Instant Pot soup is for those days when you want comfort food now. Not in three hours. Not “let it simmer all afternoon.” Just good, homemade soup that tastes like it was prepared with time and precision, even though it didn’t. It’s perfect for busy weekdays, late dinners, or anytime hunger hits and patience is low.
Think of the Instant Pot as the modern answer to slow cooking. You still get deep flavor, tender ingredients, and that warm, satisfying feeling of a proper homemade meal, just on fast-forward. Once you understand how it works, Instant Pot soup quickly becomes one of those recipes you lean on again and again.
What makes this recipe especially great is its flexibility. You can use chicken, beef, vegetables, or whatever combination you have on hand. The Instant Pot does the heavy lifting, locking in flavor and cooking everything evenly in a fraction of the time it would take on the stove.
Ingredients
- 500g (1 lb) chicken breast, beef, or mixed vegetables
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 potatoes, diced
- 1 cup tomatoes (fresh, blended, or canned)
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon thyme or mixed herbs
- 1 teaspoon paprika or curry powder (optional)
- 4 cups water or stock
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
Optional add-ins:
Optional add-ins: Bay leaf, green beans, sweet corn, celery, peas, spinach, chili pepper. This recipe isn’t strict. If you’re missing an ingredient, don’t panic. Instant Pot soups are forgiving, the goal is balance, not perfection.
Kitchen Tools
- Instant Pot / electric pressure cooker
- Knife and chopping board. That’s all you need.
How to Prepare Instant Pot Soup (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Turn on Sauté Mode
Set your Instant Pot to Sauté and add the oil. Let it heat up for a few seconds. This step helps build flavor right from the start, instead of everything tasting flat.
Step 2: Sauté Onions and Garlic
Add the chopped onions and garlic. Stir for about 2 minutes until they soften and release that familiar, comforting smell. This is the base of your soup, don’t rush it.
Step 3: Add Protein and Season
Add your chicken, beef, or vegetables. Sprinkle in the salt, black pepper, thyme, and paprika or curry powder if using. Stir well so everything is coated in seasoning. If you’re using meat, let it cook for a minute or two to lock in flavor.
Step 4: Add Vegetables and Tomatoes
Toss in the carrots, potatoes, and tomatoes. Give everything a gentle stir. At this point, your pot should already look and smell like something good is happening.
Step 5: Pour in Liquid
Add water or stock, just enough to cover the ingredients. Be careful not to go past the maximum fill line inside the Instant Pot.
Step 6: Pressure Cook
- Close the lid properly
- Set the valve to Sealing
- Select Pressure Cook / Manual
- Cook on High pressure for 10–15 minutes
- 10 minutes for vegetables or chicken
- 15 minutes for beef or denser ingredients
- 10 minutes for vegetables or chicken
Step 7: Release Pressure
Once cooking is done, either:
- Use Quick Release if you’re in a hurry, or
- Let it naturally release for 5 minutes, then finish with Quick Release
Open the lid carefully once pressure is fully released.
Step 8: Taste and Adjust
Stir the soup and taste it. Adjust salt, pepper, or seasoning as needed. If the soup feels too thick, add a little hot water or stock and stir.
Tips for the Best Instant Pot Soup
- Cut ingredients evenly so everything cooks at the same rate.
- Don’t skip the sauté step; it adds depth and richness.
- For thicker soup, mash some of the potatoes directly in the pot.
- Soup flavors deepen as it rests, even after cooking.
Easy Variations
- Creamy soup: Stir in cream, milk, or coconut milk after pressure release.
- Spicy version: Add chili flakes, fresh pepper, or hot sauce.
- Low-carb option: Skip potatoes and use zucchini or cabbage instead.
- Extra filling: Stir in cooked rice, pasta, or beans after cooking.
Instant Pot soup proves that fast food can still be real food. Warm, nourishing, and deeply comforting, ready in under 30 minutes, yet tasting like it simmered all day. Once you get comfortable with it, this becomes a true weeknight lifesaver. Quick enough for busy evenings, flexible enough for whatever’s in your fridge, and comforting enough to feel like home.
