Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup (with Frozen Chicken)

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This Instant Pot chicken noodle soup is the best chicken noodle soup I’ve ever made. Seriously, it really is that good. What makes it even better is that it’s made in the Instant Pot which means it cooks in no time! It’s packed with big chunks of moist chicken, veggies, egg noodles, and a rich and robust broth.

instant pot with bowl of chicken noodle soup


 

If you’re a busy mom like me, this chicken noodle soup is the ultimate lifesaver, and our version takes the crown. Imagine getting the most delicious soup without spending hours in the kitchen. We’re talking about a recipe that understands the need for speed.

Don’t worry about defrosting chicken, because frozen chicken breasts are can be used in this recipe which saves tons of time and you don’t have to remember to take the chicken out of the freezer. It’s the ultimate hack for any busy mom looking to create a satisfying meal in a flash.

By using the Instant Pot, you can say goodbye to multiple pots and pans, which makes clean up a breeze. This recipe is not just a time-saver; it tastes delicious. Imagine savoring every spoonful of the most incredible flavors, all achieved in a fraction of the time.

Whether it’s a surprise visit from guests or a busy weeknight dinner, this chicken noodle soup has your back. It’s our fail-safe, go-to recipe for any occasion. Plus, it serves a crowd, so you can effortlessly impress your guests without a lot of effort. Trust us, this soup will have everyone convinced you’ve slaved away for hours when in reality, it’s your delicious little secret.

You will love this Instant Pot Chicken Soup

I’ve been sick for over two days and craving some home made chicken noodle soup. Yesterday I drug myself to take my daughter to Barnes and Noble so she could use a gift card she got from her grandmother. Even though I was sick, I couldn’t resist helping her buy a book.

chicken noodle soup close up with spoon

Across the street from the book store is a Whole Foods grocery so I had a great idea to buy some chicken noodle soup for dinner from its food bar. We got there and the soups of the day just didn’t appeal to me so we walked out with frozen pot stickers, an extra large chocolate cupcake with three buttercream flowers on top, and 2 overpriced salted caramel macarons.

Bowl of chicken noodle soup

Needless to say when the next day rolled around I still had a hankering for some chicken noodle soup, I wasn’t surprised: Instant Pot to the rescue. I haven’t made much in my Instant Pot yet, but thought it should be able to make a great batch of Instant Pot chicken noodle soup. And, I knew it could cook frozen chicken in minutes.

It didn’t disappoint.

I was able to make an amazing pot of Instant Pot chicken noodle soup with frozen chicken for lunch.

Normally, I’d do all of this on the stovetop, or in a crockpot, but I cooked EVERYTHING in the Instant Pot. Pressure cookers are the way to go when you want a meal on the table fast!

At one point I was about to get out a saute pan to cook the vegetables and then I remembered the Instant Pot has a saute setting. WIN!

Chicken Noodle Soup Instant Pot ingredients
Instant Pot chicken noodle soup ingredients

  • chicken breasts (can be frozen)
  • carrots
  • celery
  • onion
  • butter
  • garlic
  • fresh ginger (this gives it an amazing flavor!)
  • noodles
  • bay leaf
  • Italian seasonings
  • salt & pepper
  • chicken broth

How To Make Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

  1. For this chicken soup recipe, I cooked four frozen chicken breasts with one cup of water for 10 minutes on manual. (NOTE: Depending on the size/thickness of your chicken, you may need to cook them longer. I used fairly thin breasts for this recipe.)
cooked chicken in the instant pot

2. Then I let the steam vent and removed the chicken and drained the water.

chopped chicken

3. I chopped the chicken up and set it aside.

4. Then I put in butter on the saute setting and added the veggies and sauteed them for 5 minutes.

5. Next, I put in the chicken, and then add eight cups of pre-made chicken broth.

6. Finished with seasonings and noodles.

7. Then I put the top on and set the Instant Pot to the soup setting, reducing the time to 4 minutes. (Note: it takes several minutes before the Instant Pot starts calculating the four cooking minutes.)

8. Once the time was up, I released the steam with the quick release valve and lunch was done.

Instant pot chicken soup!

Instant Pot Chicken and Noodles variations

Vegetable Additions – Customize your soup by adding vegetables such as carrots, celery, or mushrooms.

Herbs and Spices – Experiment with various herbs like thyme, parsley, or rosemary to enhance the flavor profile.

Broth Choices – Substitute the chicken broth with vegetable broth or any other preferred broth for a different taste.

How to serve Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

Garnish – Sprinkle some fresh parsley for pop of color and added freshness.

Bread – Serve with crusty bread or crackers for a fulfilling meal.

Side Salad – Accompany the soup with a side salad to create a wholesome and balanced meal.

How to store Instant Pot Chicken and Noodles

Refrigerator – Allow the soup to cool down, then transfer it into an airtight container or individual portions in containers suitable for meal prep. Consume within 3-4 days.

Freezing – Store in freezer-safe containers or bags, leaving some space for expansion for up to 2-3 months for the best quality.

This chicken noodle soup was so flavorful. It was the perfect pick me up that I’d been looking for.

This chicken soup recipe make a whole pot of soup. It feeds our family of four an entire meal, and leaves plenty of leftovers for another day. It freezes well so I usually put leftover soup in a container in the freezer to have another day.

chicken noodle sopu

If you want to make chicken noodle soup on the stovetop this is our go-to recipe.

I’m certainly going to make it again. Instant Pot chicken noodle soup is a new family favorite.

Chicken Soup Instant Pot FAQs

Can You Cook Frozen Chicken in the Instant Pot?

This is definitely a yes! I use frozen chicken breasts for this ip chicken recipe! There are plenty of times that I have no idea what’s for dinner and didn’t think to take chicken out of the freezer to thaw for dinner. Instant Pot to the rescue. The Instant Pot cooks frozen chicken in minutes.

Why is my Instant Pot chicken so tough?

Overcooking can result in tough chicken.

Can you overcook chicken in the Instant Pot?

Yes, it’s possible to overcook chicken in the Instant Pot, leading to a dry and tough texture. Be sure to check the thickness of the chicken you are using. If it’s a tenderloin or small breast you’ll want to reduce the cooking time so they don’t overcook.

Do you need to brown chicken before pressure cooking?

Browning the chicken in a skillet before pressure cooking can enhance the flavor by adding a layer of caramelization. However, it’s not necessary, especially if you’re aiming for a quicker preparation.

How long to cook frozen chicken in Instant Pot?

 

More Favorite’s From Balancing Motherhood

Get the healing that your body deserves with this healthy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup.
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Instant Pot Chicken and Noodles Soup


Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 8 servings
A family favorite! Flavorful and Instant Pot easy chicken noodle soup. Make it with frozen chicken to save time!

Ingredients
  

  • 4 large chicken breasts frozen, skinless
  • 3 carrots full size, chopped
  • 4 celery stalks chopped
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 3 tablespoons butter unsalted
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 slices fresh ginger
  • 8 oz. wide noodles
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 8 cups chicken broth 2-32. oz. containers

Instructions

Cook Frozen Chicken

  • Place frozen chicken breasts in Instant Pot, adding one cup water
    4 large chicken breasts
  • Put on Instant Pot lid and close vent
  • Set Instant Pot to manual and set the time to 10 minutes
  • Once the Instant Pot is up to pressure it will start the 10 minute timer
  • Once the timer is up, do a quick release and remove the chicken. (Be careful to avoid the steam from the Instant Pot vent)
  • With kitchen gloves, take out the Instant Pot insert (pan/bowl) and drain water
  • Rinse Instant Pot pan and place back inside Instant Pot

Make Chicken Noodle Soup

  • Add 3 tablespoons butter and press saute on Instant Pot
    3 tablespoons butter
  • Once butter is melted, add carrots, celery, and onion. Saute until vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes
    3 carrots, 4 celery stalks, 1 small onion
  • While vegetables are sautéing, shred or chop chicken
  • Add cooked chicken, chicken broth, garlic, sliced ginger, and bay leaf
    2 cloves garlic, 2 slices fresh ginger, 1 bay leaf, 8 cups chicken broth
  • Add salt, pepper, and Italian seasonings
    salt and pepper, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • Add noodles
    8 oz. wide noodles
  • Close Instant Pot lid and close vent
  • Set Instant Pot to Soup and reduce the time to 4 minutes
  • Once the Instant Pot is up to pressure it will start the 4 minute timer
  • When timer is done, press the quick release valve (being careful to stay out of the way of the steam)
    Serve soup warm

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 308kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 1075mg | Potassium: 682mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 4110IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 1mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

Don’t forget to share it with me on @thebalancingmom and follow on Tiktok @balancingmotherhood and Pinterest @thebalancingmom for more!

instant pot accessories

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4.63 from 85 votes (71 ratings without comment)

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95 Comments

  1. EILEEN M HOLYOKE says:

    This soup was DELICIOUS. So tasty. I made this for my son who was sick, and our family finished it in 1 evening! I did make the noodles separate, but stuck to the recipe otherwise.

  2. I just made this as my 4th recipe in my new instant pot…..it’s soooo good!

  3. I just wanted to mention that your soup looks awesome, but your video is only a minute plus. There are so many cooking videos out there that offer a lot more help. I would like to follow you, so please talk in your videos and make the recipe so we can see. Just my opinion. Thanks

  4. Why would you throw the water the chicken is being boiled in??? That is literally your own chicken broth with vegetable scraps and the desired amount of water for the soup, heck you can just do salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder if you don’t have scraps. It can then be strained into a bowl if you have scraps. Not much harder and healthier. Good recipe for the soup but wasteful.

  5. 5 stars
    This recipe is a huge hit in my house. I’ve made it with frozen and fresh chicken and both times it’s delicious. (The frozen chicken did new a few more minutes to cook through.) I omit the onions and celery (don’t like them) and use a bag of frozen Normandy vegetables instead (carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli). I also use a little extra bouillon to make the broth a little more rich. It’s soooo good.

  6. 5 stars
    I made this for supper tonight for my husband and myself Iit should come with a warning. It makes a lot of soup. We will happily be enjoying it for the next few days. It is so delicious. Packed with flavor. And so incredibly carefree and easy to make. I had to change it up a tiny bit since I didn’t have exact ingredients. I used chicken thighs, onion flakes and garlic powder instead of fresh. I also used chicken and vegetable stock since that is all I had. I added an extra 4 cups of stock and a little more seasoning because there was not enough broth. Pretty sure that’s my fault since I am new to this and cooked it 15 minutes to long. It was still amazing and I can’t wait to make it again with the correct ingredients.

  7. 5 stars
    I’m new to Ip snd I used frozen chicken breasts- two. Over cooked the chicken first. Then I sautéed my veggies, didn’t have all the ingredients so I added cayenne, horseradish, ginger, scallions, carrots and I still don’t know what I’m doing, but the soup is fab!!!!
    I’m too obsessed with IP and it takes me whole day.
    Having fun is important and of course making something that f quality with fresh ingredients.❤️

  8. 4 stars
    I love making this as well, but I can’t for the life of me figure out the need to throw away the flavorful chicken broth water.

  9. This was so good! I did not have ginger or wide noodles. I used Trader Joe’s Organic Brown Rice and Quinoa Fusilli pasta. Will definitely make it again!

  10. not a cook says:

    The vegetables were way too soft and the chicken tough. I would put it on the soup mode for only 1-2 minutes, not 4.

  11. This is a great recipe!! But is it really 1424 calories per serving? Or is that for the whole pot?

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