Imagine a soup so creamy, so comforting, that it feels like a warm hug from your favorite grandmother - and the best part? It's ready in just 40 minutes thanks to the magic of the Instant Pot! This isn't just another chicken soup recipe; this is a soul-warming, flavor-packed experience that will transform your weeknight dinner from ordinary to extraordinary. With tender shredded chicken, hearty wild rice, and a luxuriously rich cream base, this recipe promises to become your new go-to comfort meal that will have everyone at the table asking for seconds.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast
- 1 cup wild rice
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp thyme
Instructions
- Prepare all ingredients by washing and chopping vegetables: dice onions, carrots, and celery into uniform small pieces.
- Place chicken breasts, chopped vegetables, wild rice, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper into the Instant Pot inner pot. Stir ingredients gently to combine.
- Secure the Instant Pot lid, ensuring the valve is set to "Sealing" position. Select the Manual or Pressure Cook setting and set timer for 25 minutes at high pressure.
- Once cooking cycle completes, allow natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then carefully perform quick release for remaining pressure.
- Remove chicken breasts and shred using two forks, then return shredded meat back into the pot.
- Stir in heavy cream, allowing soup to simmer on "Warm" setting for additional 5 minutes to incorporate cream and thicken slightly.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or chives if desired. Soup will keep refrigerated for up to 4 days.
Tips
- For maximum flavor, use fresh thyme if possible and consider toasting your rice briefly before adding liquid to enhance its nutty taste.
- Ensure chicken breasts are uniform in size for even cooking, which helps prevent some pieces from becoming dry.
- When shredding chicken, use two forks and pull in opposite directions for the most tender, even shreds.
- If you prefer a thicker soup, you can mix 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch with the heavy cream before adding to create a more luxurious texture.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half or whole milk for heavy cream, though the soup will be less rich.
- Fresh herbs like parsley or chives as a garnish can add a bright, fresh contrast to the creamy soup.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and will often taste even better the next day as flavors continue to meld.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 350kcal
Carbohydrates: 25g
Protein: 25g
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Cholesterol: 85mg
