you can add it towards the end of the cooking process to prevent it from becoming overly soft. Adjust the cooking time accordingly.

    How long does this soup keep in the fridge?

    Enjoy within 3-4 days.

    How do I prevent the dairy from separating?

    To prevent curdling when adding dairy to the soup, make sure gradually incorporate them into the soup while stirring constantly. Avoid bringing the soup to a rolling boil after adding dairy.

    Can I use a Rotisserie chicken in place of the chicken in this recipe?

    Absolutely! Using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken is a super convenient shortcut. Simply shred or cut up the chicken into bite sized pieces and add it to the soup during the final stages of cooking.

    What Should I Serve with Cranberry Wild Rice Soup?

    • Pair with a rustic loaf of bread -- store bought is great! Try to look for a sourdough loaf. They are delicious! 
    • Homemade Honey Wheat Bread
    • Savory Apple Cheddar Scones
    • This soup would pair beautifully with my Cranberry Apple Buckwheat Salad recipe.
    • To elevate the meal, you could also make a flavored or herbed butter.
    • Cranberry juice mixed with sparkling water would be a delicious addition to the meal or a cranberry cocktail.
    Dutch oven full of wild rice soup on a staged marble countertop.

    More Cozy Recipes

    • Best Cauliflower Mushroom Soup Recipe with Sausage
    • Apple Cider Butternut Squash Soup
    • How to Make Easy Chana Masala Recipe
    • Broccoli Goat Cheese Quiche

    If you tried this Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!

    Recipe

    Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup

    Christy Faber
    Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup is like a warm hug in a bowl. Itโ€™s deliciously creamy, herby, and hearty.ย  Itโ€™s made with lots of vegetables, whole milk and cream but the special ingredient is small bites of sweet and tart dried cranberries.ย  Itโ€™s also the perfect way to use leftover turkey after Thanksgiving or Christmas.
    5 from 16 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 55 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine French
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 448 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tablespoon butter
    • 2 cups carrot diced
    • 1 cup celery diced
    • 2 cups onion diced
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • ยฝ cup wild rice (wild rice and brown rice blend is what I used)
    • 4 cups chicken broth
    • 1 tsp rosemary dried
    • 1 tsp ground sage dried
    • 1 tsp celery seed
    • 2 bay leaves optional
    • 1 lb chicken cubed
    • โ…“ cup dried cranberries
    • 1 cup whole milk
    • 2 cups half n half cream

    To Thicken The Soup (optional step)

    • ยฝ cup butter
    • ยฝ cup flour

    Instructions
     

    • Before beginning, chop all your vegetables and set out all the ingredients. Cook the cubed chicken in a large soup pot or Dutch oven until lightly browned and fully cooked. Set aside.
    • In the same large soup pot, and melt 2 tablespoon of butter. Add the chopped onions and cook for several minutes until softened.
    • Add the diced carrots and celery and cook for several more minutes, stirring occasionally.
    • Add the chicken broth, wild rice blend and bay leaves.ย  Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes or until the carrots and rice grains are tender.
    • Reduce the heat, remove the bay leaves and add the remaining spices, dried cranberries (snip each cranberry two or three times with kitchen scissors for smaller bites), milk and cream.
    • Stir in the cooked chicken and taste the soup. Take your time to carefully adjust for seasoning, adding more salt and pepper as needed.
    • Optional Step: If the broth requires thickening, make a slurry by melting ยผ cup of butter in a separate small saucepan and whiskingย  ยผ cup of flour into it.ย  Stir for several minutes. Add the slurry to the soup to thicken. Bring the soup back to temperature, stirring constantly. Taste again for seasoning.
    • Serve the soup with a garnish of fresh herbs (like parsley or thyme) and a sprinkle of snipped dried cranberries.

    Notes

    • Prepare all ingredients before beginning. This makes for a more enjoyable and stress free cooking experience.
    • For smaller bites of cranberry throughout, I snip the cranberries two to three times with kitchen scissors.ย 
    • I provide the option to thicken the soup.ย  Depending on the brand of wild rice sometimes the rice itself lends enough starch to thicken the broth but if you find the broth too thin, you can add a slurry of butter and flour to thicken. Instructions found above in the recipe card.ย 
    • Before you add the milk and cream, check that the carrots and rice grains are cooked and tender.ย 
    • Once youโ€™ve added the milk and cream ensure to not let the soup reach a boil again. If the dairy gets too hot it will separate.ย 
    • For a beautiful presentation when serving, sprinkle fresh herbs and a few dried cranberries on each soup bowl.
    ย 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 58.06gCalories: 448kcalCarbohydrates: 26.1gProtein: 30.7gFat: 24.1gSaturated Fat: 13.8gCholesterol: 125mgSodium: 673mgPotassium: 686mgFiber: 2.5gSugar: 6.6gCalcium: 179mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    If you make this recipe please leave a comment and give this recipe a rating! I aim to respond to every single comment. I am so grateful when you trust me and try one of my recipe creations in your own kitchen. I love to hear how it went!  Letโ€™s connect on Instagram and tag me in your food pics!

    โ€˜Til next time,

    Christy

    More Recipes

    • Creamy Lasagna Soup (Veggie Packed!)
    • Strawberry Jam Cookies
    • Healthy Chocolate Peppermint Fudge
    • Creamy Carrot and Parsnip Soup

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Deepti says

      September 12, 2023 at 12:11 am

      5 stars
      I love the blend of savory and sweet in my soups and I am definitely going to try a vegetarian version of this fall soup!

      Reply
    2. Tressa says

      September 11, 2023 at 8:28 pm

      5 stars
      What a simple, yet elegant soup. Like the others said, adding the cranberries

      Reply
    3. Charlotte says

      September 11, 2023 at 7:36 pm

      5 stars
      I love the combination of Turkey and Cranberries in this wild rice cranberry soup! I love recipes where you can use up leftovers. Thanks for sharing this fantastic family dinner!

      Reply
    4. Alessandra says

      September 11, 2023 at 6:34 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness, this looks incredible! I am already waiting to get to Thanksgiving so I can make this with my leftover turkey. Looks like the perfect cozy fall/winter meal.

      Reply
    5. Braghan says

      September 11, 2023 at 4:33 pm

      5 stars
      I never thought of putting cranberries in soup but this sounds so good with sweet and savory flavors together! I canโ€™t wait to make it for our guests next week!

      Reply
    6. Julie C says

      September 11, 2023 at 3:55 pm

      5 stars
      I make this every year after thanksgiving but honestly will be making more often its delicious!

      Reply
    7. Natalie says

      September 11, 2023 at 3:18 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a different spin on traditional chicken and rice soup and I LOVE the idea. It just makes me think of fall. Great tip about using rotisserie chicken or holiday leftovers. Iโ€™m printing this out immediately to try. Thank you!

      Reply
    8. Karishma says

      September 11, 2023 at 3:05 pm

      5 stars
      This looks SO hearty and cozy! I can't wait to add it to my fall rotation.

      Reply
    9. laura sirkovsky says

      September 11, 2023 at 2:28 pm

      5 stars
      The perfect Fall soup! A new favorite.

      Reply
    10. Valery says

      February 09, 2023 at 8:45 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious and comforting. This is truly a 5 star soup! I wouldnโ€™t change a thing about this recipe. Well done!

      Reply
    11. Jenna says

      October 26, 2022 at 6:56 pm

      5 stars
      This soup is SO good. It's hearty, creamy, and has great nutrients. Definitely a make over and over again kind of recipe!

      Reply
    12. Jacquie says

      September 02, 2022 at 1:23 pm

      5 stars
      I received this last year as a post-adoption meal to make life easier and I FELL IN LOVE.
      I've now made it three times myself and it never, ever disappoints.

      Reply
    13. Kathryn says

      December 28, 2021 at 2:42 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this soup this afternoon! Unreal!!

      Reply
      • Christy Faber says

        February 02, 2022 at 10:03 am

        Thank you!! So glad you loved it.

        Reply
      • Karina says

        September 11, 2023 at 5:33 pm

        5 stars
        This soup is perfect to kick off soup season. Can't wait to try.

        Reply
    14. Meg says

      December 27, 2021 at 1:32 pm

      5 stars
      SO delicious! Enjoyed this recipe at a Christmas gathering and can't wait to make it for my family now!

      Reply
      • Christy Faber says

        February 02, 2022 at 10:03 am

        I love to hear it! I developed this recipe with Christmas in mind. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome,

    Iโ€™m Christy

    a happy wife and mother to three boys, a nutritionist, a food lover and a Canadian. Creating and experimenting in the kitchen is my idea of an afternoon well spent. To me, a clean kitchen is an empty canvas of possibility and that means my kitchen never stays clean for long. My dream is that one or more of the recipes I share here will inspire you, perhaps even becoming a cherished family favourite.

    READ MORE >

    Fall Favorites

    • Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup
    • Olive Oil Carrot Cake
    • Apple Cheddar Scones
    • Apple Cider Butternut Squash Soup
    • Super Nourishing Custard Drink
    • Creamy Carrot and Parsnip Soup

    Most Popular

    • Gluten-Free Buckwheat Flour Brownies
    • Healthy Coconut Flour Oatmeal Cookies
    • Strawberry Cottage Cheese Smoothie
    • Date Sweetened Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Tahini Stuffed Chocolate Covered Dates
    • Spelt Chocolate Chunk Cookies

    Naturally Sweetened

    • Healthy Chocolate Pudding
    • stack of fudgy oat flour brownies on a white board.
      Oat Flour Brownies
    • Peanut Butter Swirl Black Bean Brownies
    • Homemade Strawberry Mint Ice Cream
    • a bowl of date paste topped with flaky salt on a countertop with a few medjool dates beside the bowl.
      Date Paste
    • Super Nourishing Custard Drink

    Follow For More Recipes

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Home
    • Fall Favorites
    • Recipe Index
    • About Me
    • Subscribe

    Copyright © 2023 Life Around The Table | Accessibility | Privacy policy