Soul-Warming Chicken Soup Recipes

Skip the rigors of making flavorful stock from scratch by simply enriching store-bought chicken broth with aromatic vegetables and bones. It will help you cut down on cooking time when you want something warm and comforting.

Although this soup is made with just five ingredients, the cooking technique packs the soup with flavor. You start by poaching bone-in chicken thighs in chicken broth, which amps up the flavor of the broth and leaves you with meat so tender, it practically falls off the bone. A swirl of pesto at the end delivers a cheesy, herby hit and turns the soup a vibrant green.

An Instant Pot can handle a whole chicken, which is perfect for this comforting soup.

Time – not wasted gas or energy – is the workhorse behind this soup. Simply sauté a handful of flavorful ingredients, add stock, bring to a boil, slap on the lid and turn off the heat. Walk away and when you come back, open the pot to a soup that tastes like it took hours to prepare. While optional, the Parmesan rind melts into the soup and adds a rich umami flavor. Make sure the lid is on tight though, as the rice will cook more slowly if steam is escaping.