Discover the ultimate comfort food with our incredibly easy and delicious Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup recipe. Whether you prefer succulent chicken breasts or the convenience of rotisserie chicken, this healthy pressure cooker soup comes together in just 5 minutes of cook time! Packed with fresh ingredients and vibrant vegetables, it’s the perfect soothing meal for a chilly evening or when you need a nourishing boost. Learn how to make a truly flavorful chicken noodle soup that rivals grandma’s, but with modern speed and simplicity. You can even adapt this recipe for a delightful Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup with Frozen Chicken, ensuring a warm, wholesome meal is always within reach.
This Instant Pot chicken noodle soup has quickly become a family favorite in our home! It’s not just for sniffles; this comforting soup is an ideal meal any time of the year, offering hearty warmth and satisfying flavor. It stands out among our many easy Instant Pot recipes, proving that incredibly delicious and healthy meals don’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Prepare to be amazed by how quickly and effortlessly you can create a wholesome, flavorful soup with your pressure cooker.
Ninja Foodi Chicken Noodle Soup: A Versatile and Quick Meal
The beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability. While we call it “Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup,” it’s perfectly suited for any electric pressure cooker, including a Ninja Foodi. The core principle remains the same: a few fresh ingredients cooked under high pressure for an incredibly short duration, yielding perfectly tender chicken and vegetables. When using a multi-cooker like the Ninja Foodi, simply use the pressure cooker lid (the one that is not attached) to achieve the same fantastic results. The speed and convenience of pressure cooking make this recipe a true game-changer, especially compared to traditional stovetop or slow cooker methods. We’ve certainly enjoyed making chicken soup in a Crockpot in the past, but the speed of the Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi is simply unmatched.
If you’re new to the world of pressure cooking, don’t worry! We have a wealth of easy one-pot meal recipes designed to help you get started. To ensure your success and make your pressure cooking journey even smoother, here are a few fundamental tips:
- Make sure to Bookmark our Instant Pot recipes page. We consistently add new and exciting recipes each week, so you’ll always find fresh inspiration!
- Next, PRINT this helpful Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet. It’s an invaluable guide for understanding precisely how long various ingredients like meats, vegetables, and beans need to cook in your pressure cooker, ensuring perfect results every time.
- I HIGHLY recommend you consider investing in this non-stick inner pot. It significantly reduces the chances of food sticking and burning, making cleanup a breeze.
- While it’s important to know how to deglaze a pressure cooker after sautéing, a good non-stick liner minimizes potential issues and makes the process much simpler.
For context, the model I primarily use for all my recipe creations, including this delicious chicken noodle soup, is a 6-quart Instant Pot.
Key Ingredients for the Perfect Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Creating an exceptional Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup relies on selecting the right ingredients and preparing them thoughtfully. Here’s a detailed look at what goes into our savory soup:
Choosing Your Chicken: Breasts, Thighs, or Rotisserie?
The type of chicken you use can truly influence the depth of flavor in your soup. While boneless, skinless chicken breasts were used in this specific recipe, the “best” chicken ultimately comes down to personal preference and what you have on hand. Honestly, I often opt for whatever chicken is on sale or readily available.
If I had to choose a favorite without budget constraints, I might lean towards dark meat, such as boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They tend to impart a richer, more profound flavor to the overall dish compared to white meat, truly elevating the soup. Dark meat can be a game-changer for a more robust taste profile.
This recipe is also incredibly versatile for using up leftovers! You can easily incorporate pre-cooked chicken, or even start with Instant Pot frozen chicken. I’ve done this countless times because I strongly dislike wasting food. Simply adapt your cooking method slightly, as detailed below, and enjoy a delicious meal while being resourceful.
Can You Use Rotisserie Chicken? Absolutely!
Yes, absolutely! Using a rotisserie chicken is a fantastic shortcut that makes this soup even quicker and easier. If you buy a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken (or have leftovers from a previous meal), simply dice it into small, bite-sized pieces. With pre-cooked chicken, you can skip the initial sautéing step, as the chicken is already cooked through. Just add the diced rotisserie chicken along with your prepared vegetables and continue with the recipe’s subsequent steps, maintaining the same pressure cook time. This option is perfect for busy weeknights when you need a super-fast and flavorful meal.
The Essential Vegetables for Flavor and Nutrition
For vegetables, I typically reach for crisp carrots, crunchy celery, and aromatic onions. These form the classic mirepoix base for many soups and stews, providing a foundational layer of flavor and excellent nutritional value. When prepping, remember that the thinner or smaller you slice these pieces, the more tender they will become under high pressure. Given the quick cook time of this Instant Pot recipe, it’s crucial not to cut them too large, otherwise, they might not achieve that desirable fork-tender texture we all love in a good chicken noodle soup.
Broth: The Heart of Your Soup
The liquid component is vital for this soup. Approximately 48 ounces of chicken broth provides the perfect balance for the noodles to absorb some liquid while still leaving plenty of savory broth to enjoy. You can use high-quality store-bought chicken broth or, for an even richer flavor, make our pressure cooker chicken broth from scratch. This homemade option adds incredible depth. I use a similar liquid ratio for dishes like Instant Pot chicken stew, adjusting only if I desire a significantly thicker consistency.
Noodle Choices: Classic Egg Noodles and Alternatives
When it comes to pasta, traditional egg noodles are my go-to choice for chicken noodle soup. Their delicate texture and classic appearance are simply unmatched. Small pasta shells could also work, but they tend to be a bit firmer and don’t quite offer the same soft, comforting bite or visual appeal as egg noodles. For the best, most authentic chicken noodle soup experience, I highly recommend sticking with egg noodles.
Enhancing Flavor: Beyond the Basics
While the classic combination of chicken, noodles, and vegetables is inherently delicious, there are many ways to elevate the flavor of your Instant Pot chicken noodle soup. For an extra aromatic kick, minced garlic is an ingredient I frequently add to almost everything! You can also place a bay leaf into the pot with the broth to infuse a subtle, earthy note that complements the chicken beautifully. For those who prefer a creamier, thicker soup, you might consider making an Instant Pot chicken noodle casserole instead, using similar base ingredients but adjusting the liquid and adding a thickening agent.
If you’re craving an Asian-inspired twist, consider using Pho noodles. This substitution can transform your comforting classic into something akin to our Instant Pot ramen recipe, offering a delightful change of pace. We are always striving to eat as healthy as possible, and having a diverse collection of Instant Pot recipes on hand, like this chicken noodle soup, has truly made that goal much more achievable and enjoyable!
Tips for Pressure Cooker Noodle Success
Mastering noodles in a pressure cooker comes with a few specific tricks that ensure perfect texture every time. Unlike dishes with rice, such as our Instant Pot chicken and rice, where a natural pressure release for a few minutes helps the rice “puff up,” noodles require a different approach. For pasta, you generally want to release the pressure quickly.
When using delicate egg noodles, as we do in this recipe, they require the least amount of cooking time. For an al dente bite – that perfect tender-firm texture – aim for a 2-minute pressure cook time instead of 3. This slight adjustment can make all the difference, but ultimately, the precise cook time for noodles often comes down to your personal preference for softness. Experiment slightly to find your ideal noodle consistency.
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
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Equipment
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1 pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 2 medium chicken breasts, cubed, bite-sized, boneless, skinless
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp salt and pepper, optional, more or less, to taste
- 2 medium carrots, sliced thin
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 1/4 small onion, diced
- 48 ounces chicken broth, or half chicken and half vegetable broth
- 2 cup egg noodles, uncooked
- 1/4 tsp basil
- 1/4 tsp oregano
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Instructions
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Set your Instant Pot to sauté (low) and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the chicken (cut into spoon-sized chunks), sliced celery, diced onions, and thin carrots.
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Sauté for a few minutes until the chicken is lightly seared on the outside and the vegetables have softened slightly.
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Turn off the Instant Pot. Add the chicken broth, uncooked egg noodles, salt, pepper, basil, and oregano (or other desired spices). Stir gently to combine everything.
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Secure the lid on your Instant Pot, ensure the valve is set to the sealing position, and cook on Manual (or Pressure Cook) on high pressure for 3 minutes.
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Once the cooking cycle is complete and the Instant Pot beeps, perform a quick pressure release by carefully turning the pressure valve to the venting position. Release pressure slowly. Once all steam has been released and the float valve drops, carefully lift the lid away from you and serve immediately. Enjoy your perfectly cooked Instant Pot chicken noodle soup!
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Looking for even more easy Instant Pot soup recipes? Explore our extensive collection for your next delightful and quick meal!
Storing Your Homemade Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Once you’ve enjoyed a bowl of this delicious soup, you might wonder about storing leftovers. Proper storage is key to maintaining freshness and flavor.
How Long Does Chicken Noodle Soup Last in the Fridge?
When stored correctly in airtight containers, cooked chicken noodle soup will generally last for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. To maximize its shelf life, ensure it cools completely before transferring it to storage containers. This prevents condensation which can lead to bacterial growth.
Can You Freeze Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup? (And How to Do It Right)
Freezing is an excellent way to extend the life of many soups. However, soups that contain pasta, like chicken noodle or minestrone, don’t always hold up well in the freezer. The noodles can become mushy and absorb too much liquid upon thawing and reheating, significantly changing their texture. If you are specifically cooking a batch of soup with the intention of freezing it for later, I highly recommend omitting the pasta during the initial cooking process. Cook all other ingredients – the chicken, vegetables, and broth – and then freeze this pasta-free base in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen soup, simply thaw it, reheat, and then add freshly boiled noodles just before serving. This method ensures that your noodles are perfectly cooked and retain their ideal texture, providing the best possible experience for your freezer meal. The same principle applies if you’re making Instant Pot chicken rice soup and planning to freeze it; consider cooking the rice separately when reheating.
Instant Pot vs. Traditional Cooking: Speed and Flavor
How can chicken noodle soup be made without boiling it for hours? The answer lies in the incredible efficiency of pressure cooking! With your Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi, you can combine all your ingredients and cook them together in just a few minutes under high pressure. This method not only drastically cuts down on cooking time but also locks in moisture and flavor, yielding the same tender, moist chicken and perfectly al dente egg noodles that would typically require prolonged simmering. You can even start with frozen chicken breasts, steaming them with broth for about 12 minutes, then dicing them and proceeding with the recipe as directed. This unparalleled speed makes homemade chicken noodle soup a feasible and healthy option for any night of the week.
Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
The “Soup” setting on the Instant Pot is a pre-programmed button designed for certain types of soup. However, I rarely use it. Instead, I find it more effective to use the manual “Pressure Cook” function (high or low) and set the specific cook time required for my recipe. This gives you more precise control over the cooking process and results.
Yes, you absolutely can use frozen chicken in your Instant Pot for soup, especially if that’s all you have on hand. For small, frozen chicken breasts, you’ll typically need to cook them with just broth using the “Pressure Cook” function for about 12 minutes, followed by a quick release. Once cooked, you can dice the chicken and then proceed with adding your vegetables and noodles. The latter ingredients only need an additional 2-3 minutes on high pressure to soften perfectly.
You bet it is! Chicken noodle soup is inherently a healthy meal, especially when made at home. It uses very few ingredients, primarily fresh produce like carrots, celery, and onions, along with lean protein from chicken. To further reduce sodium intake, simply opt for low-sodium chicken broth. It’s a wholesome, nutrient-rich option that makes you feel good from the inside out.
While this recipe is optimized for the Instant Pot’s speed, you can certainly make chicken noodle soup on the stovetop. It will take longer, typically simmering for 30-45 minutes after the initial sauté to ensure the chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender. Add noodles in the last 10 minutes of simmering. The flavor will still be delicious, but the cooking time will be significantly extended.
This Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is a complete meal on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with crusty bread, warm rolls, or a simple side salad for a more elaborate dinner. A sprinkle of fresh parsley or a dash of black pepper just before serving can enhance its fresh flavor. For an extra touch, a squeeze of lemon juice at the end can brighten the entire dish.
