Instant Pot Chicken Wild Rice (Printable)
A comforting blend of chicken, wild rice, and fresh vegetables cooked quickly for a hearty meal.
# What You Need:
→ Poultry
01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
→ Rice
02 - 3/4 cup uncooked wild rice blend, rinsed
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
04 - 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
05 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 cup cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
08 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 2 cups water
→ Seasonings & Herbs
10 - 1 tsp dried thyme
11 - 1 tsp dried parsley
12 - 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
13 - 2 bay leaves
14 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
15 - 1 tsp salt
→ Creamy Finish
16 - 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
17 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
# Steps:
01 - Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Melt the butter, then add onion, carrots, celery, and mushrooms. Cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute more.
02 - Add chicken, wild rice, chicken broth, water, thyme, parsley, rosemary, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
03 - Secure the lid and set the Instant Pot to Manual or Pressure Cook on high for 25 minutes.
04 - Once cooking is complete, allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then carefully quick-release any remaining pressure.
05 - Remove chicken and bay leaves. Shred chicken with two forks, then return the meat to the pot.
06 - Stir in heavy cream and adjust seasoning if needed. Heat through for 2-3 minutes on Sauté mode if desired. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley if available.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The wild rice adds this wonderful nutty chew that makes every spoonful feel substantial
- It reheats beautifully for lunch the next day, sometimes tasting even better
02 -
- That natural pressure release isnt optional, the wild rice needs those extra minutes to fully cook
- The soup will look thin at first but thickens up as it sits and the rice continues to absorb liquid
03 -
- Rinse your wild rice until the water runs clear or your soup will look cloudy
- Dont skip the vegetable sauté step, it builds layers of flavor pressure cooking cant replicate