Ultimate Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Chicken, Mushroom & Wild Rice Soup: Your New Favorite Comfort Food

There are certain dishes that transcend mere sustenance and become synonymous with comfort. For me, this Chicken, Mushroom & Wild Rice Soup is precisely that dish. It’s the one I dream about when the weather turns chilly, the first thing I crave when a cold strikes, or simply when I need a hug in a bowl. This exquisitely silky bone broth base, generously studded with tender chicken, earthy mushrooms, sweet carrots, and nutty wild rice, is truly one of the redeeming qualities of winter. It’s a warm, nourishing embrace that makes even the coldest days a little brighter.

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You might be thinking, “But the temperatures are finally warming up!” And while that might be true for many, I live in Utah, where spring weather is a fickle beast. One day, it’s a delightful 65 degrees, and the next, you wake up to several inches of fresh snow. It’s a true story – I recall one spring when my husband, then a student, brought out his scooter only for it to be buried under fluffy white snow overnight! So, while the rest of the world might be moving on to salads, I’m still clinging to my soups like my children cling to my leg when I’m trying to get things done. I’ll continue simmering comforting pots of soup until it’s undeniably too warm to enjoy them any longer.

Honestly, I literally mourn the end of soup season. During the winter months, soup is on my menu at least twice a week. Its absence in the warmer months is deeply felt, like missing an extended member of the family. Perhaps I’m a bit soup-obsessed, but once you try this recipe, you might just join me in my passion!

As I’ve often mentioned, I’m not the biggest fan of winter; I continuously hope my husband finds a job somewhere perpetually warm! But until that day comes, this Chicken, Mushroom & Wild Rice Soup serves as my ultimate saving grace through the colder months. I typically try not to repeat recipes within a month – I’m quite particular about variety – but I constantly find myself wondering, “How soon can I make this soup again without the kids staging a riot?” It’s such a generous recipe that I always manage to freeze a portion, and there’s nothing quite like pulling out a container for a truly luscious and effortless lunch later on.

The Journey to the Perfect Allergy-Friendly Wild Rice Soup

Growing up, my mom often made a chicken and wild rice soup that was my absolute favorite. It was a cherished family recipe, and I made it constantly during our newlywed days. However, that beloved recipe relied on a canned “cream-of-something” soup and a boxed wild rice mix that unfortunately used wheat as a thickener. As our family’s dietary needs evolved to be gluten and dairy-free, I knew I had to adapt this classic without sacrificing any of the comforting flavors I remembered and loved.

The day I finally perfected this Gluten-Free Chicken Wild Rice Soup, I literally jumped for joy, did a few heel clicks, and offered a silent prayer of gratitude! It successfully captures all the delicious flavors from my childhood memory, but in a way that is safe and enjoyable for everyone in our home. This recipe truly is a testament to how you can adapt and elevate traditional comfort foods to meet modern dietary requirements without compromising on taste or texture. The silky base and hearty additions create a bowl of pure nostalgia, reimagined for today.

While I usually just share good recipes and hope they bring happiness to someone, somewhere, I genuinely *beg* of you to try this soup before the weather gets too warm. I know my blog and photography are still relatively new and evolving, and I was so frustrated trying to capture these images on a day with truly horrible lighting. I desperately wanted the soup to scream “make me!” so you could join me on this wonderful soup affair. Since the pictures might not do it complete justice, please, just take my word for it – this soup is absolutely divine! Sincerely, a fellow soup-a-holic.

Tips for Crafting the Perfect Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Soup

Achieving the rich, creamy texture and depth of flavor in this allergy-friendly soup is simpler than you might think. Here are a few tips to ensure your bowl is nothing short of perfection:

Quality Broth is Key: Since bone broth forms the foundation, using a high-quality chicken bone broth will significantly enhance the flavor profile and nutritional value. Always double-check labels to ensure it’s free of gluten, dairy, and any other allergens relevant to your diet.
Sautéing for Flavor: Don’t rush the initial sautéing of your onions, carrots, celery (if using), and garlic. This step is crucial for building a deep, aromatic base for your soup. Cook them until they are softened and slightly translucent, releasing their natural sweetness.
Wild Rice Wisdom: Wild rice takes a bit longer to cook than white rice, and its texture is unique – a delightful chewiness. Ensure it has enough time to soften but avoid overcooking, which can make it mushy. If you’re using a pre-mixed wild rice blend, check its specific cooking instructions. If your blend is unseasoned, adding a touch of garlic powder, onion powder, and dried parsley can mimic the flavors often found in seasoned mixes.
Creaminess Without Dairy: The secret to the creamy, luxurious texture in this dairy-free soup is Tofutti Cream Cheese. It melts beautifully into the hot broth, providing that rich mouthfeel without any dairy. Make sure to whisk it in thoroughly until fully incorporated. If Tofutti Cream Cheese is unavailable, other dairy-free cream cheese alternatives may work, but consistency can vary.
Seasoning to Taste: Always taste and adjust your seasonings before serving. The amount of salt needed can vary depending on your chicken broth and bouillon. A pinch of fresh black pepper at the end adds a wonderful aromatic finish.
Make-Ahead & Freezing: This soup is fantastic for meal prep. It reheats beautifully and freezes exceptionally well. Allow it to cool completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat gently on the stove, adding a splash of extra broth if needed to restore consistency.

**If you’d like an instant pot version of this soup (along with a video to show you how to make it!) check out my Gluten & Dairy Free Instant Pot Chicken, Mushroom & Wild Rice.

Where can I find more gluten & dairy free soups?

All of my soups are free of gluten and dairy, designed to be both delicious and allergy-friendly. If you love this comforting Chicken, Mushroom & Wild Rice Soup, then you’ll undoubtedly enjoy these other fantastic allergy friendly soup recipes from my collection:

Gluten & Dairy Free Instant Pot Loaded Potato Soup
Allergy Friendly Taco Soup (red meat free!)
Gluten & Dairy Free Thai Coconut Noodle Soup
Instant Pot Potato & Sausage Soup
Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup

Chicken, Mushroom & Wild Rice Soup (GF, DF, Egg, Peanut/Tree nut Free)

Yield:
4 servings

Prep Time:
15 minutes

Cook Time:
30 minutes

Total Time:
45 minutes

A quintessential comfort soup: a silky, bone broth studded with wild rice, chicken, carrots, and mushrooms, all made gluten and dairy free!

Ingredients

1 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, diced finely
5 and 1/2 cups chicken broth (Be sure to read labels for your diet)
3 carrots, peeled and diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 celery stalks (we can’t do celery, so we omitted this)
1 tsp chicken bouillon (be sure it’s wheat free!)
2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 cup long grain rice & wild rice combo *see note
1 package of button mushrooms, sliced
2 tbsp Tofutti Cream Cheese
1/2 cup chicken broth + 1 Tablespoon cornstarch (for slurry)
salt and fresh pepper, to taste

Instructions

Put olive oil in a large pot on medium heat, add onion, carrots, celery (if using), and garlic and saute until soft, about 5-7 minutes.
Add chicken broth, chicken bouillon, wild rice mix, and mushrooms to the pot. Bring to a simmer on low heat, covered, for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally until the rice is softened. Once rice is cooked, bring the soup to a quick boil and add in the slurry made from 1/2 cup chicken broth and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Boil for one minute, stirring constantly, then reduce heat back to low.
Stir in the shredded chicken and Tofutti Cream Cheese until the cream cheese is fully melted and incorporated. Adjust salt and pepper to taste if needed. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

* I’ve been lucky enough to find a wheat-free wild rice mix that includes seasonings at my local Winco. If you cannot find such a mix, you can use plain wild rice. To compensate for missing seasonings, you could add 1 tsp each of garlic powder, onion powder, and dried parsley to the soup along with the broth.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4
Serving Size: 1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 292Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 1062mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 24g

*Disclosure: Tofutti generously provided me with free product in exchange for this post. However, all ideas and opinions expressed are genuinely my own. It’s worth noting that I had been making this very soup, with Tofutti, long before any collaboration.*

This Gluten-Free Chicken Wild Rice Soup is thoughtfully adapted from a delightful recipe found on SkinnyTaste.