Hearty & Healthy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup: Your 30-Minute Comfort Meal
Discover the ultimate comfort food that comes together in a flash! This Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup recipe is your new go-to for a quick, wholesome, and incredibly satisfying meal. In just about 30 minutes, you can have a steaming bowl of deliciousness, packed with fresh vegetables, tender basmati rice, and savory chicken. It’s an ideal recipe for using up leftover cooked chicken or transforming a store-bought rotisserie chicken into something truly special. Say goodbye to long simmering times and hello to speedy, nourishing comfort!
Why This Instant Pot Chicken & Rice Soup Will Be Your New Favorite
When it comes to comfort food, nothing quite beats a warm, savory bowl of chicken soup. And this particular Chicken and Rice Soup, expertly crafted in the Instant Pot, has quickly ascended to the top of my personal favorites list. What makes it even better? The incredible speed and ease of preparation. Imagine – you simply toss all the ingredients into your pressure cooker, and in a mere 30 minutes, dinner is served! It’s truly remarkable how quickly you can achieve such a deeply satisfying and flavorful meal.
Each spoonful offers a delightful medley of flavors and textures: rich, piping hot chicken broth forms the base, complemented by fluffy basmati rice, perfectly sliced carrots and celery, a hint of vibrant red pepper, and the fresh aroma of chopped parsley. This recipe ingeniously calls for cooked chicken, making it an excellent solution for repurposing leftover roasted chicken or efficiently utilizing a convenient store-purchased rotisserie chicken. This not only saves time but also ensures that no delicious chicken goes to waste, making it a win-win for busy weeknights or meal prep!
Embracing the Magic of Instant Pot Soup Recipes
Do you own an Instant Pot? If so, you’re holding a culinary game-changer in your hands! I’ve had mine for several years now, and I’ll admit, it sometimes still feels a bit intimidating to use. However, every single time I do, I am consistently thrilled with the results, and I invariably promise myself to incorporate it into my cooking routine more often. The sheer versatility and efficiency of this appliance are truly impressive, especially when it comes to crafting delicious, homemade meals in a fraction of the traditional time.
Over time, I’ve experimented with and perfected quite a few Instant Pot recipes, and I’m always eager to expand my collection. If I had to pick one type of dish that truly shines in the pressure cooker, it would undoubtedly be soup. The Instant Pot excels at melding flavors, tenderizing ingredients, and creating deeply comforting broths with minimal effort. Therefore, deciding to make this hearty chicken and rice soup in my pressure cooker was a completely natural choice for me. It perfectly leverages the Instant Pot’s capabilities to deliver maximum flavor and convenience. This delightful recipe was a fantastic discovery during one of my favorite annual events: the Fall’s Freaky Friday Blog Hop!
What is Freaky Friday? A Delicious Blog Hop!
Today marks one of my absolute favorite days of the season – it’s Freaky Friday! But let’s be clear, we’re not talking about the body-swapping movie starring Jamie Lee Curtis. Instead, this is a wonderful, old-fashioned blog hop that brings together some of my dearest foodie friends and fellow bloggers. It’s a fantastic collaborative event that I have the pleasure of coordinating five times each year, creating a unique opportunity for culinary discovery and camaraderie within our blogging community.
Here’s how it works: a group of us food bloggers secretly gets assigned one another’s blogs to cook or bake from. We spend time exploring the assigned blog, choosing a recipe that inspires us, and then preparing it in our own kitchens. The excitement culminates on a specific Friday when we all simultaneously reveal our chosen recipes on our respective blogs. It’s always incredibly fun and a little thrilling to see which recipe the person assigned to your blog chose to make! Then, the real adventure begins as we all “hop” through each other’s blogs, discovering a wide array of new dishes and fresh perspectives.
For you, our wonderful readers, Freaky Friday offers an incredible opportunity to find a curated collection of season-themed recipes – in this case, a bounty of delicious Fall-inspired dishes – all conveniently gathered in one place. It’s also an excellent way to discover new food blogs, find fresh recipe ideas, and broaden your culinary horizons. So, I sincerely hope you enjoy this festive and flavorful event, and perhaps even find a new favorite recipe or two to add to your repertoire!
For this particular round of Freaky Friday, I was incredibly fortunate to be able to share not one, but two fantastic bloggers with you! My first post features a delightful Honey Cornbread Recipe from The Speckled Palate. And, of course, this very recipe you’re reading – the comforting Instant Pot Chicken & Rice Soup – comes from Or Whatever You Do! It was a truly happy accident that these two chosen recipes complement each other so beautifully, making for a perfect cozy meal combination.
You might be wondering why I ended up with two blogs this round. Well, it’s quite simple: I stepped in to help out one of our fellow bloggers who needed a little extra support. She had to take some much-needed time off for health reasons, and I was happy to “hop in” and take over her assigned blogger for her. Your thoughts and prayers for this amazing woman would be deeply appreciated!
A Nod to Nicole and Or Whatever You Do
I was genuinely thrilled to be assigned Nicole’s blog, Or Whatever You Do, for our Fall Freaky Friday round. Her blog is a resource I frequently turn to, especially when I’m in search of fantastic Traeger Recipes. If I’m ever looking for something amazing to cook on our Traeger grill, Nicole’s site is invariably the first place I visit. Her recipes are meticulously detailed, and her instructions are always incredibly easy to follow, ensuring perfect results every time. I can attest that every single one of her recipes I’ve attempted has turned out flawlessly.
On my list to try next is her tempting Traeger Apple Cake. I’ll be patiently awaiting its delicious completion, perhaps while sipping on one of her delightful Salted Caramel Spiked Apple Ciders! For this Freaky Friday assignment, however, I deliberately steered myself towards her incredible soup creations. I’m always on the lookout for new, comforting soups to add to my regular rotation. The choice ultimately came down to three tempting options: this very Chicken and Rice Soup, her hearty Tortellini and Meatball Soup, or her rich Oven Roasted Creamy Tomato Soup. In the end, the appeal of a quick and delicious pressure cooker meal sealed the deal, and I happily chose the Chicken & Rice Soup.
Getting to Know Nicole: A Talented Food Blogger and Busy Mom
Beyond her truly impressive cooking skills, Nicole is an incredibly dynamic and busy woman! She makes her home in the beautiful state of Washington, where she lives with her husband, their seven wonderful children, and their absolutely sweetest black and white dog, Sadie. Sadie, in fact, is one of my favorite parts of opening my Snapchat app – her adorable antics always bring a smile to my face.
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Nicole in person back in the summer of 2019 when she visited Omaha. That now feels like a lifetime ago, especially considering I had hoped to see her twice more this past year! We’ll definitely need to make up for lost time and plan another get-together as soon as travel becomes easier and safer again. Nicole is an absolute blast to be around; she possesses a brilliant mind, and let me tell you, the woman can truly sing!
Essential Ingredients for Your Instant Pot Chicken & Rice Soup
This comforting Instant Pot soup recipe is crafted from a harmonious blend of simple, wholesome ingredients. Uncooked basmati rice, pre-cooked chicken, an assortment of fresh, vibrant vegetables, and a thoughtful selection of aromatic spices all come together to create a deeply satisfying meal. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in building the soup’s rich flavor profile and comforting texture.
Here’s What You’ll Need:
- **Chicken Stock**: The foundation of our soup, providing a rich, savory base. Use a good quality stock for the best flavor.
- **Cooked Chicken**: This is where convenience meets deliciousness! Diced cooked chicken (from leftovers or a rotisserie chicken) makes this recipe incredibly quick.
- **Fresh Vegetables**: A colorful and nutritious trio of carrots, celery, and onion forms the classic mirepoix base, enhanced by the addition of diced red bell pepper for a touch of sweetness and vibrant color.
- **Fresh Parsley**: Added at the end, fresh parsley brightens the entire dish with its herbaceous notes.
- **Dried Herbs & Spices**: Dried oregano brings an earthy, aromatic depth, while a bay leaf infuses the broth with subtle, savory undertones. Salt and pepper to taste are also essential.
- **Uncooked Basmati Rice**: This long-grain rice variety is perfect for soup; it cooks up light and fluffy without becoming overly starchy, absorbing the delicious flavors of the broth beautifully.
The beauty of these ingredients lies not only in their individual flavors but also in how they transform when cooked together under pressure, creating a soup that tastes like it simmered for hours, yet is ready in minutes.
Effortless Steps: How to Make Chicken and Rice Soup in Your Pressure Cooker
Honestly, when it comes to quick and easy dinner solutions, this Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup recipe is nearly unmatched. The most “challenging” part of the entire process might just be the simple act of slicing and dicing your fresh vegetables – and even that is a breeze! This recipe truly showcases the Instant Pot’s ability to deliver incredible flavor with minimal fuss, making it perfect for busy weeknights or when you crave a hearty, homemade meal without the long cook times.
**Here’s the straightforward method:**
- **Combine Ingredients**: Begin by adding the chicken stock, all of your prepared vegetables (carrots, celery, onion, red bell pepper), the cooked chicken, uncooked basmati rice, oregano, and the bay leaf directly into the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Give everything a quick, gentle stir to ensure all ingredients are well-distributed and submerged in the liquid.
- **Pressure Cook**: Securely close the lid of your Instant Pot. Make sure the vent is turned to the “Sealing” position. Select the “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” setting and set the cooking time for just 2 minutes at high pressure. The Instant Pot will take a few minutes to build pressure before the 2-minute cook time begins.
- **Release Pressure Safely**: Once the cooking cycle is complete, the Instant Pot will beep. Carefully place a clean kitchen towel over the vent and then move the vent to the “Venting” or “Quick Release” position. This towel will help catch any steam and prevent splattering. Allow the pressure to release completely until the float valve drops down.
- **Serve and Enjoy**: Once the pressure is fully released and it’s safe to open the lid, carefully remove it. Give the soup a final stir, then ladle it hot into bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. The best part? You can serve it right from the pot, which means fewer dishes to wash later – a definite win!
This streamlined process means you can go from prep to a steaming bowl of delicious, homemade chicken and rice soup in about half an hour, making it an ideal recipe for anyone looking for convenience without compromising on taste or nutrition.
Loved This Recipe? Pin It for Later!
Don’t let this incredible Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe disappear from your radar! If you’ve enjoyed reading about it or are planning to make it soon, be sure to save it. Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board now so you can easily find it whenever a craving for quick, comforting, and healthy chicken soup strikes!
Creative Variations to Elevate Your Chicken and Rice Soup
While this Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup is absolutely delicious as is, I’m already envisioning a few exciting variations to try in the future. Customizing recipes is one of the joys of cooking, allowing you to tailor dishes to your personal preferences or what you have on hand. Here are some ideas to inspire your culinary creativity:
- **Embrace Wild Rice**: For a heartier, nuttier flavor and a different texture, I’d love to experiment with wild rice instead of basmati. Wild rice takes a bit longer to cook, so you might need to adjust the Instant Pot cooking time slightly (perhaps to 5-7 minutes with a natural pressure release) and ensure sufficient liquid.
- **Creamy Indulgence**: For those who enjoy a richer, more luxurious soup, stirring in a touch of heavy cream, coconut milk (for a dairy-free option), or even a swirl of sour cream or Greek yogurt right after cooking would be an amazing addition. This would transform it into a creamy chicken and rice soup, perfect for a decadent twist. Of course, if you prefer your soup dairy-free, sticking to the original recipe is the way to go!
- **Spice It Up**: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick, or a dash of cayenne pepper for more heat. A sprinkle of smoked paprika could also add a wonderful smoky depth.
- **Herbal Enhancements**: Beyond parsley, consider incorporating other fresh herbs like dill, thyme, or rosemary for different aromatic profiles.
- **Boost the Veggies**: Feel free to add other quick-cooking vegetables during the pressure cooking phase, such as chopped zucchini, spinach (stirred in at the end), or even frozen peas and corn for added color and nutrients.
- **Lemon Zest Finish**: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a sprinkle of lemon zest at the very end can brighten all the flavors beautifully.
These simple tweaks can open up a world of new possibilities, allowing you to enjoy this versatile soup in many exciting ways!
Explore All Our 2020 Freaky Friday Fall Edition Recipes:
- An Affair from the Heart – Instant Pot Chicken & Rice Soup
- An Affair from the Heart – Honey Corn Bread
- Aunt Bee’s Recipes – Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
- Devour Dinner – Instant Pot French Onion Meatballs
- House of Nash Eats – Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
- Lemoine Family Kitchen – Turkey Cranberry Sliders
- Life Currents – Cheesy Shrimp Dip
- Life, Love & Good Food – Lemon Garlic Smashed Potatoes
- Or Whatever You Do –Traeger Grilled Parmesan Halibut
- Sugar Dish Me – Whipped Shortbread Cookies
- Take Two Tapas – Pork Tenderloin Sliders
- The Foodie Affair – Easy Greek Style Cauliflower Rice Salad
- The Speckled Palate – Upside Down Cranberry Cake
- West Via Midwest – Hawaiian Pulled Pork (Kalua Pork Recipe)
See ALL of my Freaky Friday Recipes – Discover More Culinary Delights!
Are you hungry yet? I know I am! Let’s dive straight into the detailed recipe for this irresistible Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup. You’re just moments away from enjoying a bowl of pure comfort! 
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Print Recipe
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
Equipment
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12-Piece Black Sharp Knife Set with Covers, Cutting Board and Sharpener – Essential for efficient veggie prep.
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Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker – The star of this quick and easy soup!
Ingredients
- 3 quarts chicken stock (approximately 12 cups, for a rich broth)
- 3 cups cooked diced chicken (perfect for leftovers or rotisserie chicken)
- 3 cups sliced carrots (adds sweetness and essential nutrients)
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper (for color and mild flavor)
- 2 cups diced celery (a classic soup aromatic)
- 1 cup diced onion (builds a flavorful foundation)
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish and fresh flavor at the end)
- 1 bay leaf (infuses subtle, savory notes)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano (for earthy aroma and taste)
- 1 cup basmati rice (uncooked, cooks perfectly tender in the Instant Pot)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
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Prepare Ingredients: Begin by gathering and preparing all your vegetables. Dice the onion and red bell pepper, and slice the carrots and celery. Ensure your cooked chicken is diced or shredded.
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Combine in Instant Pot: Place all of the ingredients – chicken stock, diced cooked chicken, sliced carrots, diced red bell pepper, diced celery, diced onion, bay leaf, dried oregano, and uncooked basmati rice – into the inner pot of your Instant Pot. Give everything a quick, gentle stir to ensure all ingredients are evenly distributed and submerged in the liquid. Season with salt and pepper to your preference.
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Pressure Cook: Securely close the lid of your Instant Pot and turn the sealing vent to the “Sealing” position. Select the “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” function and set the cooking time for 2 minutes on high pressure. The Instant Pot will take some time to come to pressure before the 2-minute countdown begins.
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Quick Pressure Release: Once the cooking cycle is complete and the Instant Pot beeps, carefully perform a quick pressure release (QPR). To do this safely, place a thick kitchen towel over the steam release valve to contain any spray, then carefully turn the valve to the “Venting” position. Allow the pressure to release completely until the float valve drops down.
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Serve and Enjoy: Once the pressure is fully vented and the lid can be safely opened, carefully remove it. Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the fresh parsley. Ladle the hot and comforting Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup into bowls and serve immediately. Enjoy your quick, delicious, and hearty homemade meal!