Instant Pot Panera Bread Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Instant Pot Panera Bread Chicken Wild Rice Soup–creamy chicken and rice soup that tastes better than Panera Bread! Make this soup in your Instant Pot at home for a fraction of what you’d spend at a restaurant! You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make!

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Note: The SLOW COOKER instructions are listed in the recipe card below

Instant Pot Panera Bread Chicken Wild Rice Soup

It’s fall! And with temps dropping and darker evenings it’s time to break out the soup recipes again. Yay! Soups are my favorite and the Instant Pot and Crockpot are the perfect tool to make the best soups with the least amount of work.

If you’re a fan of Panera Bread you’re going to love this copycat chicken and wild rice soup recipe that you can make in the Instant Pot or Crockpot. And guess what? It’s not going to cost you $6 a bowl. Not even close.

This is a shortcut, easy recipe. The hardest part of this recipe is dicing the onions, celery and carrots. And if you’d like you can buy those items pre-chopped at your grocery store (sometimes in the fresh produce area and oftentimes in the frozen veggie aisle). After that it’s smooth sailing.

Ingredients needed to make Panera’s Wild Rice and Chicken Soup

• 2 Tbsp butter–to saute the onion
• 1 cup diced onion–for flavor
• 6 cups chicken broth—or 6 cups water + 2 Tbsp Better than Bouillon Chicken Base
• 2 medium carrots–cut into quarter inch rounds
• 2 ribs of celery–I like my celery diced because I don’t love big chunks. However you can slice the celery if you prefer.
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts–This was 2 large chicken breasts for me. I use a digital scale* to measure. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or you can use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken.
• 1 (6 oz) package Ben’s Original Long Grain and Wild Rice–look for the orange box! this package contains the rice and the seasoning packet. No need to measure out seasonings! I bought this at my grocery store for less than $2. You can also use the Rice-A-Roni brand.

• 2 cups half and half–half and half is simply half whole milk and half cream. You can also use whole milk or cream for this recipe.
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour, sifted–to thicken the soup
• Kosher Salt–for flavor
• Freshly Cracked Pepper–for flavor

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How to Make Panera Bread’s Chicken and Wild Rice Soup in the Instant Pot and Crockpot

Instant Pot Instructions:

1. Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the butter and let it melt. Add in the diced onions and saute for about 4 minutes. Pour in the broth and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking.
2. Add in the carrots, celery, chicken and rice with the seasoning packet. 
3. Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the SOUP button to 10 minutes. When time is up let the pot sit for 5 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
4. In a large glass measuring cup add the half and half. Slowly whisk in flour a tablespoon at a time until smooth. Add in a cup of the hot broth into the mixture to temper the dairy. Add the whole mixture into the Instant Pot.
5. Turn Instant Pot to saute setting to let the soup thicken. Once thickened turn off Instant Pot.
6. While soup is thickening remove the chicken and chop or shred. Add it back into the pot.
7. Add a couple big pinches of kosher salt and as much freshly cracked pepper as you like.
8. Ladle into bowls and enjoy. 

Slow Cooker Instructions:

1. Add the onions, carrots, celery, chicken, rice with the seasoning packet and broth into the Instant Pot. 
2. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours.
3. In a large glass measuring cup add the half and half. Slowly whisk in flour a tablespoon at a time until smooth. Add in a cup of the hot broth into the mixture to temper the dairy. Add the mixture into the slow cooker. Cover slow cooker and cook on high for 1 hour. 
4. Remove the chicken and chop or shred. Add it back into the slow cooker.
5. Add a couple big pinches of kosher salt and as much freshly cracked pepper as you like.
6. Ladle into bowls and enjoy. 

Copy Cat Panera Bread Chicken and Wild Rice Soup Tips and Tricks

• This makes a big batch of soup (about 8 servings). We fed 2 families with one batch. You can halve the recipe by halving all the ingredients and keeping the same cooking time. The only bummer with halving the recipe is that you’ll only use half a box of Ben’s Rice. But look at the bright side…you can make the soup again next week with the remaining half of the box.
• I like to place my half and half on the counter while the soup is cooking to let it come to room temperature. This helps it to not curdle. Make sure to whisk the flour into the half and half until creamy and smooth. By sifting the flour you’ll have less chance of lumps. I love this little whisk!*
• If you’re a fan of mushrooms add some diced or sliced mushrooms in when you add in the carrots.
• I like using the SOUP button for this recipe instead of the pressure cook/manual button. The reason? The soup button lets broths remain clear and is gentler. If you don’t have a soup button just use the pressure cook button.
• I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. You can also make this in an 8 quart pot with no changes. Halve the recipe in the 3 quart pot. You will not have room to double this recipe. However you can 1.5 times the recipe in an 8 quart pot.

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Can You Use Frozen Chicken For Instant Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup?

Yes you can use frozen chicken breasts or thighs for this recipe. Keep the same cooking time. The frozen chicken will bring the broth temperature down and cause the pot longer to come to pressure. You will still get an incredible, flavorful, soup to serve your family.

Best Way To Store Chicken Wild Rice Soup

If you have leftovers place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Your soup will stay good for about 5 days. The rice will cause the soup to thicken considerably as it puffs up and absorbs the broth. To reheat the soup warm on the stove top, slow cooker, Instant Pot or microwave. Stir every now and then as it warms and heats all the soup.

Will Chicken Wild Rice Soup Freeze Well?

I haven’t tried freezing this soup, but you are welcome to try. I do worry about the the dairy curdling as it freezes. However, even if your soup curdles a bit it will still taste great…just the texture will be off. Place in a freezer bag or airtight container in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge the night before you want to warm it up.

What to Pair with Panera’s Copycat Chicken Wild Rice Soup

I love eating fresh French Bread with this soup. Another choice is breadsticks like my Little Caesar’s Crazy Bread. My favorite cornbread is also a winning idea. Try serving a green salad or fresh fruit on the side to make the meal complete.

As you can see this Instant Pot Panera Bread Chicken Wild Rice Soup is going to be a winning dinner! I bet it might even become a family favorite…worthy of your dinner rotation. Add this to your dinner menu this week!

More Instant Pot and Crockpot Soup Recipes…

• Try the very popular Instant Pot Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup or the Slow Cooker Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• If you love Olive Garden try Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana or the Crockpot Zuppa Toscana
• If you’re looking for something a little lighter try Dolly Parton’s Stone Soup (can be made in the Instant Pot or Crockpot)
• Looking for more copycat recipes? Try 23 different Instant Pot And Slow Cooker Copycat Recipes!

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*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.