While it may not be a cure for anything but hunger, this Low FODMAP Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup always helps to make me feel better when I'm under the weather! Flavorful and warming, light but filling - this low FODMAP chicken soup recipe comes together so easily in the Instant Pot and will comfort your body as well as your soul. In addition to being low FODMAP, this Chicken and Rice Soup is gluten-free and dairy-free.

Cozy Low FODMAP Chicken Soup

In addition to COVID, ordinary old colds have been particularly vicious this year. Our family saw our fair share of colds over the fall, and while we're hoping for a better winter and spring, I felt I needed to be armed and ready with a decent chicken soup recipe.

I started writing a low FODMAP chicken noodle soup recipe awhile ago, but it just wasn't turning out how I liked, so I put it aside for awhile. After the fall of colds we've had, I brought it back to the forefront of my recipe creating. Since the noodles I was using weren't working well with the soup, I decided to simplify things and just use rice.

I've always enjoyed chicken and rice soup - so comforting and filling. When I'm sick, there's nothing better than a nice warm bowl of steaming chicken soup.

Ever since I started making my own soup recipes, canned soup, even if it were low FODMAP, does not hold a candle to homemade soup in terms of flavor and texture. This low FODMAP chicken and rice soup is incredibly flavorful without having to add tons of herbs individually thanks to using my homemade low FODMAP Italian Seasoning mix.

So easy to make and so delicious - when you're sick, this low fodmap chicken soup checks all the right boxes.

Chicken and Rice Soup in the Instant Pot

While I do believe you could make this soup in the slow cooker, I chose to keep this an Instant Pot-only recipe as I wanted to keep it quick and easy and get it on the blog as soon as possible as I know lots of people are sick right now. However, if I get a lot of requests to convert it to slow cooker, I will consider adding those instructions later (give the people what they want!).

I've also never cooked rice in the slow cooker and am unsure at how well it would do sitting in liquid for so long. The Instant Pot cooks rice like a boss (try my Low FODMAP Instant Pot Jambalaya), so it's my go-to for most rice-related recipes.

Necessary Equipment

The equipment I use to make this Low FODMAP Chicken and Rice Soup in the Instant Pot includes:

6-quart Instant Pot, 8-quart Instant Pot, or comparable electric pressure cooker
Chopping board and knife
Measuring cups and spoons
Medium bowl
Plastic spoon for stirring and scraping
Heat-resistant spatula
Ladle for serving

Low FODMAP Instant Pot Chicken & Rice Soup: Ingredients & Success Tips

Chicken

I start this low FODMAP chicken and rice soup recipe by chopping 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts into ½-inch pieces and adding them to a medium bowl. Then, I sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper (don't go too crazy) and toss with my hands to coat the pieces evenly in seasoning. I set the bowl of chicken aside.

Garlic-Infused Olive Oil

Then, I hit the "Sauté" button on my 6-quart Instant Pot or 8-quart Instant Pot - this recipe will work well in either. Once the display on the Instant Pot reads "Hot," add the garlic oil and swirl the Instant Pot to coat it in oil.

Low FODMAP Mirepoix: Leek, Carrots, and Celery

In my previous recipe post, I talk about soffritto, the French word for it being mirepoix (pronounced meer-pwah), which I'll use for this recipe as there is no English word for it. Traditionally, a mirepoix contains a mixture of chopped onions, carrots, and celery to make the flavor base for a wide variety of recipes. My low FODMAP version of mirepoix contains leeks instead of onion and a low FODMAP quantity of celery.

After adding the garlic oil to the pot, I add the low FODMAP mirepoix and sauté it for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Then, I add the chopped chicken and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.

Rice & Low FODMAP Italian Seasoning

Next, I add the rice and my homemade blend of Low FODMAP Italian Seasoning to the pot. I use long grain white rice for this recipe. Using other types of rice may change the required cooking time for the soup as cooking times can vary by rice type. Increasing the cooking time for a different type of rice may negatively impact the other ingredients of the soup. I have only tested this recipe with long grain white rice, so I can only guess at what might happen if you use a different type of rice.

I sauté the rice and low FODMAP Italian seasoning for about 30 seconds. This brings out more flavor in the seasoning and infuses the rice with the flavors of all the other ingredients in the soup.

Low FODMAP Chicken Bone Broth, Salt & Pepper

I hit "Cancel" on the Instant Pot, add 1 cup of the low FODMAP chicken bone broth to the pot, and scrape the bottom of the pot clean with a plastic spoon, making extra sure to get any stuck rice off of the bottom of the pot. Then, I add the remaining 2 cups of broth, 2 cups of water, 1 ½ teaspoons salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper (in addition to what I've already sprinkled on the chicken in the beginning) and stir.

I place to lid on the Instant Pot, set the pressure release valve to "Sealing" (if the model requires it), set the timer for 4 minutes, and press the "Keep Warm" button once to turn it off (very important - that's why I put it in bold). 😉

Once the cooking cycle completes, I allow the pressure to release naturally for 8 minutes, and then manually release the remaining pressure.

I open the lid. Using a heat-resistant spatula, I scrape down the sides of the pot above the soup as seasoning tends to stick to the sides when the liquid boils up. We don't want to leave behind any flavor, so I scrape the seasonings down into the soup. Then, I stir the soup, ladle it into bowls, and serve.

Natural Thickening

This low FODMAP chicken and rice soup has the best consistency when served fresh. Once the soup has had a chance to sit for awhile or be refrigerated, the rice continues to absorb the broth, which further thickens the soup. This is the nature of homemade soups made with rice.

More Low FODMAP Soup & Stew Recipes: