Warm Up Fast with Cozy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Warm up fast with this Cozy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe, a perfect blend of tender chicken, hearty noodles, and a savory broth that feels like a comforting hug in a bowl. Whether you’re dealing with a chilly evening or simply craving a wholesome meal, this recipe makes it easy to enjoy a homemade classic with minimal effort. The Instant Pot speeds up the cooking process, ensuring you get a flavorful, steaming bowl of soup ready in no time.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Convenient: The Instant Pot significantly cuts down cooking time without compromising the rich flavors of traditional chicken noodle soup.
- Comfort Food Classic: This soup provides that warm, cozy feeling with every spoonful, perfect for chilly days or whenever you need comfort.
- Nutritious and Balanced: Packed with protein-rich chicken, wholesome veggies, and nourishing broth to keep you fueled.
- Flexible Ingredients: Easy to customize depending on what’s in your pantry or dietary preferences.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: Makes delicious leftovers that taste even better the next day.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Cozy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe relies on simple, staple ingredients that work together to create a rich and satisfying dish. Each item enhances the flavor, texture, or color, making your soup as inviting as any homemade classic.
- Chicken breasts or thighs: Choose boneless, skinless for tender, quick-cooking meat that soaks up all the broth flavors.
- Egg noodles: These add the perfect soft and slightly chewy texture, a defining element of chicken noodle soup.
- Chicken broth: Use low-sodium for control over seasoning and to keep the soup light yet flavorful.
- Carrots and celery: These classic veggies bring sweetness, crunch, and freshness to the soup.
- Garlic and onion: Aromatics that deepen the broth’s flavor and add warmth.
- Herbs (thyme, parsley, bay leaf): Fresh or dried herbs add subtle herbal notes that make the broth truly comforting.
- Olive oil or butter: For sautéing veggies and adding richness to the base.
- Salt and pepper: To taste, enhancing all the other flavors beautifully.
Variations for Cozy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
This recipe is a friendly canvas that welcomes your personal touch. Feel free to experiment with ingredients and adjustments to perfectly suit your tastes or dietary needs.
- Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce for a warming heat.
- Gluten-Free: Swap egg noodles for gluten-free pasta or spiralized vegetables like zucchini noodles.
- Loaded with Veggies: Toss in mushrooms, spinach, or peas for extra nutrition and color.
- Herb Boost: Fresh dill or rosemary can substitute or complement the thyme and parsley for varied flavor.
- Low-Carb Version: Use cauliflower rice or shirataki noodles instead of traditional noodles.
How to Make Cozy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics
Set your Instant Pot to the sauté function, then heat olive oil or butter. Add chopped onion, garlic, carrots, and celery, cooking until softened and fragrant—this step builds the soup’s flavor base.
Step 2: Add Chicken and Broth
Place the chicken breasts or thighs on top of the sautéed veggies. Pour in the chicken broth, then add herbs like thyme, parsley stems, and a bay leaf. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Step 3: Pressure Cook
Seal the Instant Pot lid, set to high pressure for about 10 minutes. This cooks the chicken through while blending all the flavors into the broth.
Step 4: Shred the Chicken and Add Noodles
Release the pressure carefully, remove chicken, shred it with two forks, then return it to the pot. Add egg noodles and cook on sauté mode or quick release pressure for a few minutes until noodles are tender.
Step 5: Final Seasoning and Serve
Taste the soup and adjust salt, pepper, or herbs as needed. Remove bay leaf and herb stems, then ladle into bowls for a piping hot, soul-soothing meal.
Pro Tips for Making Cozy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
- Use Bone-In Chicken: For extra depth and richness in the broth, consider bone-in pieces, then remove the bones after cooking.
- Don’t Overcook Noodles: Add noodles last and cook briefly to keep them from becoming mushy.
- Fresh Herbs at the End: Stir in fresh parsley or thyme right before serving to brighten the flavors.
- Skip Pre-Chopping: Rough-chop your veggies to maintain texture and visual appeal in your soup.
- Adjust Liquid Levels: Customize broth quantity based on how soupy or thick you prefer your chicken noodle soup.
How to Serve Cozy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Garnishes
A sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley, a squeeze of lemon juice, or a few grinds of black pepper add freshness and a pop of flavor to your final bowl.
Side Dishes
Pair with crusty bread, warm dinner rolls, or a simple side salad for a balanced meal that complements the hearty soup perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve in rustic bowls topped with a swirl of garlic-infused olive oil or grated Parmesan cheese for an elevated but cozy touch.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Let the soup cool completely, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days to maintain freshness and flavor.
Freezing
You can freeze this soup, but remove the noodles beforehand to avoid sogginess; add freshly cooked noodles when reheating for best texture.
Reheating
Reheat gently on the stove over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally, and add a splash of broth or water if needed to restore soup consistency.
FAQs
Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?
Yes, frozen chicken works fine; just increase the pressure cooking time by a few minutes to ensure the chicken cooks through thoroughly.
What type of noodles work best?
Traditional egg noodles are ideal for texture and flavor, but you can experiment with other pasta types or gluten-free alternatives to suit your preferences.
Can I make this vegetarian?
To make a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken and broth with plant-based proteins like tofu or chickpeas and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
How do I prevent the noodles from getting mushy?
Add the noodles after pressure cooking the chicken and cook them separately for only a few minutes until tender to keep the texture perfect.
Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely, the Instant Pot can handle doubled ingredients, but ensure your pot is large enough and adjust cooking times slightly if necessary.
Final Thoughts
This Cozy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe is a heartwarming, quick solution for those moments when you crave comfort and nourishment in one bowl. Its simplicity and flexibility make it a must-have in your cooking rotation, especially on busy days or chilly evenings. Give it a try—you’ll love how fast and easy it is to make homemade chicken noodle soup that feels like a genuine kitchen hug.
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Cozy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Cozy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is a quick and comforting homemade classic featuring tender chicken, soft egg noodles, and a rich savory broth with fresh veggies and herbs. Perfect for chilly days or whenever you crave a wholesome, nourishing meal made with minimal effort using the Instant Pot.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free (with gluten-free noodle substitution)
Ingredients
Proteins
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 2 medium carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Broth & Liquids
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
Herbs & Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley stems (plus chopped parsley for garnish)
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Noodles
- 6 ounces egg noodles
Instructions
- Sauté the Aromatics: Set Instant Pot to sauté mode and heat olive oil or butter. Add chopped onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 4-5 minutes, building a flavorful base.
- Add Chicken and Broth: Place chicken breasts or thighs on top of sautéed vegetables. Pour in low-sodium chicken broth. Add thyme, parsley stems, bay leaf, and season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Pressure Cook: Seal lid and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. This cooks chicken thoroughly and melds flavors.
- Shred Chicken and Add Noodles: Carefully release pressure, remove chicken, shred with two forks, and return to pot. Add egg noodles and cook on sauté mode or quick pressure release for 3-5 minutes until noodles are tender but not mushy.
- Final Seasoning and Serve: Taste soup and adjust salt, pepper, or herbs as needed. Remove bay leaf and herb stems. Ladle into bowls and garnish with freshly chopped parsley, optional lemon juice, or black pepper.
Notes
- Use bone-in chicken for richer broth; remove bones after cooking.
- Add noodles last and cook briefly to avoid mushiness.
- Stir fresh parsley or thyme in just before serving to brighten flavors.
- Rough chop vegetables to keep texture and appearance.
- Adjust broth quantity to preference for thicker or soupier consistency.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: chicken noodle soup, instant pot soup, cozy soup, comfort food, easy chicken soup, gluten free chicken soup, healthy soup