Soup for the Soul
A fraction of the time, but all the flavor
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup: the perfect fall meal
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Nothing is easier than Classic Chicken Noodle Soup in the Instant Pot! Using the Instant Pot cuts the cooking time of the chicken in half while tenderizing the meat so it falls off the bone.
Ingredients
- 4-5 chicken thighs seasoned with sea salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter (no margarine)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 cups carrots chopped* see notes
- 1 cup celery chopped
- 2 cups onion chopped
- 2 cups cold water
- 1 clove garlic chopped
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon course ground pepper
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 8 oz wide egg noodles
- 2 packages Knorr Homestyle Chicken Stock concentrate *see recipe notes
- parsley, fresh chopped or dried
Instructions
-
Turn Instant Pot to SAUTE setting. When pot is heated up, or after about 4-5 minutes, add 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter to pot. Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
-
Carefully place chicken thighs in the pre-heated Instant Pot. Cook for 3 minutes and then carefully turn the chicken over. Cook for an additional 3 minutes and sprinkle with dried thyme.
-
Remove chicken from the Instant Pot and add chopped carrots, celery and onion to the pot (there will be residual oil and seasonings in the bottom of the pot. Do not wash or wipe out. Sauté the vegetables for 2 minutes (just long enough to coat with drippings and begin to brown a bit).
-
Add 2 cups cold water, chopped garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and browned chicken back into the Instant Pot. Set Instant Pot to the MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK or HIGH PRESSURE setting, placing timer to 6 minutes. Make sure the plastic seal is in place inside of the lid before placing lid on the Instant Pot and the valve on top of the lid is set to the SEALING position.
-
After the timer goes off, carefully release the steam from the Instant Pot using the VENTING position on the lid. Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot and set on plate or cutting board.
-
Add 4 cups chicken broth plus 2 additional cups of water to the Instant Pot. Change the setting to the SAUTE setting and bring the contents of the pot to a boil. Add 8 oz pasta to the pot and cook according to package directions.
-
While the pasta is cooking, shred or chop the chicken and discard any bones and skin remaining. After pasta is cooked, add chopped chicken and two packages homestyle chicken stock* (or chicken bullion or other chicken flavoring) to the soup to taste. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Top with fresh or dried parsley.
Recipe Notes
- If you like creamy chicken noodle soup, add about 2 tablespoons cornstarch to 1/2 cup of water and mix until smooth. Add to the finished soup while broth is hot. Stir well.
- I like to add sautéed mushrooms to this soup as well. I sauté the mushroom in butter in a separate pan and add at the very end just before serving.
- If using bagged baby carrots, no need to chop the carrots, I just put them in whole.
- If the soup seems a little skimpy on the broth, simply add a bit more chicken broth.
- I like to use Knorr brand “Homestyle Chicken Stock” which is sold in little mini tubs (4 to a package) or the “Better than Bullion” brand stock concentrate.
){kind=link}
This sounds wonderful! If I don’t have an instant pot, will this recipe still work? Thank you, LOVE all your recipes!
If you don’t have an Instant Pot, use my slow cooker version, or just cook the chicken until done and then add the vegetables and cook until tender, adding noodles last. Thanks for reading ABK!
https://abountifulkitchen.com/chicken-noodle-soup/
xo
Si
This is a great recipe! Our family enjoyed every bite. I added cilantro at the end instead of parsley. I think it would be delicious either way. Yum!
I love that idea of adding cilantro, Polly! I agree, it tastes so good either way. Thanks for sharing and for reading ABK,
xo
Si
This soup sounds amazing! I love your instant pot recipes. Did you use bone less chicken thighs or bone-in? Thank you for your great recipes.
I used bone in chicken thighs! I have also used chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, but the flavor is much better with thighs.
Thanks for reading ABK!
xo
Si
How much “Better than Bullion” would you use if not using the Knorr packages? Thanks!
Hi Joanna,
I would use two tablespoons. Let us know how this works for you!
xo
Si
I would add if I were you for the sauté or chicken if you put the lid on or not for the 3 minutes per side. Mine took way longer and therefore dinner was done a lot longer and frustrating for my husband and I.
If you don’t use the Knorr packets, how much Better than Bullion would you use?
Hi Joanna, it depends on how much chicken flavor you want in the broth. I would use 3 to 4 teaspoons. Hope this helps and thanks for asking!
xo
Si
I made this again and it’s DELICIOUS! Took it to my neighbor with confidence! Thank you❤️
It’s so perfect for this time of year, and a great meal to share. Thanks for your comment, Alisa!
xo
Si
Loved it but I had a hard time getting a boil on Sauté mode. Any suggestions? Lid on? I played around with boil on yogurt mode and beef/stew mode but never really got a boil.
Hmm I haven’t run into that issue before, Laura. Maybe let it sit on sauté mode for a little longer, or just add less chicken broth at first and see if it boils. Hope this helps and thanks for asking!
xo
Si
This soup had FANTASTIC flavor!! I even completely left out the stock recommended at the very end. My only issue was the vegetables getting too mushy, so I removed them from the IP before boiling the pasta.
Thank you, Heather! This is one of my favorite soup recipes to make during Winter. That’s a great idea to take the veggies out before boiling the pasta. Thanks for reading ABK,
xo
Si
How many chicken breasts if you don’t have thighs?
I have two kids with the flu right now and this was the perfect soup to bring them comfort and soothe their throats. My husband is keto so I just cooked the noodles separately on the stove. It’s delicious with and without the noodles! He claims it is the best chicken noodle soup I’ve ever made. Thank you for sharing all your delicious recipes.
With much appreciation,
Melissah
This is the perfect meal for sick kiddos! I’m so glad your family enjoyed it, even without the noodles. Thanks so much for sharing, Melissah,
xo
Si
My husband and I loved this recipe! It was very easy to follow and make which I appreciated a lot because it was the first time I tried cooking with an instapot! This is a great recipe to start with!
Just made this and our family and the neighbor kids gobbled it up. Every one asked for seconds. I followed the recipe exactly. Wouldn’t change a thing. I’d confidently take this in to a family for a meal.
I’m so glad to hear that, Nicole! It’s the perfect meal for chilly weather and for the whole family. Thanks for sharing,
xo
Si
Made this last night, super easy & great flavor! Thank you.
You’re welcome, Vicky, and thanks for sharing!
xo
Si
This is such a quick and delicious chicken noodle soup! Have made it multiple times over the past month, even while out camping! New family favorite! Thank you!
You’re very welcome, Kristin, it’s one of my favorites to make this time of year too! Thanks for sharing,
xo
Si
By far the best recipe I’ve made in the Instant Pot! Great clear and easy instructions to follow. Definitely a keeper!
It’s definitely a keeper in our house too, Emily, thanks for sharing and for reading ABK!
xo
Si
This recipe is fantastic! It has been a family favorite with my husband and kids for over a year now—but I just made it for my visiting parents and their rave reviews about what an incredible cook I’ve become left me floored. (I’m not…I just know where to find my recipes!) They haven’t stopped talking about it and it has been five days. Well, at least until I made Si’s copycat Panera Broccoli Cheddar soup. Now they talk about that one too.
So easy and delicious! I make this often and am always so happy with it!!
This is my go to recipe for our family!! Thank you for a delicious recipe!
This is my go to soup recipe for my family. Thank you for sharing your recipes with us! It brings us together.❤️
Hi Sarah!
There’s nothing I love more than to hear one of my recipes brings your family together! I love how sharing food connects people and makes memories. I’m sure glad this is a family favorite- there’s nothing like soup with these fall days upon us.
Thanks for reading ABK.
xo,
Si
This soup is easy and so yummy on a cold day. Since it was a long winter for our family in Idaho this was a go to for us!
We love this soup! My daughter requests it every birthday dinner. The chicken thighs add so much more flavor than regular chicken breasts. Absolutely delicious!
This is my go-to chicken noodle soup recipe! Quick and full of flavor. I can’t find knorr where I live so I use better than bullion—delish!