Instant Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup is a fast and flavorful take on classic chicken soup. The Instant Pot works its magic while you sit back and wait for the comforting mix of chicken, wild rice, vegetables, and herbs to finish cooking.

Chicken and rice is a classic combination for good reason – it’s hearty, nourishing, comforting, and delicious! I’m always leaning on this One-Pan Chicken And Rice and Gluten Free Chicken Meal Prep Bowls for quick and satisfying meals, and now I can add this Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup to the rotation.

Made with a vegetable medley, hearty chicken, wild rice, and a blend of spices, you can’t go wrong with this quick one-pot soup. It also happens to be naturally gluten-free and easy to make vegetarian. You’ll feel good about serving this instant pot rice soup to all your friends and family, but don’t be surprised when they start begging for seconds!

What is wild rice?

Wild rice is technically not rice at all! It’s the seed of a semi-aquatic grass that is native to North America. While rice and wild rice aren’t technically related, they’re both tender grains with delicious earthy and nutty flavors.

You can find dry wild rice at most grocery stores. The best wild rice will be on the pricier side, but will be hand-harvested, all-natural, and have the best flavor. Wild rice comes in a variety of different colors; I like to pick up a mix to give this soup some color.

Chicken and wild rice soup ingredients

  • Chicken breasts – Make sure to cut the chicken into small pieces so they cook quickly and evenly in the pressure cooker.
  • Wild rice mix – You should be able to find a wild rice mix at most grocery stores or online. You could try using another type of long-grain rice, like brown rice, basmati, or jasmine, but you may need to adjust the cooking time.
  • Chicken broth – A homemade chicken bone broth is the most flavorful choice and adds a ton of nutrients.
  • Vegetables – A mixture of white onion, garlic, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and kale creates a fun variety of textures and flavors.
  • Heavy cream – Just a splash at the end will make this soup deliciously rich, creamy, and comforting.
  • Spices – Fresh thyme, salt, and pepper add the finishing touches to this tasty soup.

How to make Instant Pot chicken wild rice soup

Chicken and wild rice soup instant pot is an easy set-it-and-forget-it dinner that can be made in just 5 simple steps:

Step 1: Using Saute mode on the Instant Pot, saute the onion and garlic in oil until translucent. 

Step 2: Add in the carrots, celery, and mushrooms. Season with thyme, salt, and pepper and cook until soft.

Step 3: Add the chicken broth, wild rice, and cubed chicken. Give everything a good stir, turn off Saute mode, place the lid on top, and cook on high pressure.

Step 4: Allow for a 5-minute natural pressure release before manually releasing the remaining pressure.

Step 5: Open up the Instant Pot and add the cream and kale. Stir to combine all the instant pot rice soup ingredients, serve, and enjoy!

Stovetop instructions

Wild rice can take at least 40 minutes to cook in a pot of boiling water on the stovetop. Get this step done first before preparing the rest of your soup:

  1. Cook the wild rice according to package instructions. Set aside.
  2. Saute the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and mushrooms in a large pot on the stove. Season with thyme, salt, and pepper. 
  3. Add the chicken broth and cubed chicken. Add a lid on top and let the soup simmer until the chicken is cooked through.
  4. Add the cooked wild rice, heavy cream, and kale to finish. Give everything a good stir before serving.

Slow cooker instructions

  1. Place the wild rice, chicken, onion, garlic, carrots, celery, mushrooms, thyme, salt, pepper, and chicken broth into the slow cooker. 
  2. Cook on Low for 7 to 8 hours or until the chicken is cooked through but some liquid remains.
  3. Add the heavy cream and kale and give everything a good stir. Serve and enjoy!

Tips and variations

  • Looking to make an instant pot vegetarian wild rice soup? Omit the chicken and use vegetable broth instead of chicken or bone broth, or make my Instant Pot Mushroom Wild Rice Soup which can be made as an instant pot vegan wild rice soup by using vegetable broth.
  • Speed up the process for swapping the raw chicken for leftover roasted chicken or a shredded rotisserie chicken. Stir it into the soup when you add the cream and kale.
  • This soup pairs really well with a side of Irish soda bread or no knead artisan bread.

FAQs

do you cook rice before adding to soup?

Depending on the recipe and the cooking method it is not always necessary to cook the rice before adding it to the soup.

can i use a different type of rice to make this soup?

Yes, you can substitute with a different type of rice though the combination of wild rice and chicken tastes great.

Storage and reheating

To store: Place the instant pot wild rice soup into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.

To freeze: Make sure the leftovers have cooled completely before transferring them to an airtight container or ziplock bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

To reheat: Place the chilled or thawed soup into a large pot and heat over medium-high heat. Add additional chicken broth as necessary and serve when warmed through.

Looking for more cozy Instant Pot soup recipes?

RECIPE TIP

If you don’t have any kale on hand or if you’d rather not add kale, feel free to add your favorite leafy green; spinach, collard greens or watercress will all work well.

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instant pot chicken and rice soup
4.73 from 11 votes

Instant Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup

by Silvia Dunnirvine
Enjoy this ​​Instant Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup for busy weeknight dinners or meal prep. Chicken breasts, wild rice, vegetables, and herbs are so nourishing and cook quickly in the pressure cooker
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 38 minutes
Total: 48 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 large white onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 large carrots, sliced
  • 1 cup celery, thinly chopped
  • 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup wild rice mix,
  • 1 1/2 lb 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tsp thyme, fresh or dried
  • 1 pinch sea salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups fresh kale, chopped

Instructions 

  • Turn instant pot on sauté mode and add in oil. When the oil is hot add onion and garlic and sauté until fragrant and onions are translucent (2-3 minutes) 
  • Start to add in the carrots, celery and mushrooms. I first add the carrots, let them sauté while I chop the celery to save time. Then I add the celery, stir and let it sauté while I slice the mushrooms. Finally I add the mushrooms, thyme and season with salt and pepper. Stir and sauté for 3-5 minutes. 
  • Add broth, rice and chicken, stir to combine. Turn sauté mode off and set on high pressure for 25 minutes. 
  • Allow 5 minutes of NPR then release all remaining pressure. Open the instant pot and pour in heavy cream and kale. Stir to combine. You may want to cover the pot to allow the kale to soften a bit, however you don’t need to. 

Notes

To store: Place the leftover soup into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To freeze: Make sure the leftovers have cooled completely before transferring them to an airtight container or ziplock bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. 
To reheat: Place the chilled or thawed soup into a large pot and heat over medium-high heat. Add additional chicken broth as necessary and serve when warmed through.

Nutrition

Calories: 243kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 582mg | Potassium: 662mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 6394IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Keyword: Chicken, Instant Pot, Rice, Soup
Course: Dinner, Soup
Cuisine: American
Like this? Leave a comment below!

Hi! I’m Silvia.

My goal is to make cooking simple and enjoyable.

Garden in the Kitchen is full of easy and balanced recipes for busy families. Classics get a healthier twist with additions of veggies or alternative ingredients.

I hope my recipes will inspire you to cook more home meals and above all have fun in the kitchen!

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45 Comments

  1. I made this tonight and it’s a really good and easy recipe. The vegetables were overcooked for my taste. Is there any reason not to cook the wild rice and chicken for 20 minutes then add the veggies, bring it back to pressure cook for 5 more minutes?

    1. Hi Sally, you can definitely adjust the cooking of the vegetables to your taste. But I am so glad you enjoyed it, and thanks so much for sharing your feedback, it’s very helpful and insightful!