Easy Chicken Rice Soup Recipe (Instant Pot) (2024)

Packed with tender chicken, wholesome vegetables, and hearty rice, this chicken rice soup is easy to make in about 30 minutes. With an Instant Pot, it's the perfect soup for chilly days and busy weeknights when time is short but great flavor is a must. Make a batch of this nourishing classic chicken soup and you'll wonder why you ever bothered with boxed or canned again. No Instant Pot? I have stovetop directions too.

This hearty chicken rice soup tastes like it simmered all day. Pair it with a crisp green salad and perhaps a gooey grilled cheese sandwich for a satisfying meal.

Why You'll Like This Recipe

• With a pressure cooker, it's fast and easy.
• It's warming, healthy, and nourishing.
• Leftovers freeze well (if there are any!).

A carrot cake muffin would be nice on the side, or maybe a piece of homemade cornbread.

Recipe Ingredients

• Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is best.
• Vegetables: Carrots, onion, and celery, the classic trio for making soup and many other recipes.
• Garlic: For flavor and garlic is good for you. Use fresh cloves or the paste in a tube for speed.
• Rice: Use either uncooked long grain white rice (I use jasmine rice) or long grain brown rice. Long grain rice is the best because it cooks up light and fluffy. Note - I have not yet tested wild rice or other types of rice. When I do I will add notes.
• Broth: homemade flavorful chicken broth is best but a good frozen or boxed brand will do. Be sure to read the label for any unhealthy ingredients.
• Chicken: Raw chicken, either bone-in chicken breast or bone-in chicken thighs. The bone adds flavor.
• Herbs: Bay leaf and fresh thyme.
• Optional garnishes: chopped dill, lemon wedges, fresh parsley.

See the recipe card for measurements.

Chef's tip: Double batch. Depending on the size of your pressure, you can make a double batch. It will take a little longer. Just don't fill the pot about the maximum fill line and you'll be fine. Enjoy half and freeze half or feed a larger group.

Substitutions and Variations

• Use turkey broth and a bone-in turkey thigh (1 pound).
• Use dried herbs if fresh are not available. Dried thyme or a dried blend like Italian blend work fine. Use ⅓ - ½ the amount of fresh herbs.
• Want a creamy chicken rice soup? When it's done, add a little heavy cream or full fat canned coconut milk to the pot.
• Boneless skinless chicken breast will work too.

Recipe Instructions (Instant Pot)

When the soup is done and the Instant Pot beeps, press the cancel button and allow 15 minutes of natural pressure release, then quick release any remaining pressure by turning the steam release valve to the left (open). Remove the lid away from your face, being careful of the hot steam.

Stovetop Instructions

To make this on a stove top the directions are almost the same, it just takes longer.

• Saute your veggies in a heavy pot like a dutch oven over medium heat until soft, 5-7 minutes.
• Add the broth, rice, herbs and chicken, bring to a almost a boil, cover with a lid, turn heat down to a low and cook until rice is tender and chicken is done. Chicken is done when it reaches 165°F. Follow the same instructions above to finish your chicken rice soup.
• For a really quick soup, skip the raw chicken, add white rice and simmer until, then add shredded rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken and heat through until hot.
• One more shortcut, use frozen cooked rice for a really speedy homemade chicken rice soup.

Serving Suggestions

Ladle into soup bowls and enjoy a homemade chicken rice soup that will become a permanent recipe in your soups file.

Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, fresh dill, and a squeeze of lemon juice or lime juice to add brightness. A simple side salad and maybe a gooey grilled cheese sandwich would be great together.

Instant Pot chicken rice soup freezes well in an airtight container and last 3 months in the freezer. Here's a handy chart on how long food safely stores and freezes.

Recipe FAQs

More Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Soup

Keep that Instant Pot or pressure cooker out and let's make some more soup! All of these are easy to make and freeze well for future meals. Perfect for cooler weather, try these soup recipes: navy bean with ham, creamy curry cauliflower soup, or lentil and vegetable soup.

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