This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This easy Instant Pot Chicken Soup is a favorite when I want a big bowl of something hearty and satisfying, especially during colder months. It’s full of flavor and good-for-you ingredients like turmeric, miso and mushrooms.
We all have foods we turn to when we’re a bit under the weather. For my grandmother, it was 7-Up. It didn’t matter what was wrong with you, she firmly believed 7-Up would fix it. Stomach ache? Headache? Missing a limb? “7-Up will fix it mija.” Even after all these years I can hear her voice suggesting her favorite remedy. In fact the only thing she did not suggest 7-Up for was a stuffy nose, in which case she advised eating a jalapeno raw. True story.
Maybe I’m losing touch with tradition, but in my house chicken soup is my go-to remedy. This soup in particular is something of a magic potion if you ask me. I’m not a medical professional and am not giving advice here, I’m just saying there have been countless times when this soup has made me feel better. I guess this is one case where you can say “food is our best medicine.”
Why You’ll Love This Instant Pot Chicken Soup Recipe
- Easy. Just add all the ingredients to your Instant Pot, press the buttons and walk away.
- Flavorful & satisfying. This chicken soup has rich flavor thanks to all the herbs, miso and broth. If you’re in the mood for a steaming bowl of soup, this recipe is cozy and comforting.
- Good for you. I created this recipe when my kiddo was under the weather, and as a result, I purposefully chose the herbs and other ingredients for their healing potential. (More info in the “What You’ll Need” section below.)
This Chicken Soup is So Easy to Make
There are many things to love about this IP chicken soup. The broth is deeply satisfying and the chicken breast so tender; it’s as if the soup were simmering on the stove all day long. Plus, the ingredients are healing and make you feel good to the bone.
But my favorite thing about this soup is how easy it is to make. You pretty much just put everything in your Instant Pot and walk away. I like effortless recipes in general, but when you’re feeling a bit under the weather or caring for a sick child, zero-effort is where it’s at. The same can be said for lifting your spirits with a bowl of comforting soup at the end of a long day.
If you’re looking for a bowl of coziness that all but makes itself, this chicken soup is for you.
What You’ll Need
So what goes into this soup? I will admit, I don’t use traditional chicken soup ingredients. That’s because when I created this recipe years ago I was specifically looking to combine ingredients that have natural healing properties. My kid was sick at the time and I wanted to make a soup he would eat despite not feeling great, and that would help him recover.
As a result, you won’t find rice or noodles in this recipe (I don’t like the way they store with leftovers) and you will find herbs and spices known for their healing properties.
Here is a quick look at what you’ll need. Scroll down to the recipe card below for specific amounts.
Chicken Breast + Veggies
- Chicken Breasts – A key ingredient in chicken soup that’s packed with protein.
- Carrots – These have healing compounds like beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene.
- Potatoes – We grow potatoes every year and I love adding them to soup and stews. I usually peel them just because the skin can be a bit rough in a soup, especially if you have a sore throat.
- Yellow Onion – Adds flavor to the soup and helps fight respiratory infections thanks to phytonutrients that increase immune defenses.
- Garlic – Adds flavor and helps fight off infections.
- Shiitake Mushrooms – You can leave these out if you are not a mushroom fan, but shiitakes are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Studies also indicate that shiitake mushrooms boost the immune system.
Miso + Herbs + Spices
- Red Miso – This is a salty paste made from fermented soy beans that is common in Japanese cuisine. It is a probiotic and helps improve gut health, which in turn aides immunity. If you can’t find red miso, white miso will do in a pinch.
- Oregano – An anti-inflammatory herb that also has anti-viral properties.
- Parsley – Reduces inflammation and boosts immunity. This herb has high levels of antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin A.
- Thyme – Helps reduce sore throat inflammation and fight off infections.
- Cumin – Cumin has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that help boost the immune system.
- Turmeric – Thousands of studies have been published about the health benefits of curcumin, the pigment in Turmeric that gives it a golden color. It fights inflammation and can help your body heal.
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper – Adjust according to your taste preferences.
You’ll Also Need
- Vegetable broth – You can also use chicken broth if that is what you have on hand.
How to Make Instant Pot Chicken Soup
Making the soup is so easy! It almost doesn’t need step-by-step instructions. In fact, this is probably going to be the quickest how to you have ever seen. Are you ready?
- Add all the ingredients to your Instant Pot. Seal the lid and close the vent.
- Cook. Set it to cook on the soup setting for 30 minutes.
- Natural release. Allow the soup to do a natural release after the timer has gone off.
- Shred the chicken. Remove the lid once the pressure gauge is all the way down. Shred chicken in the pot with two forks and give the soup a good stir.
- Adjust seasonings & serve. Taste the soup and adjust salt & pepper to taste. Serve.
That’s it!
Tips for Success
This recipe is pretty simple but there are a few things you can do for the best chicken soup:
- Don’t rush the process. It is tempting to vent the steam after the soup is done cooking, but I find that the chicken is most tender when you allow the soup to do a natural release. Usually the chicken is so tender it practically falls apart when you go to shred it with forks.
- Start with less salt. I gave a range of salt in the recipe card below. This is because the amount of salt you need will vary according to the saltiness of the broth you’re using. It will also vary according to your personal taste preferences. So start with 1/2 a teaspoon of kosher salt, then at the end when the soup is done cooking taste and adjust.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve Instant Pot chicken soup with a slice of crusty bread warmed in the toaster and slathered with butter. Other favorite sides include:
- Tortillas. A warm flour tortilla, rolled up and stuffed with cheddar cheese.
- One of my other favorite ways to eat chicken soup is, I admit, a bit odd. (I think?) I like to tear up a warm flour tortilla and add it to a bowl of soup along with generous dollops of Cholula hot sauce. My grandmother used to do this with Caldo Tlalpeño, which is a kind of Mexican chicken soup.
- Quesadilla. Simply place a corn tortilla on the griddle, top with your cheese of choice, then top with another corn tortilla. Flip after a minute or two and warm until the cheese is melted and the tortillas have your desired texture. (I like mine slightly crispy.)
- Popovers. I know I’ve mentioned these before, but popovers really do go wonderfully with soup.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- Fridge. Let your chicken soup cool to just warm or room temperature, then transfer to airtight containers. I prefer glass containers with BPA free lids, like these ones on Amazon. The soup will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge.
- To reheat. I prefer to reheat this soup on the stovetop. Simply place the amount you want to eat in an appropriately sized pot and warm over medium-low heat until it reaches your desired temperature. You can also ladle single servings into microwave-safe bowls and zap in the microwave until it heats up. I recommend stirring the soup halfway through the heating time.
Can I Freeze This Soup?
Yes! In fact, I like to keep mason jars (affiliate link) filled with this chicken soup in the freezer. That way it’s easy to defrost some of this chicken soup when needed.
I prefer to freeze soup in wide mouth 16-oz mason jars. (The wider mouth makes it easier to get the soup out for defrosting.) Just ladle the cooled soup into each jar, leaving about 1.5 inches of room for expansion in the freezer. Seal with BPA free, freezer safe plastic lids. The soup will keep for 5-6 months frozen.
When you are ready to defrost some soup, simply run the glass parts of the jar under warm (not hot) water for a few minutes to loosen up the soup. Then invert the jar over a saucepan to remove the soup. Heat over medium-low heat on the stove top, covered, until the soup has defrosted and is warmed through. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes depending on how much soup you are warming up.
More Soup Recipes to Try
- Chicken Tortellini Soup
- Avgolemono (Chicken Lemon Rice Soup)
- Albondigas (Mexican Meatball Soup)
- Vegetarian French Onion Soup
Instant Pot Chicken Soup
Ingredients
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dry oregano
- 1 teaspoon dry parsley
- 1 teaspoon dry thyme
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 tablespoon miso, red or white
- 2-3 chicken breasts, no skin
- 4 oz Shiitake mushrooms, optional
- 5 cups veg broth, low sodium
- ½ – 1 teaspoon kosher salt, according to taste
- Black pepper to taste, about ⅛ tsp
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to your Instant Pot. Give it a stir. Seal the lid and close the vent.
- Cook on the soup setting for 30 minutes.
- Allow the soup to do a natural release after the timer has gone off.
- Remove the lid once the pressure gauge is all the way down. Shred chicken in the pot with two forks and give the soup a good stir.
- Taste the soup and adjust salt & pepper to taste. Serve.
Thank you for this recipe. My whole family was sick this past with you know what, and this soup was so easy to make it was a lifesaver. I am going to make more to freeze for later, thanks for instructions on how to do that.
I’m sorry to hear your family has been sick and hope you all feel better soon. <3
Loved the potatoes instead of noodles. I used leftover Costco chicken and added when done. Next time, I will add shiitake mushrooms instead of mushroom powder.
So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for coming back to me know and also for sharing your modifications. š
My son has a sinus cold and wow- this hit the spot – I also brought a bowl to my friend who came down with Covid and she loved it. Already making another pot. I never thought of adding potatoes with chicken soup and it has the flare of a comfy stew.
Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this recipe. I hope everyone feels better! <3
My daughter inlaw was sick today and im helping her with the boys; this recipe is just what the docter ordered, my house smells amazing and i added a little love. Hopefully this will fast track my daughter inlaws recovery. Thanks for sharing
I’m glad to hear this recipe is being put to good use! I hope your daughter feels better. Thank you for letting me know you are enjoying this recipe. š
How long do you think it should be cooked with frozen, raw chicken cubes? And my Instapot doesn’t have a soup button, what settings would I use?
Usually when I hit the soup button it comes to 30 min at high pressure. With frozen chicken, you are probably better off with 40 minutes. š
How long do you think it should be cooked with frozen, raw chicken cubes?
This looks delicious. Thank you for sharing. I got all ingredients and I’m ready to make it.
I’m not home so I will be doing it on a large pot over stove top with a whole chicken (I saw your comment below to cook for 2-3h). I’m wondering, wouldn’t the veggies also “fall apart”, specially potato and carrots? It seems like a long time for them not to start dissolving.
Is there any trick you know of?
Thank you!
Yes, if you are making it on the stovetop I wouldn’t add the potatoes and carrots until about an hour before the cook time is over. The onion I would add at the beginning because I like it to fall apart and dissolve into the soup.
thank you!
Hi! Thanks for the recipe! You said something about miso but for some reason Iām missing it on the ingredient list. What kind and how much should I add? Thanks
Hello! The miso is in the ingredients list right after the turmeric. š You can use 1 tablespoon red or white miso.
Thank you so much!!
You’re welcome!
I’m so glad I found this recipe. If I wanted to use a whole chicken, my Popi swears by the bone marrow, how would you suggest altering the quantities of the rest of the ingredients? Thanks so much.
I haven’t made this particular recipe with a whole chicken, but you could probably do it in a large pot on the stovetop. (I wouldn’t recommend doing this recipe with a whole chicken and more veggies/broth in the Instant Pot because it will be too much for the pot capacity.)
Totally off the top of my head, I would place the whole chicken in a large soup pot along with the other ingredients. Increase the broth to at least 6-7 cups (enough for the chicken to be covered by a couple of inches). Keep the other ingredients the same, bring it all to a simmer and then cook covered on medium-low for 2-3 hours until the chicken is cooked through and the meat falls off the bone. You may need to add additional broth as the soup cooks because some of the liquid will evaporate on the stovetop.
Once the chicken is cooked, I’d place in it a large bowl to remove the meat with fork tines (similar to my rabbit chili recipe, which is made with a whole rabbit), then add the meat back to your pot.
At that point, you’ll need to taste the soup and adjust the seasonings to taste. Let it all simmer for about 15 minutes once you have adjusted the seasonings so that it all has time to mesh together.
I hope this helps as a starting point!
Hope this isn’t a dumb question, but my fiancee is allergic to carrots and celery, do you have any suggestions for replacements to get a similar taste of the carrots? I can get a vegetable stock without them but I was just curious what you might suggest.
There is no such thing as a dumb question. š I have not personally tried this, but parsnips might be a good substitute. You would peel and chop them like the carrots. You can also just leave them out of the soup. I have done this before and the soup is still delicious.
Loved this soup!! So easy and really tasty. Our new favorite chicken soup recipe.
Yay! So glad you enjoyed this chicken soup as much as we do. š
Very good! We really enjoyed this recipe and will make it again.
So glad you liked it! We have some of this chicken soup in the Instant Pot as I type this. š