Looking for easy Instant Pot soup recipes for busy weeknights? This collection has everything from hearty chilis and beef stews to creamy soups, chicken soups, vegetable soups, and homemade broths, all with less hands-on cooking thanks to the Instant Pot.
Using the Instant Pot is my favorite way to make soup because pressure cooking builds loads of flavor in less time without requiring you to babysit a pot on the stove (dinner has enough demands already). Once everything is in the pot, these pressure cooker soup recipes mostly take care of themselves while you move on to the rest of your evening.
You'll find a mix of complete meals and lighter soups you can serve as a starter, side, or part of a larger dinner, plus options for different tastes and dietary needs, like gluten-free, low FODMAP, low carb, Paleo, and more.
If you love making dishes in the Instant Pot, check out my full collection of Instant Pot recipes!
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Tips for Making the Best Instant Pot Soups
- Don't overfill the pot – Soups, stews, and chilis can expand or foam as they cook, so always stay below your Instant Pot's max fill line. More is not always more, especially when "more" is soup trying to escape through the lid.
- Use enough thin liquid – The Instant Pot needs liquid to build pressure. Broth, stock, or water helps everything cook properly and can reduce the chance of the dreaded burn error.
- Layer thicker ingredients carefully – Tomato sauce, tomato paste, and other thick ingredients can sometimes stick to the bottom and trigger the burn error. If a recipe tells you not to stir, this is one of those rare times when leaving things alone is actually productive.
- Add dairy, cheese, and thickeners after pressure cooking when possible – Cream, milk, cheese, and thickeners are usually best stirred in at the end to help prevent curdling or scorching.
- Use the release method listed in the recipe – Quick release and natural release can affect texture, especially with meat, beans, and thicker soups, so follow the individual recipe instructions for the best results.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning at the end – Broths and stocks can vary quite a bit in saltiness, so taste your soup after cooking and add more salt, pepper, or other seasonings as needed.
Hearty Instant Pot Soups, Stews and Chilis
When you need something that can actually carry dinner, start here. These hearty Instant Pot soup, stew, and chili recipes are packed with protein, veggies, and tons of flavor, making them great full dinner options for busy weeknights.
Easy Creamy Chicken Taco Soup
All the flavor of taco night, in cozy soup form served with a spoon! This creamy chicken taco soup is loaded with ground chicken, veggies, fire-roasted tomatoes, and plenty of Tex-Mex flavor for an easy dinner that earns its toppings.
Creamy | High Protein | Weeknight-Friendly
Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
Tender chicken, rice, vegetables, and a flavorful broth make this Instant Pot chicken and rice soup simple, warming, and just hearty enough. It's the kind of soup that makes a chilly evening considerably less offensive.
30 Minutes | Warming | Reader Favorite
Chicken Minestrone Soup
This hearty chicken minestrone soup is packed with chicken, tomatoes, zucchini, chickpeas, and Italian-inspired herbs and seasonings. Make it in the Instant Pot for a protein and veggie-packed dinner that requires surprisingly little supervision. Slow cooker instructions also available.
Hearty | High Protein | Veggie-Packed
Instant Pot Chili con Canada
This chunky beanless chili is loaded with rich, sweet and savory flavor and warming spices for a filling Instant Pot dinner. It's a loose spin on chili con carne with a decidedly Canadian twist, because apparently even chili can use a little national identity crisis.
Hearty | Sweet and Savory | Weeknight-Friendly
Buffalo Chicken Chili
This Buffalo chicken chili combines ground chicken, white beans, vegetables, and tangy hot sauce in one seriously flavorful bowl. Adjust the heat to suit your crowd, then pile on your favorite toppings and call dinner or game night handled.
Spicy | Hearty | Customizable
Double Pumpkin Chili
Pumpkin goes savory in this hearty fall chili featuring pumpkin in not one, but two forms. It's a fun seasonal Instant Pot dinner when plain old chili could use a little autumnal chaos.
Seasonal | Pumpkin-Forward | Unexpected
Low Carb Lasagna Soup
All the comforting flavors of lasagna without the layering, baking, or structural engineering. This low carb lasagna soup uses hearts of palm noodles for a low carb, spoonable take on the classic, with a rich tomato broth, savory meat, and plenty of Italian-inspired flavor.
Comforting | Saucy | Low Effort
Cozy Beef Stew
Tender beef and vegetables simmer in a silky, deeply flavorful broth in this classic Instant Pot beef stew, with an alternate slow cooker method. It has all the slow-cooked comfort without requiring you to keep checking whether the beef has finally decided to cooperate.
Classic | Hearty | Comforting
Low Carb Beef Stew
This hearty low carb beef stew swaps the usual potatoes for plenty of low carb vegetables while keeping the tender beef and rich, savory broth you actually came for. Make it in the Instant Pot for an easy cold-weather dinner that also includes slow cooker instructions.
Savory | Hearty | Pot Roast Dinner in a Bowl
Instant Pot Mediterranean-Style Fish Stew
Fish stew may not be the first thing that has you racing to the kitchen, but readers are often pleasantly surprised by just how enjoyable this one is. Tender fish cooks quickly in a tomato-based broth with Mediterranean-inspired herbs and vegetables for a lighter dinner that still brings heaps of flavor.
35 Minutes | Fresh | Surprisingly Good
Easy Instant Pot Vegetable and Creamy Soups
These Instant Pot vegetable and creamy soup recipes work well when you want something lighter, whether you're serving soup as a starter, side dish, or part of a larger meal. They're also proof that not every good soup needs to be a full-blown dinner situation.
Easy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Rich, cheesy, and packed with tender broccoli, this easy broccoli cheddar soup comes together in the Instant Pot with little effort, with slow cooker instructions included. It's creamy comfort food with enough vegetables to make you feel at least somewhat responsible.
35 Minutes | Cheesy | Creamy
Homemade Tomato Soup
This homemade tomato soup is creamy, flavor-packed, and wonderfully nostalgic, with the kind of classic tomato flavor that practically begs for a grilled cheese on the side. Make it in the Instant Pot for an easy lunch, starter, or simple dinner.
30 Minutes | Nostalgic | Easy
Instant Pot Cream of Mushroom Soup
Skip the can and make this homemade cream of mushroom soup in the Instant Pot instead. It's creamy, savory, and full of earthy mushroom flavor, making it delicious on its own or as part of a larger meal.
35 Minutes | Creamy | Dairy-Free
Leek and Potato Soup with Bacon
Creamy potatoes, tender leeks, and smoky bacon make this leek and potato soup rich, flavorful, and just a little more exciting than your average bowl of potatoes. The Instant Pot keeps things easy, and slow cooker instructions are included too.
Creamy | Smoky | Comforting
Lazy Pumpkin Soup with Bacon
This easy pumpkin soup combines pumpkin, smoky bacon, and savory seasonings for a simple fall soup that lives up to its "lazy" name. The Instant Pot does most of the work, with slow cooker instructions included because lazy recipes should really commit to the bit.
30 Minutes | Easy | Fall Favorite
Instant Pot Ratatouille: French Vegetable Stew
This Instant Pot ratatouille is a vegetable stew packed with eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, leeks, and plenty of classic French-inspired flavor. Serve it on its own as a vegetable stew or spoon it over creamy polenta for a simple, heartier meal that makes vegetables feel considerably less virtuous.
30 Minutes | Rustic | Veggie-Packed
Homemade Instant Pot Broth Recipes
Homemade broth is one of those things the Instant Pot is ridiculously good at making. Pressure cooking extracts plenty of flavor in less time than the stovetop method, while homemade broths can significantly boost the flavor of soups and stews, give you more control over the ingredients, and help use up vegetable and meat scraps for less food waste.
Homemade Chicken Bone Broth
Turn chicken bones and scraps into a deeply flavorful homemade chicken broth with only about 15 minutes of hands-on time. The Instant Pot does most of the work, making this a budget-friendly way to add extra flavor to soups, gravies, sauces, and more, with a slow cooker method available, too.
Flavorful | Budget-Friendly | Versatile
Homemade Beef Bone Broth
This homemade beef bone broth delivers rich, savory flavor that can instantly level up soups, stews, pot roasts, and any recipe that calls for beef broth. Make it in the Instant Pot for a mostly hands-off batch, or use the slow cooker method when you have more time to let it do its thing.
Rich | Savory | Meal-Prep Friendly
Homemade Vegetable Broth
This homemade vegetable broth turns everyday vegetables and scraps into a flavorful base for soups, stews, sauces, and more. The Instant Pot makes the process quick and easy, while a slow cooker option gives you another way to use up produce before it stages a rebellion in the crisper drawer.
Easy | Frugal | Versatile
More Instant Pot Soup Recipes
I'm always adding new Instant Pot soup recipes to the site, so this collection will keep on growing. Bookmark this page for when soup season rolls around, then come back whenever you need a little dinner inspiration. Which of these recipes have you tried, and what kinds of soups, stews, or chilis would you like to see next? Let me know in the comments. I'm always looking for another excuse to use my Instant Pot!
Disclaimer: This recipe is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or dietary advice. The author is not a medical professional. Nutrition info is an estimate and can vary depending on ingredients and preparation. We follow current guidelines for special diets like low FODMAP, Keto, and Paleo at the time of initial publication, but individual tolerance varies and research is always evolving. It’s up to each reader to check ingredient labels, stay informed with the latest research, and consult their doctor to make informed choices based on their individual needs. Storage times are general recommendations—always follow safe food handling practices. See our Terms of Use for more details.
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