This Instant Pot chicken and rice soup and is full of so much flavor, can be prepped and made in under 30 minutes and is super thick and creamy. You will love it as a weeknight meal or for any time you want something warm and comforting. It's gluten free, dairy free, and nut free.
Why is Instant Pot chicken and rice soup so good?
- It's a 30 minute meal. You can prep it and have it cooked all in under 30 minutes!
- The texture is spot on. It's creamy, thick, and almost like a porridge. So warm and comforting.
- It lasts all week in the refrigerator... a perfect addition to meal prep.
- It's extremely nourishing and filling due to the rice inside.
- You can get creative with veggie add-ins if you'd like. Feel free to add: celery, mushrooms, kale or spinach (at the end), etc.
I particularly love how it's an all inclusive meal. I sometimes feel like soup just isn't enough, and I'll end up eating some rice on the side or topping it off with extra protein.
With this chicken and rice soup though, you will not feel that way at all.
What other soups can I make that are perfect for easy, weeknight meals?
Soup season is seriously the best. I've had my butternut squash soup on repeat at our house lately.
It's made with fresh, roasted butternut squash, nourishing broth, and all of my favorite fall spices. The marriage is seriously delightful, y'all.
Have you had a chance to try my roasted cauliflower soup yet, by the way?
I updated the rest and have improved it ten fold by incorporating the best fresh herbs and blending the soup with fresh lemon juice and nutmeg after it's done cooking.
They are both delicious, but if you are looking for something heartier and more filling, I would try out this Instant Pot chicken and rice soup instead.
How to make Instant Pot chicken and rice soup
Press the "sauté" setting on your Instant Pot and let it heat up for 2 minutes. Add oil and let it heat for another minute. Meanwhile, season the chicken with salt and pepper.
Add onions, shallot, and carrots. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add minced garlic and sauté for another minute. Add chicken and sauté for 2 minutes. When the chicken starts to turn white, add bay leaf, thyme sprigs, and spices. Cook until chicken is almost cooked. Press "cancel/off" button.
Add rice and stir well. Add liquids and stir. Close lid, set valve to "sealing" position. Press "manual" or "pressure cook" button and make sure it is set to "high pressure." Set timer to 4 minutes.
When the timer is done, let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. Switch the valve to "venting" position to release the remaining pressure and steam.
Open the lid carefully and give everything a nice stir. Add fresh lemon juice and taste for additional salt and pepper. The soup will need both. Serve with chopped parsley.
To serve, spoon out the chicken and rice soup into a bowl. Top with fresh parsley.
Variations of this soup
- Feel free to top it off or mix in your favorite fresh herbs. Other ideas are: rosemary, thyme, extra parsley, etc.
- You can swap out the chicken broth for bone broth... extra nutrients are always a win!
- Add extra broth and water if you'd like it to be a thinner consistency
- Cook with cauliflower rice instead of white rice!
- You can use basmati rice, jasmine rice, or brown rice too!
- You can use skinless chicken breasts instead of thighs.
Use rotisserie chicken instead to make this soup even faster!
If you aren't into buying raw chicken or simply have access to Rotisserie chicken in your refrigerator already, feel free to use that instead.
You will add it in with the fresh herbs and immediately add your liquids before closing the lid to cook it.
I prefer chicken chunks in this dish, but if you use Rotisserie chicken, it will be more of a shredded consistency.
If you prefer to use boneless skinless chicken breasts instead of thigh meat that is just fine too! If you do, just do a 1:1 replacement in the recipe for the breast meat.
Save Leftovers and Reheat Later
Save any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
To reheat, just put in the microwave for 60-90 seconds (depending on size of reheated portion). You can also reheat on the stove top in a medium saucepan on medium to medium-high heat.
More Instant Pot soup recipes like this:
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla-less Soup
Creamy, Roasted Cauliflower Soup
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or ghee
- ½ small yellow onion diced
- 1 shallot diced
- 4 carrots peeled and diced
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 1 ½ pounds chicken thighs boneless & skinless
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 bay leaf
- 4-5 fresh thyme sprigs
- ¾ teaspoon Italian seasoning or dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 5 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups filtered water
- ½ lemon juiced
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Press the "sauté" setting on your Instant Pot and let it heat up for 2 minutes. Add oil and let it heat for another minute. Meanwhile, cut the chicken into 1 ½ - 2" chunks and season with salt and pepper.
- Add onions, shallot, and carrots. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add minced garlic and sauté for another minute. Add chicken and sauté for 2 minutes. When the chicken starts to turn white, add bay leaf, thyme sprigs, and spices. Cook until chicken is almost cooked. Press "cancel/off" button.
- Add rice and stir well. Add liquids and stir. Close lid, set valve to "sealing" position. Press "manual" or "pressure cook" button and make sure it is set to "high pressure." Set timer to 4 minutes.
- When the timer is done, let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. Switch the valve to "venting" position to release the remaining pressure and steam.
- Open the lid carefully and give everything a nice stir. Add fresh lemon juice and taste for additional salt and pepper. The soup will need both. Serve with chopped parsley.
Notes
- You can swap out the chicken broth for bone broth... extra nutrients are always a win.
- Add extra broth and water if you'd like it to be a thinner consistency.
- You can use chicken breasts instead of thighs.
Britt says
If I need to double the recipe, will that double the cook time at the end? Instead of 4 minutes, it would be 8 minutes?
Mmmm, good question... will it all fit in your Instant Pot??? Do you have a huge one? I wouldn't double the time... maybe add 2 minutes.
Blair says
Can this recipe be frozen after cooking or should the rice be omitted and cooked separately like in the stuffed pepper soup recipe?
Thanks!
I'd probably omit the rice, yes exactly.
Jen K says
This soup is so delicious! This is our third time making it in the last month- perfectly cozy and thick!
You've gotta try the chicken and cauliflower gnocchi soup next! 🙂
Courtney says
Can I sub brown rice for white? I have brown basmati
Yes, but the cook time will be a bit different. You'll need more liquid and a longer cooking time for brown rice... can you do some googling so it is cooked properly? I want it to turn out perfectly for you!
Kristen Chamberlain says
Is it 693 calories per serving or for the entire amount?
Sorry about that, my serving sizes are definitely way off. It's more like 6 servings-- so about 460 calories per serving.
Melissa Dreifuss says
This soup is so nourishing delicious. A family favorite!
Heather says
this is so good! i really like thats its more thick like porridge. very comforting and i love the lemon. i used herbs de provenceand some extra dried lavender . its the secret ingredients i add when I make chicken soup.
Oh my gosh, lavender- that's genius. I need to try this!!!!
Alex says
THIS SOUP IS 🤤. I make this at least once a week because it is so easy, SO delicious and makes a big batch to last a couple of days. It’s lemony and rich and delicious and is even good cold.
IT'S SO GOOD COLD RIGHT?!
Andreea says
Delicious! Already made it twice since you posted.also I don’t have an IP so I made it on stove right after your instructions. Perfect for week nights and for these cold chicago winter.
Abbey says
So comforting and warming!
Kassandra R says
So delicious and perfect for the cold weather!!!
Chocoviv says
This looks so good.
Thank you so much!