Turkey Wild Rice Soup (Printable Version)
Savory blend of turkey, wild rice, and vegetables simmered in a flavorful broth for a cozy meal.
# Ingredient List:
→ Poultry
01 - 2 cups cooked turkey, diced or shredded
→ Grains
02 - 3/4 cup uncooked wild rice, rinsed
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil or unsalted butter
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
05 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
06 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 cup cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
09 - 1 bay leaf
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
13 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
→ Liquids
15 - 8 cups low-sodium chicken or turkey broth
→ Finish
16 - 1/3 cup heavy cream or half-and-half (optional, for creamier texture)
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
01 - Heat olive oil or butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and sliced celery. Cook for 5 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and sliced mushrooms. Sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Add rinsed wild rice, bay leaf, dried thyme, sage, rosemary, black pepper, and salt. Mix thoroughly.
04 - Pour in chicken or turkey broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for 40 to 45 minutes until wild rice is tender.
05 - Stir in cooked turkey and simmer uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes to warm.
06 - If desired, incorporate heavy cream or half-and-half for a creamier texture.
07 - Remove bay leaf, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with chopped parsley.
# Tips from hearthlykitchen:
01 -
- It comes together in under two hours and tastes like it simmered for days, which is honestly the dream.
- Wild rice has this chewy texture that regular rice never quite captures, and it makes the whole soup feel more substantial.
- One pot means one cleanup, and that matters more than people admit when it's already dark outside.
02 -
- Wild rice takes longer than regular rice, so don't use white rice as a substitute unless you enjoy a mushy soup—the wild rice's texture is actually what makes this soup interesting.
- Taste the broth before adding salt; most store-bought broths are saltier than you'd expect, and you want to adjust knowing what you're starting with.
03 -
- If you don't have homemade turkey or turkey broth on hand, rotisserie chicken works beautifully—just use chicken broth instead, and nobody will notice the difference.
- Add the cream at the very end rather than during cooking, which keeps it from breaking and gives you better control over how creamy you want it to be.