Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 11/21/22
Two bowls of Instant Pot chicken and rice soup with crusty French bread.
Diana Rattray
Prep: 12 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Pressure Build/Release: 23 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 8 bowls

The Instant Pot pressure cooker is an excellent way to get homemade chicken and rice soup on the table quickly any night of the week. The soup is a healthy combination of lean chicken breasts, stock, and vegetables, along with a few basic pantry seasonings you probably have on hand.

Thyme and rosemary are the seasonings called for in this recipe, but feel free to substitute an equal amount of an Italian seasoning blend. Or you might use another herb blend, such as fines herbes or herbes de Provence.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 pound boneless chicken breasts, 2 large or 3 small

  • 1 cup chopped onion

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 cup sliced celery

  • 3 carrots, cut into 1/2-inch dice, about 2 cups

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, or 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves

  • 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crumbled, or 3/4 teaspoon fresh chopped rosemary

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 6 cups chicken broth

  • 1/2 cup long-grain raw white rice

  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for the chicken and rice soup.
    Diana Rattray

  2. Select the Instant Pot sauté setting and add the olive oil to the pot. When the display reads "hot," add the chicken breasts. Cook for about 3 minutes on each side (the chicken will be partially cooked and lightly browned on the outside). Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside.

    The chicken breasts are sauteed in the Instant Pot.
    Diana Rattray

  3. Add the onion, garlic, celery, and carrots to the pot along with the thyme, rosemary, kosher salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute longer.

    The vegetables are added to the Instant Pot.
    Diana Rattray

  4. Add the chicken broth and rice and stir, scraping the bottom of the pot to loosen any browned bits.

    chicken broth and rice are added to the instant pot
    Diana Rattray

  5. Add the partially cooked chicken breasts.

    add the chicken to the pot
    Diana Rattray

  6. Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure the valve is in the sealing position. Select the pressure cook or manual button, high pressure, and set the timer for 3 minutes (it will take roughly 13 minutes for the pot to come to full pressure and begin cooking). When the time is up, let the pressure come down naturally for 10 minutes. Move the steam release valve to the venting position to release the remaining pressure.

    Instant Pot lid in the venting position
    Diana Rattray

  7. Remove the chicken breasts to a plate and shred it with 2 forks.

    shredded chicken on a plate with two forks
    Diana Rattray

  8. Return the shredded chicken to the Instant Pot and add the chopped parsley. Taste the broth and adjust the seasonings, as needed.

    shredded chicken and parsley are added
    Diana Rattray

  9. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with extra parsley, if desired.

    Closeup of a bowl of Instant Pot chicken and rice soup.
    Diana Rattray

Recipe Variation

  • If you prefer brown rice, there are a few ways to adjust this recipe. One way is to cook the rice separately in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop, and then add it to the soup just before serving. Alternatively, you could make it with brown rice and frozen chicken breasts. Skip step 2 and add the frozen chicken breasts after the broth and rice are added. Instead of 3 minutes, set the timer for 15 minutes.
  • For richer chicken flavor, add 3 to 4 bouillon cubes or chicken base along with the broth and don't add the salt until you taste the finished soup.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
197 Calories
5g Fat
16g Carbs
20g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 197
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 7%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 52mg 17%
Sodium 839mg 36%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 20g
Vitamin C 4mg 22%
Calcium 40mg 3%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 333mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)