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Cozy Slow Cooker Turkey and Wild Rice Soup

Cozy Slow Cooker Turkey and Wild Rice Soup - featured image
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A hearty, creamy slow cooker soup made with tender turkey, nutty wild rice, and a rich, naturally creamy broth. Perfect for using leftover turkey or rotisserie chicken, this hands-off recipe delivers deep flavor and comforting warmth with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced (about 1.5 cups)
  • 3 carrots, peeled and diced (about 1 cup)
  • 3 celery stalks, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 8 cups low-sodium chicken or turkey broth
  • 1 cup wild rice, rinsed
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups cooked turkey, shredded or diced
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Sauté the vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 6-7 minutes until softened and onions are translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  2. Transfer to slow cooker: Scrape sautéed vegetables into a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add rinsed wild rice, dried thyme, dried rosemary, bay leaf, black pepper, and salt. Pour in broth and stir.
  3. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until rice is tender but still has a slight chew. Check rice at 4 hours on low.
  4. Add turkey: Stir in shredded or diced cooked turkey. Cook for another 20-30 minutes until heated through.
  5. Create creamy finish: Remove bay leaf. Using an immersion blender, blend about 1/3 of the soup directly in the slow cooker. Alternatively, transfer 2 cups of soup to a blender, blend until smooth, and stir back in.
  6. Stir in cream: Pour in heavy cream or coconut milk and stir until incorporated. Taste and adjust seasoning. Let cook for 5 more minutes on low.
  7. Serve and garnish: Ladle into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot with crusty bread or a green salad.

Notes

Don’t skip sautéing the vegetables—it builds flavor. Add the rice partway through cooking to prevent mushiness. For a dairy-free version, use full-fat coconut milk. The soup thickens as it sits; add a splash of broth when reheating. Freezes well for up to 3 months (add cream after thawing).

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker turkey soup, wild rice soup, turkey and wild rice soup, creamy turkey soup, leftover turkey recipe, cozy soup, fall soup, winter soup

Find it online: https://livelybite.com/cozy-slow-cooker-turkey-and-wild-rice-soup/