Sometimes, you just need to make a recipe for yourself. Like, just for you—not for anyone else in the house, not for a dinner party, and certainly not because you’re feeling particularly generous. Nope, you’re making it because it’s your soul that needs some TLC. This, friends, is that recipe. The one you make when everyone else is happily eating their dinner of frozen pizza or takeout because, let’s face it, you’re the only one in the house who would actually get excited about a big ol’ pot of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup.

Now, I can already hear the judgment from the void: “But… isn’t that just chicken soup?” Oh, honey, no. That’s not what this is. This is a soup with layers. It’s got herbs, it’s got wild rice (which sounds fancy even if you don’t really know what it is), it’s creamy in the right ways, and somehow it just feels… nourishing. Like if I were a health guru (I’m not), I’d tell you this soup is basically a hug in a bowl, except it’s a hug with antioxidants. This is the kind of soup you make when you need to feel like you’ve got your life together, even if, spoiler alert: you don’t.

I mean, I don’t. But that’s neither here nor there.

There’s something deeply reassuring about making soup. Like, actually making it, not just opening a can and pretending it’s the same thing. When you’re chopping vegetables, sauteeing onions, and stirring a giant pot of liquid, there’s something in your brain that goes, “Yes. I’ve got this. I can handle whatever life throws at me. Maybe it’s a mortgage payment, or maybe it’s my 4 p.m. existential crisis about the future of humanity, but either way, I can handle it. I’m making soup, for crying out loud.”

Of course, that’s not always true. I mean, I’m honestly just a 51 year old pretending to be an adult when inside I’m just a goofball who wants to sit on the couch watching the Muppet Show all day. No doom scrolling, because the world is scary right now and soon I’m going to have to win lotto to buy eggs. When I make this soup, I feel like I’m winning at life, even if it’s the only win I get that week. And let’s be honest—sometimes we all need to grab those small victories. Even if the only thing you’re winning is "the person who can follow a recipe without burning the house down."

The Soup That Knows Your Soul

Let’s break this down: Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is warm. It’s creamy. It’s got enough of a herby vibe to make you feel like a grown-up. And it’s thick enough to be a meal but light enough to not feel like you’re basically rolling yourself to bed afterward. It’s a full-on comfort food, but with a little more sophistication than, say, a bowl of plain mac ‘n’ cheese. Which is great if you’re trying to convince yourself that you’re an adult. And honestly? That’s the real magic of this soup. It’s not just food; it’s emotional support in the form of a liquid.

Now, the best part about making this soup just for yourself? You get leftovers. So now you have comforting chicken soup for lunch for the next two days, and you get to feel like you’re nailing life for, like, 48 hours straight. You’ll open the fridge and see that giant Tupperware filled with soup and feel a small surge of pride. "Look at me," you’ll think. "I’ve got my life together."

Of course, the fact that no one else in the house wants to eat it might hurt a little, but that’s fine. ARFID makes something like this way too exotic for my little family, but I’m not making it for them, am I? Nope. This is for me, and no one can take that away from me. (Except maybe the cat, but that’d be weird and she’s so dang cute I’d totally forgive her.)

The Chicken and Wild Rice Soup Recipe You Never Knew You Needed

Now that I’ve talked your ear off about the therapeutic benefits of cooking soup for yourself (because, let’s face it, we all need something to feel good about these days), here’s the recipe that’s gonna help you turn that existential fog into delicious, herby warmth. This Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is hearty, comforting, and doesn’t require you to be a Michelin-star chef to pull it off. It’s the kind of recipe that makes you feel like you’ve got your life together, even if you haven’t remembered to check your email in three days.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced (the garlic is non-negotiable, trust me)
• 6 cups chicken broth (preferably low-sodium, because we’re trying to be healthy here, okay?)
• 1 cup wild rice (wild rice isn’t actually rice, fun fact! It’s technically a grass. But we’re calling it rice because it’s way easier to explain)
• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded (I use rotisserie chicken because I’m not a masochist, and I love my time)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme (because we’re sophisticated like that)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary (this is the moment you feel like a fancy chef)
• Salt and pepper to taste (go easy on the salt if you’re using broth with sodium already, like a responsible adult)
• 1 cup heavy cream (because what is life without heavy cream? Also, this makes it creamy)
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, and because we’re pretending we’re making this for a dinner party)

Instructions:

1. Sauté the Veggies: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until the veggies are softened and starting to smell like the beginning of something magical.
2. Garlic Time: Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, or until the garlic is fragrant. It’s like a mini victory every time garlic hits the pan, right? (Also, don’t burn it—it’s heartbreaking when garlic burns.)
3. Broth, Rice, Chicken, and Herbs: Pour in the chicken broth, then add the wild rice, shredded chicken, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Stir it all together and bring to a boil. Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 30-40 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the soup is smelling like it came straight from the culinary gods themselves.
4. The Creamy Finale: Once the rice is cooked, stir in the heavy cream. This is your moment to shine, my friend. Stir until the soup is creamy and beautiful. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed—because who knows your soul better than you?
5. Serve and Garnish: Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with a little fresh parsley. Take a moment to admire your work before you dig in. (You deserve it.)

The Final Word (Or, What Making Soup Actually Does For You)

Here’s the thing: making Chicken and Wild Rice Soup isn’t going to magically fix your life. But you know what? It might make you feel like you’ve got a little bit of control back. It’s that quiet moment of “I can handle this”—even if you can’t always handle everything. And sometimes, that’s all we need to get through the day. A bowl of soup, a big spoon, and the knowledge that you’re the kind of person who can, indeed, make a recipe that nourishes your body and your soul.

And hey, even if no one else will eat it? That’s fine. More soup for you.