Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup

On stove top or in the Instant Pot, Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup is filling and comforting while being a little classier than the average soup.

Creamy Wild Rice Soup

Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup is so fancy it makes me feel like I should be wearing pumps and a pillbox hat and eating at a ladies' luncheon.

But it's simple enough to make on a cool Fall afternoon for the family to eat after doing farm chores. And trust me when I tell you, no pumps or pillbox hats are worn for chores.

Ingredients

• wild rice--My local store usually has a wild rice blend that I use for this soup. Wild rice is a bit more substantial than other rices such as basmati, jasmine, brown, white, etc. If you choose to use a different rice, your cooking time for the rice will need to be adjusted
• water--the amount of water will vary depending on your Instant Pot. If cooking on the stovetop, follow the rice package directions
• butter--salted or unsalted butter works just fine. I avoid margarine
• onion--yellow or white onion works best here. Adjust the amount to fit your preferences
• all-purpose flour--along with the butter it is used to thicken the soup
• chicken broth--homemade is fantastic, but I sometimes use water mixed with Better than Bouillon for a shortcut
• nutmeg or allspice--just an optional touch of warm spice to complement the soup
• cooked ham--use a ham you can cut into cubes or chunks for the best texture
• carrots--cut pretty small so they cook quickly alongside the onion
• half-and-half, cream or milk--if you use cream, use half milk and half cream

Instructions

In an Instant Pot, cook wild rice in the water using rice setting according to your Instant Pot directions.

Once rice is cooked and the water is absorbed turn the Instant Pot to saute.

Add butter, onions, and carrots. Stir constantly until veggies are slightly tender.

Add flour and stir well.

Add broth and cook 5 minutes. Adjust the temperature on the Instant Pot to keep the broth at a slight simmer.

Stir in nutmeg or allspice and ham.

Add half-and-half. Do not boil after the half-and-half is added.

Serve hot.

Stovetop Wild Rice Soup

This recipe can easily be modified to make on the stovetop. Just cook your rice in the 3 cups of water according to the package directions.

Then in a Dutch oven, melt the butter and add carrots and onions. Cooking them until tender.

Add the flour. Stir until smooth. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Add the rice and ham to the dutch oven.

Stir in the half-and-half. Do not boil. Serve hot.

Variations

Vegetarian Wild Rice Soup: Add in sliced mushrooms and/or celery with the carrots and onions. Then toss in fresh spinach to saute right before adding the broth. Leave out the ham, substitute veggie stock and you have delish a vegetarian soup.

Chicken Wild Rice Soup: No ham? Cook diced chicken breast along with the onions and carrots until cooked through, then proceed with the recipe as written. I actually like it with both chicken AND ham.

Seasoning Alternatives: If you enjoy herbs, consider adding thyme or rosemary to this elegant soup.

Soup for Leftover Ham

This soup is leftover ham's BFF and is one of several reasons I make ham using our 3-Ingredient Ham Glaze recipe. I looooooovvvveee leftover ham.

There are so many delish things to make with it!

Use leftover ham for suppers like Instant Pot Ham and Beans, Breakfast with Amish Breakfast Casserole with ham instead of bacon, or Ham and Cheese Crescent Rolls for a snack or a fast lunch.

Or... if you are smart, you will make Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup!

Pro Tips

Adding the half and half at the end of cooking is important. If you boil milk products they sometimes will curdle or separate and make cream soups less appealing looking.

Make sure your wild rice and veggies are tender before adding the flour to thicken the soup. It's difficult to cook them further after the flour and broth is added.

If your soup is too thick, adjust the thickness by adding more broth.

"This is one of your top soup recipes. I love this soup..."

--BK

Serve alongside

This soup is a meal in itself at our house, but we often enjoy it with crusty bread and a tossed vegetable salad served with a tangy vinaigrette to offset the richness of the soup.

Finish this elegant soup off with an equally elegant Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Filling or Lemon Jello Cake or a quick Chocolate Chip Mug Cake if you're pressed for time, low on energy, and still want a sweet treat.

Related Dishes

I like to bake an extra large ham with 3-Ingredient Ham Glaze so I can make soup! But you can also make a quick snack, lunch, or supper with Ham and Cheese Crescent Rolls.

Make Amish Breakfast Casserole with ham leftovers for a hearty, filling breakfast featuring ham.

Substitutions

If you don't have half-and-half substitute milk or heavy cream. If you use heavy cream, consider using half heavy cream and half milk to cut the richness.

Storage

Allow the soup to cool slightly, then put in a shallow lidded container to refrigerate for 3 to 5 days.

Because of the cream base, I prefer not to freeze this soup.

Did you try this recipe?

Lastly, if you made Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup following this recipe, please let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment and/or giving a rating!

I love hearing from you! I'll do my best to respond to each comment.

And of course, if you do make this recipe, tag @laughingroostereats on Instagram and hashtag it #laughingroostereats! Seeing your photos is our favorite thing!

Recipe Recap

More like muck boots, flannel coats, and mismatched gloves.

No matter what you're wearing on a cool Fall day, it is nice to come in from the crisp Fall days to a cozy, warm, creamy pot of soup.

This soup comes together nicely in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop. I've even made it in the Crockpot.

So whether you are out admiring the endless colors of fall foliage, hiking, cheering at a football game, or wrestling a milk cow, this soup is one for the regular rotation.

Take it to a ladies luncheon, a holiday party, or even a tailgate party. I'm sure you will be popular!

FOOD SAFETY

• Wash hands before cooking
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended