The Ultimate Slow Cooker Mushroom Wild Rice Soup: Simple, Creamy, & Perfect for Meal Prep
Indulge in the rich, earthy flavors of this incredible Slow Cooker Mushroom Wild Rice Soup. Designed for ultimate convenience, it requires only 15 minutes of active prep time before your slow cooker takes over, effortlessly blending robust flavors. This recipe yields a generous 8 servings, making it an ideal choice for meal prepping throughout the week, and the simple cooking method ensures cleanup is an absolute breeze!
I’ve found myself enjoying this delightful slow cooker mushroom wild rice soup every single day this week, and honestly, I’m completely obsessed! It’s truly that good. The luxurious creamy texture of the soup, combined with the velvety, buttery tender mushrooms that have simmered for hours in a smooth, flavorful broth, creates a culinary experience you’ll want to savor. Each spoonful offers a harmonious blend of rich, earthy notes and comforting warmth, making it an instant classic in my kitchen.
This blog post is proudly sponsored by Crockpot™. My heartfelt thanks go out to all my wonderful readers for supporting the brands that make Jessica in the Kitchen possible! Please know that all thoughts, opinions, and delicious recipes shared here are entirely my own.
The Magic of the Crockpot MyTime™ 6-QT. Programmable Slow Cooker
There’s an undeniable coziness this Mushroom Wild Rice Soup brings, and it’s even more impressive knowing each bowl contains just around 153 calories! Perhaps the most remarkable aspect is how effortlessly it comes together in your Crockpot™, requiring a mere 15 minutes of initial preparation time. For anyone seeking delicious, healthy, and convenient meals, this recipe is a game-changer.
On my busiest days, especially during the hectic autumn season affectionately known as “Crocktober,” my Crockpot™ is my unwavering companion for crafting satisfying dinners. I’ve become particularly enamored with their new Crockpot MyTime™ 6-QT. Programmable Slow Cooker. This appliance isn’t just another kitchen gadget; it’s a true culinary assistant, offering unparalleled convenience and flexibility. Its standout feature is its ability to automatically adjust the cooking cycle, ensuring your meal is perfectly ready precisely when you want to eat. How brilliant is that?
If you’re one of those incredibly organized individuals who preps dinner hours in advance (please, share your secrets!), you simply set your desired dinner time, and the Crockpot MyTime™ handles the rest. For those of us who often find ourselves gravitating towards the “HIGH” setting because dinner needs to be on the table in just a few hours, this slow cooker adapts seamlessly. Regardless of your planning style, it adjusts its settings to meet your schedule, delivering perfectly cooked food every time.
Beyond its intelligent timing, I also appreciate the dedicated pre-set options for popular dishes like soups and vegetables, alongside the reliable manual mode. It’s a win-win situation, offering both smart automation and complete control. Whether you’re simmering this comforting Mushroom Wild Rice Soup or preparing my beloved Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup, the Crockpot MyTime™ empowers you to create your favorite meals with ease and precision. Now, let’s dive into the specifics of this incredible recipe.
Key Ingredients for Your Mushroom Wild Rice Soup
Crafting a truly exceptional Slow Cooker Mushroom Wild Rice Soup begins with selecting the right ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that rich, satisfying flavor and creamy texture.
- Wild Rice: This is crucial. Ensure you are using only wild rice, not a wild rice blend. Blends often contain different types of rice with varying cooking times, which can result in some rice becoming soggy while others remain undercooked. Pure wild rice will cook beautifully in the slow cooker, maintaining its distinctive chewy texture and nutty flavor, providing a wonderful contrast to the creamy soup base.
- Mushrooms: The star of the show! You have a lot of flexibility here to choose your favorite variety. I typically opt for baby Bella (cremini) mushrooms because they are widely available and offer a robust, earthy flavor. However, feel free to experiment with others like shiitake for a deeper umami, portobello for a meatier bite, or delicate oyster mushrooms. A mix of different mushrooms can also add complexity and depth to the soup, making each bite an adventure.
- Vegetable Broth: The foundation of our soup’s liquid. To achieve a lighter, more appealing color for your finished soup, select a vegetable broth that is golden or cream-colored, rather than a dark brown one. This seemingly small detail can enhance the visual appeal of your dish without compromising on flavor. The broth will infuse all the ingredients with its savory essence as it slowly simmers.
- Aromatics & Seasonings: Don’t underestimate the power of finely diced carrots, celery, and onion, along with fresh garlic. These create the classic mirepoix base that builds incredible flavor. Dried oregano and fresh thyme add herbaceous notes that complement the earthy mushrooms beautifully. Adjust sea salt and black pepper to your taste, remembering that broth saltiness can vary.
- Thickening Agents: Vegan butter and flour form a “beurre manié,” a clever way to thicken the soup without fuss. Coconut milk (or almond/cashew milk) provides the luxurious creaminess that makes this soup so comforting.
How to Make Slow Cooker Mushroom Wild Rice Soup: Step-by-Step Instructions
Preparing this hearty slow cooker soup is wonderfully straightforward, requiring minimal effort for maximum flavor. Follow these simple steps to create a comforting meal that will warm you from the inside out.
- Prepare and Combine Ingredients: Begin by washing and finely dicing all your vegetables: carrots, celery, and onion. Mince your garlic and slice your mushrooms. Once prepped, add all these fresh vegetables, along with the uncooked wild rice, dried oregano, fresh thyme, and a generous seasoning of sea salt and black pepper, directly into the basin of your Crockpot™. Pour in the vegetable broth, then stir everything thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are well combined and submerged in the broth.
- Slow Cook to Perfection: Secure the lid on your slow cooker. Set the cooking temperature to “HIGH” and allow it to cook for 3 to 4 hours, or select the “LOW” setting for a longer cook time of 6 to 8 hours. The prolonged, gentle simmer will allow all the flavors to meld together beautifully, and the wild rice to become tender, absorbing the rich broth.
- Thicken with Beurre Manié: Once your soup has finished cooking and the vegetables are tender (or within the last 5-10 minutes of cooking), it’s time to create your beurre manié – an ingenious and incredibly simple technique for thickening. In a small bowl, combine the softened vegan butter and the flour. Mix them together with a spoon for about 1 to 2 minutes until a silky smooth paste forms, ensuring no dry flour remains. This method is far easier than preparing a traditional roux on the stovetop, saving you time and effort.
- Incorporate Thickener and Creaminess: Ladle a small amount of the hot soup into your butter-flour mixture (beurre manié) to temper it, whisking vigorously until smooth. This prevents lumps when added to the main pot. Then, pour the entire tempered mixture back into the slow cooker with the soup. Stir well to integrate. Next, add your coconut milk (or preferred plant-based milk) to the soup. Give it another good stir and let it meld in the hot soup for at least 5 minutes. This allows the soup to thicken beautifully and the creamy notes to infuse throughout.
- Final Seasoning and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust the seasonings as needed. You might want to add a bit more sea salt or black pepper to elevate the flavors. Turn your Crockpot™ to the ‘off’ or ‘warm’ setting. Ladle the hearty Mushroom Wild Rice Soup into bowls and serve immediately. It pairs wonderfully with a crusty bread. My personal favorite side with this creamy soup is my No Knead Dutch Oven Bread, as it’s incredibly easy to make and perfect for dipping! Enjoy this deeply satisfying and nutritious meal.
Expert Tips & Frequently Asked Questions for Perfect Soup
To ensure your Slow Cooker Mushroom Wild Rice Soup turns out perfectly every time, here are some invaluable tips and answers to common questions:
- Consistent Vegetable Dicing: For the best texture in your soup, make sure to dice all your vegetables—carrots, celery, and onion—into similar, small sizes. This ensures they cook evenly and become perfectly tender without some parts being undercooked or mushy.
- Achieve Extra Creaminess: If you desire an even richer, more luxurious texture, consider blending half of the finished soup. Carefully transfer about half of the soup to a blender (or use an immersion blender directly in the pot), blend until smooth, and then stir it back into the remaining soup. This technique adds incredible body and creaminess, a method I frequently employ in many of my soup recipes.
- Freezing for Future Enjoyment: A common question I receive is, “Does this soup freeze well?” The answer is a resounding yes! This Mushroom Wild Rice Soup is excellent for freezing. Portion it into airtight containers or freezer bags once cooled completely. When you’re ready to enjoy it, simply thaw it overnight in your refrigerator and then reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. It tastes just as delicious as when freshly made.
- Adjusting Soup Consistency: If you find your soup is thicker than desired, don’t hesitate to add that extra ½ cup of vegetable broth mentioned in the recipe. You can even add more, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your preferred consistency. Conversely, if you prefer an even thicker soup, you can prepare a little more beurre manié (vegan butter and flour paste) and stir it in gradually until you achieve the desired thickness.
- Garnishing Ideas: Elevate your serving with a simple garnish. A sprinkle of fresh parsley, chives, or a swirl of dairy-free cream can add both visual appeal and a burst of freshness. Toasted croutons or a sprinkle of nutritional yeast can also enhance flavor and texture.
More Delicious & Cozy Soup Recipes to Explore
If you’re a fan of comforting, easy-to-make soups, be sure to check out these other favorites from my kitchen:
- Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup: Another fantastic slow cooker option, perfect for autumn evenings.
- Roasted Carrot Soup: A vibrant, naturally sweet, and incredibly satisfying soup.
- Lentil Soup: A hearty and protein-packed classic that’s both nutritious and delicious.
Enjoy every spoonful, friends! If you make this Slow Cooker Mushroom Wild Rice Soup, please don’t forget to snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We absolutely love seeing your culinary creations. We’d also be thrilled if you could take a moment to leave a comment below and give the recipe a rating! Your feedback is invaluable. Thanks so much!
Slow Cooker Mushroom Wild Rice Soup
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Ingredients
- 2 medium carrots, finely diced
- 3 stalks celery, bottoms removed, finely diced
- 1 large onion, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced (such as baby Bella, cremini, or a mix)
- 1/2 cup wild rice, uncooked (ensure it’s pure wild rice, not a blend)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- sea salt and black pepper to taste (adjust based on your vegetable broth’s saltiness)
- 4 1/2 – 5 cups vegetable broth (use a light-colored broth for a lighter soup)
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons flour, (any type works, including gluten-free)
- 1 cup coconut milk, (or almond milk or cashew milk for creaminess)
- Crusty bread to serve with
Instructions
- Chop the carrots, celery, and onions. Mince the garlic and slice the mushrooms. Add all these vegetables, along with the uncooked wild rice, dried oregano, fresh thyme, sea salt, and black pepper, to your Crockpot™.
- Pour in the vegetable broth. Stir everything together until all ingredients are well combined.
- Cover your Crockpot™ and set it to high for 3 to 4 hours, or low for 6 to 8 hours.
- After the soup has finished cooking (or within the last 5-10 minutes of cooking), prepare your beurre manié. In a small bowl, mix the softened vegan butter and flour together with a spoon. Continue mixing for 1 to 2 minutes until it forms a smooth, silky paste, ensuring the flour is fully incorporated into the butter.
- Ladle a small amount of the hot soup into your butter-flour mixture to temper it, stirring until smooth. Then, add this mixture back into the main soup pot and stir thoroughly to combine.
- Stir in the coconut milk (or other plant-based milk). Allow the soup to continue simmering gently for at least 5 minutes, allowing all the flavors to meld and the soup to thicken to its creamy consistency.
- Taste the soup and adjust seasonings with sea salt and black pepper if needed.
- Turn your Crockpot™ off or to the ‘warm’ setting. Serve your delicious Slow Cooker Mushroom Wild Rice Soup alongside crusty bread and enjoy!
Notes
- Dice the veggies into similar sizes so that everything cooks evenly. That’ll give you the best texture for the vegetables in the soup.
- If you want an extra creamy soup, you can blend half of it at the end in a blender, then stir it back into the soup. This is a method I love to do in many of my soups!
- This soup freezes beautifully! Freeze in airtight containers, then thaw overnight in your fridge when ready to enjoy, and reheat gently.
- If you prefer a thinner soup, add an extra ½ cup vegetable broth (or more, to taste). For a thicker soup, prepare a bit more beurre manié and stir it in gradually.
Nutrition Information (per serving):
- Calories: 153kcal
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Sodium: 52mg
- Potassium: 322mg
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 3g
- Vitamin A: 2790IU
- Vitamin C: 5mg
- Calcium: 33mg
- Iron: 2mg
Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.