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Chicken wild rice soup is comfort food at its best and ideal for the days when one wants a hearty dish. This can be easily made in an Instant Pot and is therefore ideal for weeknights when time is limited. However, do not underestimate this dish due to its simplicity – there is more to this soup than just taste, as it is full of satisfying heaping amounts of nutrients. Lets go ahead and jumpstraight to the .
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Nutritious and Filling
This soup is not only delicious but also healthy with enough protein coming from the meat of the chicken and the wild rice being high in fiber. This combination will stave off hunger for a good number of hours.
Perfect for Cold Days
There’s nothing like coming back home after a long day’s work and all you need is a bowl of hot soup as the carrot of the day’s performance. This chicken wild rice soup is the best thing I have tasted and nothing is comparable to it!
Family-Friendly and Versatile
No matter if you have picky eaters or people with different dietary needs in your family this soup is customizable. Add more veggies or leave out the dairy so that this soup will work for everybody.
Ingredients Overview
Main Ingredients
Chicken Breasts or Thighs
Both of these cuts of meat work perfectly in this . There is more of rich flavor with chicken thighs while the edible flesh with chicken breasts is rather shallow.
Wild Rice Blend
A delicious soup that has wild rice which adds nutty flavour with chewy bites in every mouthful.
Vegetables (Carrots, Celery, Onion)
As I said, these are the quintessential soup vegetables and they offer some natural sweetness and also complete the taste.
Chicken Broth
One secret to making a good soup and having a good broth is the chicken stock you use.
Optional Add-Ins
Mushrooms
Mushrooms give the soup body and make it taste less bland. They may be cooked with the other vegetables.
Cream or Coconut Milk for a Creamier Texture
You may also indulge in adding in some form of dairy at the end or some coconut milk if you like the soup rich.
The Health Benefits of Chicken Wild Rice Soup
High in Protein
Due to the added chicken, this soup is very high in protein content which is very important as it helps repair and build muscles and keeps you full for longer.
Packed with Vegetables and Fiber
Vegetables contain all those important vitamins and the wild rice contains good amount of fiber thereby aiding in digestion.
A Balanced Meal in One Bowl
This soup contains protein, carbs, and vegetables all in one bowl so you do not the second serving this soup gives one a healthy balanced dish in a single serving.
Instant Pot Cooking Tips
Why Use an Instant Pot?
Faster Cooking Time
Cooking chicken with wild rice on the stove takes as long as an hour to cook. But with the Instant Pot, you will take about 30 minutes to have it ready to serve.
Retains Nutrients and Flavors
As pressure cooking takes place, the nutrients of the food being prepared are properly retained and the taste is more attractive.
Pressure Cooking vs. Slow Cooking
This is written to take advantage of pressure cooking mainly however if you want you may also reheat the in a slow cooker for 6 to 8 hours.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Instant Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup
Step 1: Prep the Ingredients
All your vegetables should be chopped and the wild rice washed from any impurities.
Step 2: Sauté the Vegetables
On the sauté mode of your Instant Pot, stir fry the onions, carrots, and celery until they have softened up.
Step 3: Add Chicken and Broth
Spoon some of the chicken pieces over the sautéed vegetables followed by the chicken broth.
Step 4: Pressure Cook for Perfect Results
Adjust the high pressure in your instant cooker and set the timer for cooking at 25 minutes. In this way, you get tender pieces of chicken with properly cooked wild rice.
Step 5: Shred the Chicken
Once done, remove the chicken, shred it, and stir it back into the soup.
Step 6: Stir in Cream or Coconut Milk (Optional)
If making a coconut milk soup, this is the time to add the cream or the coconut milk for those who are searching for an ultra thick texture. Introduce the cream into the soup, then allow it cook over low heat for another couple of minutes.
Customizing Your Soup
Adding Extra Vegetables or Spices
In addition, feel free to add in more vegetables such as spinach, or even add some red pepper flakes.
Making It Dairy-Free or Gluten-Free
A dairy alternative is available by omitting the cream and this soup can be gluten free if you use only pure wild rice.
Serving Suggestions
Best Garnishes for Chicken Wild Rice Soup
Freshly-chopped parsley works wonders as a garnish, or squeeze some lemon juice over the top to make the flavors pop.
What to Serve Alongside
Crusty Bread or Rolls
Thick slices of crusty bread should be served along with this dish or any other deep dish Asian soup and you can also use it to dunk into the rich broth.
Light Green Salad
That being said a nice light fresh green salad would go very well on the side to cut through the richness of the soup.
Storing and Reheating the Soup
How to Store in the Refrigerator
Put your soup in a sealable container in a fridge for no more than 5 days.
Freezing Tips for Long-Term Storage
This soup will freeze nicely! Just leave out the cream if you’re planning to freeze it. Store in ziplock bags for no more than 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Different Types of Rice?
Of course! You can also use brown rice or basmati, just remember to shorten the cooking time!
Can I Make This Soup Creamy Without Dairy?
Yes! You can make this more creamy with coconut milk, not cream.
Conclusion
When you want to enjoy a warm and hearty yet healthy dish, go for this Instant Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup. It’s quite flexible, easy to make, and incredibly healthy, guaranteed to give everyone satisfaction after eating. Creamy soup is just perfect without crusty bread or side salad.
Instant Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 cup wild rice blend
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 carrots chopped
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup mushrooms optional
- 1/2 cup cream or coconut milk optional
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Switch the Instant Pot to the sauté mode and wait for the olive oil to become hot.
- Now, add the chopped onions, and chopped carrots, together with chopped celery. Now, sauté for 3-4 minutes until they turn soft.
- Add chicken pieces and uncooked wild rice along with chicken broth. Add salt and pepper.
- It is time to cover the Instant Pot and press the valve to set the pressure to high for 25 minutes only.
- After the time goes off, just let the pressure out naturally for 10 minutes or so, and when most of the pressure has gone out, lift up the pressure valve to let the rest out.
- Take the chicken out of the pressure cooker and shred it with a couple of forks. Then add the shredded chicken back to the pot.
- (Optional) Pour in some cream or coconut milk to make the soup thicker and creamier. Wait for 2 minutes for the flavors to infuse in soup.
- Correct the taste of the dish with salt or pepper, if needed.
- The soup is served hot, sprinkled with fresh green parsley, with a piece of crusty bread or a side salad.
Notes
- If you want to make it without cream, you can also use coconut milk in place of cream or leave it out completely.
- This variety of soup can be refrigerated for not more than 5 days or frozen for about three months. When ready to serve them, reheat slowly on the stove over low heat, adding additional broth if you think it is needed.
