Instant Pot Working Mom’s Soup–the easiest dump and go soup that takes minimal effort and minimal time! Chicken, vegetables and macaroni make up this busy weeknight soup.
The slow cooker instructions are listed in the recipe card below.
Instant Pot Working Mom’s Soup
With only 5 main ingredients, no sauteeing steps and a 1 minute pressure cooking time this soup couldn’t be easier or faster! Let’s not forget that it also tastes super yummy! It was perfect for a dark, chilly night and we made cornbread to go along with it (although the soup was done way faster than the cornbread was!).
This is perfect for the busy working mom or dad that needs to put dinner on the table in a hurry! Here’s a tip for any busy parent…get yourself to Costco and pick up 2 or maybe even 3 of their $4.99 rotisserie chickens. Take the meat off of the bones and store in the freezer in containers or ziplock bags in 3-cup increments. You’ll be surprised at how handy these baggies of chicken are! I use them all the time for casseroles, soups, salads, etc. I love how even though inflation has caused grocery prices to raise significantly you can still get a whole cooked chicken for $4.99. There’s not a better deal in town.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Water–or stock
- Chopped and cooked chicken–I used Costco rotisserie chicken
- Onion soup mix–or you can make your own
- Macaroni–or another type of pasta like penne (use 3 minute cooking time)
- Frozen vegetables–I used a package with broccoli, cauliflower and carrots
- Crushed tomatoes
- Salt and pepper
Steps
- Add ingredients: Add water, chicken, onion soup mix, macaroni, vegetables and tomatoes to Instant Pot. Don’t stir (this helps avoid the burn error message).
- Pressure cook: Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the SOUP button to 1 minute (if you don’t have a soup button then pressure cook on low pressure for 2 minutes). When time is up let pot sit for 5 minutes and then move valve to venting.
- Serve: Remove the lid. Stir. Salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and serve.
Notes/Tips
- Serve with cornbread, breadsticks, French bread or dinner rolls.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 3 or 8 quart pot. You can double the recipe in an 8 quart pot. However I would bring the water to a boil before adding all the other ingredients. This will help the pot come to pressure faster and the pasta won’t get overcooked.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with macaroni noodles are Instant Pot Lazy Wife’s Dinner and Instant Pot Easy Breezy Casserole.
More 5-Ingredient Instant Pot Recipes…
Farmer’s Breakfast
A hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon and potatoes that will fill you up and keep you full until lunch or even dinner! Use your Instant Pot to quickly steam the potatoes.
Clean out the freezer dinner (Instant Pot or Crockpot)
Frozen meatballs and frozen raviolis with spaghetti sauce make a tasty meal that takes about 2 minutes of prep time! This is great for those nights when you want a homemade meal but you don’t have time to cook. It is also a great way to clean out your freezer! See lots of adaptation ideas below. You can make this recipe in your Instant Pot or slow cooker.
Instant Pot 3-Ingredient Salsa Sausage Rice
This is a perfect recipe for college students, camping or just on a day when you don’t have a ton of time. With only 3 main ingredients it comes together super fast and it tastes really good!
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Instant Pot Working Mom’s Soup
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 minute (plus 5 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 11 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
The easiest dump and go soup that takes minimal effort and minimal time! Chicken, vegetables and macaroni make up this busy weeknight soup.
Ingredients
- 5 cups water
- 3 cups chopped and cooked chicken (I used rotisserie chicken)
- 1 packet of onion soup mix
- 1 cup uncooked macaroni
- 1 (12 oz) package of frozen vegetables (I used a package with broccoli, cauliflower and carrots)
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Add water, chicken, onion soup mix, macaroni, vegetables and tomatoes to Instant Pot. Don’t stir.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the SOUP button to 1 minute. When time is up let pot sit for 5 minutes and then move valve to venting.
- Remove the lid. Stir. Salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and serve.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Add water, chicken, onion soup mix, macaroni, vegetables and tomatoes to slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on high for 2 hours.
- Remove the lid. Stir. Salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and serve.
- Category: Soup
- Method: Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
*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.
I’m making this today with ground turkey. According to the slow cooker instructions you add the macaroni at the beginning and cook for two hours on high. I would think you add it in the last 30 minutes otherwise mush!
I think it really depends on your slow cooker. For slow cookers that cook lower and slower I would do the 2 hours but for hotter cookers you might be well to add it in the last 30 minutes.
What a tasty, quick and economical soup!! We all LOVED it!!! Paired with a salad and bread, we had a healthy dinner in basically no time. Thank you!!!
★★★★★
I’m so glad you tried it! It is a winner in my book too!
Love, Love, Love Working Mom Soup! So quick and easy. Can’t wait to try all your other recipes. Thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
Thanks Gloria!
Can this be made without the chicken
Sure but it wouldn’t be as tasty. Are you a vegan or vegetarian? If so you’d probably be better off Googling “vegetarian (or vegan) vegetable soup” and “pressure.”
You could leave it out, use the same cooking time