Comforting Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup

Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is the quintessential comfort food, reimagined for your busy lifestyle. This incredibly easy and healthy, low-fat recipe brings warmth and flavor to your dinner table in under 30 minutes, making it a family favorite. Whether you’re starting with frozen chicken, fresh breasts, or even leftover rotisserie chicken, this versatile soup packed with nutritious wild rice, tender carrots, earthy mushrooms, and crisp celery is sure to satisfy.

For those who adore the rich, savory taste of chicken rice soup, preparing it at home has never been simpler or more affordable. Forget expensive restaurant versions; this homemade recipe delivers the same comforting experience, often at a fraction of the cost. It’s a year-round staple among our favorite Instant Pot recipes, perfect for chilly evenings or when you need a quick, nourishing meal.

Our journey to this perfect soup began years ago with a popular pressure cooker chicken and rice dish. While that was a hit, we continually refined it, aiming for a more soupy, dinner-worthy creation. This version is a delightful evolution, focusing on rich broth over condensed soups, ensuring a vibrant, deeply flavored soup that stands alone as a complete meal.

One of the true beauties of this recipe is its adaptability. We’ve experimented with various chicken types – from freshly diced chicken breasts to shredded rotisserie chicken and even leftover cooked chicken thighs – all yielding fantastic results. This flexibility means you can whip up this healthy chicken soup with whatever you have on hand, eliminating any excuse not to enjoy a wholesome, homemade meal this week.

The magic of pressure cooking transcends specific brands. Whether you own an Instant Pot, are looking for easy Ninja Foodi recipes, or use a Crockpot Express or any other electric pressure cooker, this recipe will work seamlessly. The principles of quick, high-pressure cooking remain consistent, allowing you to achieve tender chicken and perfectly cooked wild rice every time.

How Long Does Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup Take to Cook?

The cooking time for your chicken and rice soup largely depends on the type of chicken you use. If you opt for raw, boneless, skinless chicken, the pressure cooker will transform it into tender, shreddable perfection in approximately 30 minutes. Remember to factor in a few extra minutes for shredding the chicken at the end. However, if you’re using pre-cooked chicken, such as leftover rotisserie chicken or previously diced cooked chicken, you can reduce the pressure cooking time to 25 minutes. This slight reduction helps prevent the pre-cooked chicken from becoming overdone while still allowing the wild rice to achieve its ideal tender texture, as wild rice typically requires a decent amount of cooking time to soften.

Key Ingredients for a Delicious Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Crafting the perfect Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup starts with selecting quality ingredients. Here’s a closer look at what goes into our favorite version:

• Chicken Broth: This is the foundation of your soup’s flavor. Opt for a good quality chicken broth over plain water, which would yield a much blander result. You can choose regular or low-sodium broth, or even use chicken stock for a richer flavor profile.
• Vegetables: We believe in a generous medley of vegetables for both flavor and nutrition. Our preferred combination includes:
  • Carrots: Diced or sliced, they add a touch of sweetness and vibrant color.
  • Celery: Contributes a classic aromatic base and a slight crunch.
  • White Onions: Essential for building depth of flavor.
  • Mushrooms: Sliced or halved baby bella mushrooms are ideal as they hold their shape beautifully under high pressure, preventing them from disintegrating into the soup.
• Wild Rice: This grain is a star in this recipe. Its nutty flavor and satisfying texture hold up exceptionally well to pressure cooking. We highly recommend wild rice over brown rice for this particular dish due to its superior texture. Even when using pre-cooked meat, the cooking time remains largely consistent to ensure the wild rice is perfectly tender.
• Garlic: Never skip the garlic! It infuses the soup with incredible flavor and offers numerous health benefits, making it an undeniable win-win ingredient.
• Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, medium-sized, are our top choice for their lean protein and ease of preparation. If you use bone-in chicken, remember to remove the bones before serving. This recipe also works wonderfully with diced leftover chicken thighs or shredded rotisserie chicken for an even quicker prep.

Making Chicken Rice Soup with Frozen Chicken

Yes, you can absolutely use frozen chicken in your Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup! For the best results, use small, boneless, and skinless pieces of chicken. The cook time will be the same as if you were using fresh meat. The key is to ensure the pieces are separated from one another before adding them to the pot. If they are frozen together in a block, you can quickly run them under cold water to separate them. Alternatively, follow the detailed instructions in our Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot guide, dice your chicken, and then proceed with the recipe steps below.

Can You Use White Rice in Chicken Rice Soup?

While wild rice is highly recommended for its texture and flavor in this recipe, you can adapt it to use white rice under specific conditions. If you choose to use white rice, like for our Ninja Foodi rice, it’s crucial to use already cooked and diced chicken. This is because white rice cooks much faster than wild rice and raw chicken. With cooked chicken, adjust the pressure cook time to 12 minutes for long-grain white rice or arborio rice, followed by a natural pressure release. This prevents the white rice from becoming mushy while still ensuring the chicken is perfectly warmed through.

How to Make This Instant Pot Chicken Rice Soup Creamy

For those who prefer a richer, creamier chicken and wild rice soup, achieving that luxurious texture is simple. At the end of the cooking process, once the soup is depressurized, add 1 cup of heavy whipping cream mixed with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch (whisked until smooth). Set your Instant Pot to the “Saute” function. Once the soup begins to bubble, slowly pour in the cream mixture. Stir continuously for a few minutes until the soup thickens to your desired creamy consistency. This step transforms the hearty soup into an even more indulgent comfort food experience.

Essential Tips for the Best Instant Pot Chicken Rice Soup

To ensure your Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup turns out perfectly every time, keep these helpful tips in mind:

• Vegetable Size Matters: While you can load up on your favorite veggies, remember to slice them generously. Carrots, celery, and onions, when cut into thicker chunks, will better withstand the high pressure cooking without disintegrating. Onions are a foundational ingredient for almost any savory dish, so always include them for depth. For other additions, choose firmer vegetables like baby carrots or quartered petite potatoes for optimal texture.
• Natural Pressure Release is Key: Once the cooking cycle is complete, always allow for a natural pressure release. This crucial step helps prevent the wild rice from bursting and the chicken from drying out, ensuring everything cooks evenly and stays tender. After approximately 15 minutes of natural release, you can carefully open the steam valve for any remaining pressure. Remove the lid promptly to stop the cooking process and prevent your ingredients from becoming overly soft.
• Season to Taste: Salt and pepper are foundational, but don’t hesitate to adjust seasonings to your preference. A pinch of fresh parsley or a squeeze of lemon juice at the end can brighten the flavors beautifully.

Should Rice Be Cooked Before Adding to Soup?

One of the fantastic advantages of pressure cooking is its ability to cook grains directly in the pot, alongside other ingredients. For this Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, just like our Instant Pot cabbage soup, there’s no need to pre-cook the rice. Simply add the uncooked wild rice directly to the hot liquid in the pressure cooker. The high-pressure environment ensures that the rice absorbs the flavorful broth and cooks to a perfect tender consistency simultaneously with the chicken and vegetables.

What Side Dishes Pair Best with Chicken and Wild Rice Soup?

A hearty bowl of Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is often a complete meal in itself, but a complementary side dish can elevate the experience. For us, a warm piece of bread is almost always a must-have accompaniment, much like with our Instant Pot chicken noodle soup. Here are some fantastic options:

1. Our air fryer garlic bread rolls are incredibly simple to make and add a delicious, savory crunch.
2. For a straightforward option, a simple loaf of air fryer bread is perfect for soaking up every last drop of flavorful broth.
3. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, try making this beautiful bundt Instant Pot cornbread – it’s surprisingly easy and incredibly moist.
4. For those who enjoy cooking outdoors, our cheesy smoked bread offers a unique smoky flavor that pairs wonderfully with the soup.

This Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup has quickly earned its place on our esteemed list of Instant Pot soup recipes. It perfectly balances health, flavor, and convenience, making it ideal for any night of the week. Even with pre-cooked chicken, the cooking time is carefully calibrated to ensure the wild rice becomes wonderfully tender. If you, like us, cherish a warm, soul-satisfying bowl of soup for dinner, we highly encourage you to try this recipe. We’re confident it will become a new favorite, paving the way for you to explore more comforting pressure cooker creations!