My husband calls this ‘Cozy Couch Soup’ because it’s perfect for curling up with a blanket and binge-watching our favorite shows.

Quick vegetarian swap

• Replace chicken with 1½ cups cooked chickpeas + 8 oz extra mushrooms or 10 oz smoked tofu, and use vegetable broth. Use coconut milk for a dairy-free, creamy finish — add a splash of tamari if you want a savory boost.

Slow cooker method

1. Sauté onion, carrot, celery, garlic, mushrooms, and spices in a skillet (or do raw for a rustic result).
2. Transfer to slow cooker with rice, broth, bay leaf, and raw (or cooked) chicken.
3. Cook on LOW 4–5 hours or HIGH 2½–3 hours until rice is tender.
4. Stir in cream and lemon juice in the last 20 minutes. Thicken with flour slurry if desired.

Instant Pot method

1. Use Sauté mode: sweat aromatics and mushrooms. Add rice and toast 1 minute.
2. Add broth, bay leaf, and raw chicken breasts on top (optional). Seal and cook on Manual/High for 20 minutes. Let natural release 10 minutes, quick release remaining. Remove chicken, shred, stir in cream, and finish as above.

Tips & chef’s notes

• Texture: wild rice blend gives pleasant chew. If you prefer faster cooking, substitute 1 cup long-grain rice or 1 cup Arborio (risotto-style); reduce simmer time and monitor.
• Make it ultra-cozy: add 1 cup diced potatoes with the broth for an even heartier bowl.
• Crispy finish: top each serving with crispy bacon bits or toasted sage leaves.
• Herb variation: swap thyme for rosemary (use sparingly) or add a bay leaf and a sprig of rosemary while simmering and remove before serving.
• Acidity: the lemon juice at the end brightens the cream and prevents the soup from tasting flat. Don’t skip it.
• Salt: because of the wild rice and cream, you may need to add salt at the end after tasting.

Make-ahead & storage

• Fridge: Keeps 3–4 days in an airtight container. Reheat gently on low, stirring — add a splash of broth to loosen.
• Freezing: You can freeze this soup (without cream if possible) for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight, reheat, then stir in cream just before serving. Texture of rice may soften after freezing — still delicious, but slightly different.

Serving suggestions

• Crusty sourdough, warm biscuits, or seeded crackers.
• Simple side salad (apple + arugula + lemon vinaigrette) to cut the richness.
• Pour into a bread bowl for extra couch-worthy presentation.

A final note

This “Cozy Couch Soup” is all about comfort without fuss — a warm, slightly creamy, herb-forward bowl that supports both quiet nights in and full-on TV marathons. It’s forgiving: swap proteins, make it dairy-free, or double the batch for easy weeknight lunches. Tuck in, grab a blanket, and enjoy the show. 🍲📺

Would you like a printable recipe card or a scaled version (for 2 people or for freezing a big batch)?