I LOVE wild rice recipes! Especially when it comes pre-cooked from Trader Joes, what a brilliant idea. I pick up a bag every time I go.
During my long weekends of pilates training, I like to bring lunch for my friend and I who travels from Nevada every other weekend. At 10:00pm the night before, I was looking for something quick to put together and I happened to see my bag of wild rice. I came up with this nice rice salad with chicken, feta, basil, grape tomatoes and a good Italian Dressing (I like Ken’s). Talk about delicious! I can hardly wait to make it again. Give it a try, and shhhh it’s even somewhat healthy too!
Brown and Wild Rice Italian Chicken Salad
2 Cups uncooked brown rice
8 oz cooked wild rice (I get it precooked at Trader Joes)
1 ½ Cups cooked shredded chicken breast
3.5 oz package of crumbled feta cheese
10 oz package of grape tomatoes, quartered
10 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
½ Cup-3/4 Cup Italian Dressing (I used Ken’s Italian)
Pinch of salt and pepper
Fresh Baby Spinach leaves
1. Cook brown rice according to package directions (use rice cooker, if available, much quicker). Let cool or refrigerate. Once cool, place all ingredients except spinach, into a large bowl. Lightly toss to coat. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper to taste and serve over a bed of fresh baby spinach leaves. Drizzle top with additional dressing if desired. Serve cold.
This is such a yummy soup. It’s quick, easy and on the table in about 20 minutes. If you are in need of a quick dinner, this soup does the trick. Serve with some rolls and call it good. I used the remaining wild rice I had left-over from the salad and voila’, your done!
Creamy Chicken Vegetable Wild Rice Soup
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium white onion, finely chopped
4 large carrots, peeled and sliced
4 Cups fresh baby spinach, coarsely chopped
3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
2 cans chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cheddar cheese soup
¾ Cup milk or heavy cream
2 Cups cooked shredded chicken breast
1 Cup cooked wild rice (I got mine from Trader Joes, precooked)
Pinches of salt and pepper to taste
1. Place oil into a large dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Saute onion, carrots and celery for 8-10 minutes or until softened. Stir in garlic for 1 minute then add chicken broth soups, milk, chicken, salt and pepper. Heat for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until heated through. Serve and enjoy!
There is no TJ’s close to me (I’m in Alabama) so I use Uncle Ben’s Wild Rice from a box. Works great! And I love this recipe. My husband is not a soup eater, but he asks me to make this ALL the time! Thanks for all your ideas!
This sounds wonderful Jenny!
both look wonderful! i wish i lived near a TJ’s
You’re cooking up a storm around here! I can’t keep up with you. haha. Looks great!
Catherine Wilkinson,
Oh maybe she can pilates me into next week but at least I can beat her running the bleachers. She’s a little wild running bleachers.
Husband to Jenny
Hi Jenny!
I check your blog everyday to see what’s new-I love making up recipes too but I’m not as daring as you! I made the salad the day you posted it and we LOVED it! I added some parsley and garlic salt and used Ken’s lite italian vin.–so good and a healthy salad too! Thanks so much!
Stacia
(Even my 20 month old loved it!)
Rice is nice!!!
Ha! Your husband is verrrry funny! Hey Mr. Jenny, you better watch out, I think Jenny could Pilate you into next week!
Both recipes look amazing! As always, more recipes to add to my list of must haves! I love wild rice and I love soup, so combining the two is heaven!
Emiline,
Yah, I love when my husband trys going anonymous, I know his jokes. I’ll have to check out Sams Club for more wild rice. They just opened one right down the street.
Thanks Kimmy, hope we can make it for dinner soon.
Hi Katie,
Hope you enjoy!
That salad looks so freash and delicious! We will have to try that!
Yummy, I love the new wild rice dishes!
Ha- I just read ‘anon’s’ comment.
The salad and soup sound very healthy and delicious. Perfect for giving you energy for your workout.
I’ve been eating a lot of wild rice lately too. They have some cool varieties at Sam’s.
Thanks Bonnie,
Next time you are at Trader Joes, check it out, it’s fantastic and so handy!
Thanks Lorie,
Glad to hear your computer is better!
Thanks Deborah,
Sky’s the limit with wild rice!
Thanks Leah,
How exciting to have a new Trader Joes close by. Go check it out. I wish there was one closer to me!
Thanks Salazar Family,
Glad you visit often, hope you enjoy!
I’m sure I’ve seen your sister if she graduated right after me. I have a horrible memory, but I bet if I saw her I’d know her. Gotta love the dental convention every year.
Thanks Jessy,
Love the pic of your dog.
Thanks Kevin and Patsy!
Anonymous (AKA my husband)
You wish.
Love the recipe ‘cept for the ridiculous title.
Perhaps, reliving the past…?
I’m putting that wild rice on my shopping list when I go to TJ’s next time.
Those recipes sound amazing!
That wild rice and chicken soup look so good!
Both of those recipes look delicious! Wild rice is just great in so many things!
I just found your site through a friend and love all of your ideas, and hope you don’t mind me visiting often! Funny thing too, my sister went to that same dental convention you wrote about, and I mentioned your name to her and she said you graduated the year after she did – Drea Critchfield Boles
Anyway, thanks for sharing all of your insightful ideas and recipes!
That soup looks amazing! I grew up in Minnesota where chicken and wild rice soup is on almost every restaurant’s menu — I’ll have to try your version. Our Trader Joe’s opened last spring and I’ve yet to go, maybe that pre-cooked wild rice is what’ll get me in the door. 😉
They both sound wonderful! I rarely make wild rice – I don’t know why, but I’m going to be buying some soon!
I love wild rice too. Looks good as a salad, I’m always looking for more summer salad ideas. This looks great!
They both look super easy and worthy of trying!
By the way… your site is loading just fine- must have been my computer this morning!
All I can say is that you are amazing! Both recipes look awesome and can’t wait to try them – especially the salad! Didn’t know TJ’s had wild rice, pre-cooked. Thanks!!