Quick & Hearty Wild Rice & Sweet Potato Bacon Soup Recipe

Wild rice and sweet potato bacon soup blends rustic ingredients into a comforting culinary experience that warms you from the inside out.

Hearty grains mingle with soft, sweet vegetables, creating a robust and satisfying texture.

Smoky bacon adds a rich, savory dimension that elevates the entire dish.

Aromatic spices dance through the broth, providing layers of complex flavor that tantalize your taste buds.

Each spoonful promises a harmonious balance of earthiness and warmth, making this soup more than just a meal.

The combination feels both nostalgic and innovative, revamping simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

You’ll want to savor every single bite.

Why Wild Rice & Sweet Potato Soup with Bacon Is a Cozy Must-Have

• Flavor Explosion: Combines smoky bacon, sweet potatoes, and wild rice for a mouthwatering taste adventure that dances on your palate.
• Nutrient-Packed Comfort: Delivers a hearty, wholesome meal loaded with fiber, protein, and complex carbohydrates that keep you satisfied and energized.
• Texture Triumph: Offers a delightful mix of crispy bacon, tender sweet potatoes, and chewy wild rice that creates an exciting sensory experience in every spoonful.
• Quick and Easy Cooking: Requires just one pot and simple ingredients, making this soup a perfect weeknight dinner solution for busy home cooks seeking delicious, minimal-effort meals.

Every Ingredient That Makes Wild Rice & Sweet Potato Soup with Bacon So Special

• Bacon: Provides rich, smoky flavor and crispy texture for topping and depth of soup.

• Onion, Celery: Classic aromatic base for soup with depth and traditional flavor profile.
• Garlic: Adds robust, warm undertone to the soups overall taste.
• Sweet Potatoes: Creamy, slightly sweet vegetable that adds heartiness and nutrition.

• Bay Leaf: Subtle herbal background note that enhances overall soup complexity.
• Thyme: Earthy, slightly minty herb that complements root vegetables.
• Parsley: Fresh, bright herb for finishing and light green color.
• Smoked Paprika: Adds subtle smoky depth and warm color.
• Cayenne: Provides gentle heat and mild spiciness.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasoning to balance and enhance other flavors.

• Wild Rice: Nutty, chewy grain that adds texture and rustic character.
• Vegetable Broth: Liquid base that provides essential moisture and vegetable undertones.

• Olive Oil: Neutral cooking fat for sautéing vegetables with healthy properties.
• Bacon Grease: Adds deep, rich flavor during initial cooking stage.

Step-by-Step Guide to Wild Rice & Sweet Potato Soup with Bacon

Step 1: Crisp Up The Bacon

Cook bacon in a large saucepan or Dutch oven until golden and crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving delicious drippings behind.

Step 2: Prepare Flavorful Base

Drain bacon grease, keeping . Add olive oil and heat over medium-low temperature.

Step 3: Build Aromatic Foundation

• Onion
• Garlic
• Celery
• Bay leaf
• Salt
• Pepper

Sauté for 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently to develop rich flavors.

Step 4: Toast Wild Rice

Stir wild rice into pan, toasting 2-3 minutes to enhance nutty undertones.

Step 5: Combine Liquid And Vegetables

• Vegetable broth
• Sweet potatoes
• Thyme
• Smoked paprika
• Parsley
• Cayenne
• Salt
• Pepper

Step 6: Add Bacon Goodness

Crumble half the cooked bacon into soup, reserving remaining bacon for garnish.

Step 7: Slow Simmer

Increase heat, bringing soup to gentle simmer. Cook 25 minutes, stirring occasionally until rice and sweet potatoes become tender.

Step 8: Perfect The Flavor

Taste and adjust seasonings. Remove bay leaf.

Step 9: Serve And Enjoy

Ladle soup into bowls. Top with reserved crispy bacon. Serve piping hot and savor every spoonful.

Tips That Make Wild Rice & Sweet Potato Soup w/ Bacon Even Better

• Bacon Bliss: Crisp the bacon thoroughly for maximum flavor and texture, ensuring it adds a delightful crunch to your soup.
• Rice Revelation: Toast the wild rice carefully to unlock its nutty essence and enhance the overall depth of the dish.
• Veggie Vigor: Chop vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and balanced flavor distribution throughout the soup.
• Spice Symphony: Adjust cayenne and smoked paprika to your heat preference, allowing the soup to match your personal taste profile.
• Texture Triumph: Stir occasionally while simmering to prevent rice from sticking and maintain a perfect, creamy consistency.

Best Way to Store and Reheat Wild Rice & Sweet Potato Soup w/ Bacon

• Refrigeration: Store leftover soup in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Properly sealed, the soup will keep fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Cool the soup completely before transferring to prevent bacterial growth.
• Freezing: Freeze the soup without the bacon garnish for optimal texture. Pour into freezer-safe containers, leaving 1-inch space for expansion. Frozen soup maintains quality for up to 3 months. Label containers with the date for easy tracking.
• Reheating: Thaw frozen soup overnight in the refrigerator. Warm gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Add a splash of vegetable broth if the soup seems too thick. Crisp up reserved bacon separately and sprinkle on top just before serving to maintain its crunch.

What to Serve with Wild Rice & Sweet Potato Soup w/ Bacon

• Craft a Smoky Bacon Bourbon Pairing: Match the soup's rich, smoky bacon flavor with a smooth bourbon like Woodford Reserve, which complements the soup's depth and adds a warming complexity.
• Create a Crisp Apple Cider Companion: Serve a chilled, slightly tart apple cider alongside the soup to balance its hearty warmth and provide a refreshing counterpoint to the savory bacon and sweet potatoes.
• Serve with Rustic Rosemary Sourdough: Pair the soup with freshly toasted rosemary sourdough bread, whose herbaceous notes and crispy texture will enhance the wild rice's nutty profile and provide a delightful dipping experience.
• Recommend a Bright Arugula Salad: Prepare a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to cut through the soup's richness, offering a peppery and acidic contrast that cleanses the palate between spoonfuls.

Unique Ways to Customize Wild Rice & Sweet Potato Soup w/ Bacon

• Vegetarian Hearty Harvest: Replace bacon with smoked tofu or roasted mushrooms for a rich, plant-based protein alternative that maintains the soup's depth and smoky essence.
• Southwestern Spice Splash: Add diced green chiles, swap smoked paprika for chipotle powder, and top with cilantro and a dollop of Greek yogurt for a zesty southwestern-inspired version.
• Creamy Autumn Comfort: Stir in a splash of heavy cream or coconut milk near the end of cooking, creating a silkier texture and adding luxurious warmth to the soup.
• Caribbean Heat Wave: Incorporate coconut milk, replace thyme with fresh ginger, add a touch of allspice, and finish with fresh lime juice for a tropical transformation.

Wild Rice & Sweet Potato Bacon Soup Recipe

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4.6 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Hearty Wild Rice & Sweet Potato Soup delivers comfort with its rich, smoky bacon and earthy wild rice. Creamy sweet potatoes and aromatic herbs create a soul-warming dish you’ll crave on chilly evenings.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 0.5 pounds (226 grams) applewood smoked bacon
• 3–4 cups (450–600 grams) cubed sweet potatoes
• 0.5 cups (85 grams) wild rice or wild rice blend
• 4 cups (960 milliliters) vegetable broth

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 0.5 cups (75 grams) diced yellow onion
• 1 diced celery stalk
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1 bay leaf

Herbs, Spices, and Seasonings:

• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
• 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
• 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
• Ground cayenne or red pepper flakes (to taste)
• Sea or kosher salt
• Fresh black pepper

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Instructions

1. Render bacon in a spacious saucepan or Dutch oven until achieving a crisp, golden texture. Transfer the strips to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving for later garnishing.
2. Eliminate excess grease, maintaining in the pan. Introduce olive oil and warm over gentle heat.
3. Incorporate diced onion, minced garlic, chopped celery, bay leaf, and a light seasoning of salt and black pepper. Sauté the vegetables until they become translucent and fragrant, approximately 5-6 minutes.
4. Introduce wild rice to the pan, gently toasting for 2-3 minutes while stirring continuously to develop a rich, nutty essence.
5. Pour in vegetable broth, add cubed sweet potatoes, fresh thyme, smoked paprika, chopped parsley, a hint of cayenne, salt, and black pepper.
6. Crumble half of the prepared bacon directly into the soup, reserving the remaining portion for a crispy topping.
7. Elevate the heat to initiate a gentle simmer. Allow the soup to cook for approximately 25 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking of wild rice and sweet potatoes.
8. Evaluate the soup’s flavor profile, adjusting seasonings as necessary. Remove and discard the bay leaf.
9. Ladle the steaming soup into serving bowls, crowning each portion with the remaining crisp bacon fragments. Serve immediately while piping hot.

Notes

• Bacon transforms this soup from ordinary to extraordinary, adding a smoky crunch that elevates every spoonful.
• Wild rice brings hearty texture and nutty complexity, creating depth beyond typical soup ingredients.
• Sweet potatoes offer natural sweetness and creamy consistency, balancing the robust bacon and earthy rice.
• Smoked paprika and cayenne provide subtle heat, awakening taste buds with gentle warmth and complexity.
• Fresh herbs like thyme and parsley brighten the soup, introducing fresh green notes that complement the rich base.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Boiling, Sautéing, Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 320 kcal
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 720mg
• Fat: 16g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 38g
• Fiber: 5g
• Protein: 9g
• Cholesterol: 15mg