Is soup better in a crockpot?

Yes, especially creamy soups. Slow cooking enhances flavor and ensures ingredients are fully tender.

What are the ingredients in Panera Bread creamy chicken and wild rice soup?

Chicken, wild rice, carrots, celery, onion, broth, and cream are the core components.

Absolutely. Wild rice holds up well in slow cooking and doesn’t get mushy.

Use a butter-flour roux, cornstarch slurry, or dairy-free thickeners like blended cauliflower.

Yes. Add it in the last hour since it’s already cooked.

Carrots, celery, onion, mushrooms, and even kale work well.

A comforting and creamy wild rice soup inspired by Panera, slow-cooked to perfection with tender chicken, vegetables, and warm spices.

Scale

Heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté onion, garlic, carrots, and celery until softened.
Transfer the sautéed vegetables to the crockpot.
Add chicken stock, water, 1 cup of milk, pepper, oregano, bay leaf, and the seasoning packet from the rice mix.
Add the shredded or diced chicken and rice to the crockpot.
Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.
About 30 minutes before serving, whisk flour into the remaining 1 cup of milk until smooth.
Stir the flour-milk mixture into the crockpot, mix well to thicken the soup.
Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
Garnish with chopped scallions before serving.

For extra creaminess, substitute one cup of milk with half-and-half or heavy cream.

Keywords: crockpot, wild rice soup, Panera, creamy chicken soup