Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup Recipe

The perfect Instant Pot chicken and wild rice soup combines tender chicken, nutty wild rice, and aromatic vegetables in under 45 minutes. This pressure cooker method yields a creamy, flavorful soup with properly cooked wild rice that typically takes hours in traditional methods. Follow our tested recipe for optimal texture and flavor balance every time.

Why Instant Pot Excels for Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Pressure cooking transforms wild rice preparation from a 45-60 minute endeavor into a 22-minute process while maintaining ideal texture. The sealed environment of your Instant Pot traps steam and raises the boiling point, allowing wild rice to absorb liquid efficiently without becoming mushy. Unlike stovetop methods where rice often overcooks while waiting for chicken to become tender, the Instant Pot cooks both components simultaneously to perfection.

Professional chefs appreciate how pressure cooking enhances flavor development. The high pressure forces liquid into ingredients, creating deeper flavor penetration. Our tests showed Instant Pot versions developed richer broth complexity compared to slow cooker or stovetop methods within half the time.

Ingredient Selection Matters

Quality ingredients make the difference between ordinary and exceptional soup. Here's what you need and why each component matters:

Ingredient	Amount	Why It Matters
Chicken thighs (boneless, skinless)	1.5 lbs	More flavor and moisture retention than breasts during pressure cooking
Wild rice blend	¾ cup	Pure wild rice requires longer cooking; blends with other rices create better texture
Chicken broth	4 cups	Low-sodium allows control of final salt level
Yellow onion	1 medium	Sweetness balances earthy wild rice
Carrots	2 medium	Natural sweetness and texture contrast
Celery	2 stalks	Essential aromatic base
Garlic	3 cloves	Fresh provides brighter flavor than powder
Diced tomatoes	½ cup	Acidity balances richness (optional but recommended)
Thyme	1 tsp dried	Earthiness complements wild rice
Bay leaf	1	Depth of flavor without overpowering

Step-by-Step Instant Pot Instructions

Follow these precise steps for perfect chicken and wild rice soup every time:

1. Prep ingredients: Dice chicken into 1-inch pieces, chop vegetables uniformly (¼-inch dice ensures even cooking), mince garlic
2. Sauté aromatics: Set Instant Pot to Sauté mode, add 1 tbsp olive oil, cook onions, carrots, and celery for 5 minutes until softened
3. Add remaining ingredients: Stir in garlic, chicken, wild rice, broth, tomatoes, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper
4. Pressure cook: Seal lid, set to Manual/Pressure Cook mode at high pressure for 22 minutes
5. Natural release: Allow 15 minutes natural pressure release (critical for rice texture)
6. Final adjustments: Remove bay leaf, stir in ½ cup heavy cream or coconut milk for richness, adjust seasoning

Avoid These Common Instant Pot Mistakes

Our testing revealed these pitfalls that ruin otherwise good soup:

• Overfilling the pot: Never exceed half-full mark with rice-containing recipes to prevent clogging
• Incorrect rice-to-liquid ratio: Wild rice requires 1:1.5 ratio (rice to liquid) in Instant Pot versus 1:2.5 stovetop
• Skipping natural release: Quick release makes wild rice gummy - 15 minutes natural release is non-negotiable
• Using only chicken breasts: Thighs provide necessary fat for flavor; breasts dry out during cooking
• Adding dairy before pressure cooking: Causes separation and affects pressure regulation

Variations and Serving Suggestions

Customize this versatile recipe to suit different dietary needs and preferences:

• Gluten-free: Naturally gluten-free when using certified broth (check labels)
• Dairy-free: Substitute coconut milk for cream, use olive oil instead of butter
• Vegetarian option: Replace chicken with mushrooms, use vegetable broth
• Extra protein: Add 1 cup white beans during final adjustment stage

Serve hot with crusty bread for dipping. The soup thickens slightly when cooled, so add extra broth when reheating leftovers. Properly stored in airtight containers, this soup maintains quality for 4 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months frozen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use brown rice instead of wild rice in Instant Pot soup?

Yes, but adjust cooking time to 12 minutes with 10-minute natural release. Brown rice requires less time than wild rice blends. Note that texture and flavor will differ significantly - wild rice's chewiness and nuttiness are signature elements of this soup.

Why does my wild rice stay hard in the Instant Pot?

Hard wild rice typically indicates insufficient liquid or cooking time. Ensure you're using a wild rice blend (pure wild rice requires 28 minutes), maintain proper 1:1.5 rice-to-liquid ratio, and never skip the 15-minute natural release period which continues the cooking process off-heat.

How do I prevent the soup from burning during sauté mode?

Burn notices often occur when bits stick to the bottom during sautéing. Deglaze thoroughly after sautéing vegetables by scraping the bottom with broth before pressure cooking. Ensure no food particles are stuck to the inner pot edges, and maintain liquid levels above the minimum fill line.

Can I double this Instant Pot chicken wild rice soup recipe?

No, never double rice-containing recipes in the Instant Pot. The maximum safe fill line for pressure cooking is halfway full. Doubling ingredients exceeds this limit and creates dangerous pressure conditions. Make separate batches if you need more soup.

What's the ideal texture for properly cooked wild rice in soup?

Perfectly cooked wild rice should be tender but still pleasantly chewy with grains that have split open to reveal a white interior. It shouldn't be crunchy (undercooked) or mushy and disintegrated (overcooked). The grains should maintain their distinct shape while absorbing surrounding flavors.