Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Soup Recipe

Need a simple yet savory instant pot chicken thighs soup recipe? You’re in luck. The best thing is that prep time is only 10 minutes. So you’ll be enjoying a hearty, delicious and nutritious hot meal before you know it.

Article Index

• Instant Pot Soup Not Technically Instant
• As Close to Bone Broth as You Can Get Without the Wait
• Why Bone-In?
• Can you over cook chicken in soup?
• Recipe

Let’s get something out of the way first about this keto chicken soup instant pot...

Instant Pot Soup Not Technically Instant

Even though I make it using an Instant Pot, the truth is, there’s nothing instant about the soup.

Nope, it’s not like instant noodles (Top Ramen) you ate back in college. This isn’t a high-sodium, high-carb, high-MSG noodle soup that’s ready to eat after a minute in the microwave.

On the contrary, the cooking time is about 40 minutes. Therefore, the term instant pot chicken soup with chicken thighs is a bit misleading.

As Close to Bone Broth as You Can Get Without the Wait

The Instant Pot is a mini-miracle for busy moms like myself. It’s great for those on the keto diet as well, as it helps make meal preparation more of a hands off deal. 

But to make Instant Pot chicken thighs soup, you’ll have to pick the best setting on the appliance. I use the soup button because it's designed to simmer soup under pressure so it doesn't boil.

Now, the great thing about this soup is that it’s the closest thing to true homemade bone broth you can get. If you’re wondering what’s the difference between bone broth and chicken stock, I’ll fill you in.

Chicken bones need to simmer for at least 24 hours before it’s considered bonafide bone broth. (For beef bones, it’s more like 48 hours.)

The reason why is that the collagen protein in the bones takes that long to extract from that dense material. And it’s collagen that’s the most precious ingredient in bone broth and it's best known as a supplement for skin.

Most of the savory ingredients I use in this Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Soup are the same ingredients in many of the best commercial bone broths.

[Love soup? Here’s another Instant Pot recipe: Low Carb Vegetable Soup.]

Why Bone-In?

You’ll notice for this recipe, I call for skin and bones. And the reason why relates to the above section about bone broth. We have been conditioned as a society to not eat the whole animal.

This is a shame. The bones, skin, organs and other undesirable parts of animals contain nutrients that are difficult to obtain from muscle meat alone.

One reason bone broth and collagen protein are so good for you is the amino acid profile of both. (The difference between the two is that bone broth contains collagen. But collagen protein isn’t necessarily bone broth.)

And it’s this specific amino acid profile in bone broth that helps your own skin regenerate its collagen. This makes you more beautiful because it can help the collagen in your skin to be stronger.

Unfortunately, the steaks and boneless chicken breast and bacon we eat doesn’t have that same profile of amino acids.

Can you over cook chicken in soup?

The Instant Pot is great for keeping food moist, tender, and there is a less chance of overcooking than stove top methods. However,  I wouldn’t necessarily leave your Instant Pot Chicken Thighs Soup on for 24 hours or longer.

You could just cook the stock and the bones to make true bone broth. Bone broth is great for sipping on during the day, or when you are fasting. It has all the same benefits of the soup, too. It’s a good source of protein and amino acids. 

But even if you just make the chicken soup, you’re still going to have a very nutritious and delicious soup. It’s got a good balance of protein and natural fat. This is truly the closest and best thing to homemade bone broth. But when you need soup for the whole family in under an hour, this is perfect.

And at only 4 grams of carbs, it’s good for keto dieters. It’s also in line with Paleo lifestyles and other low-carb dietary concerns.

Can you put raw chicken in the Instant Pot to cook?

Yes, you can. The Instant Pot can take that raw chicken and turn it into a delicious meal quickly. Besides this Instant Pot keto chicken soup, you can make:

• Chicken Chorizo (Keto)
• Keto White Chicken Chili
• Pressure Cooker Whole Chicken
• Instant Pot Crack Chicken

Can I make this chicken thighs soup from leftover chicken thighs?

Yes. If you have some bone in chicken thighs that you need to remove the bones from for a recipe, save those bones! You can use them to make the homemade broth, and any leftover meaty bits will fall off the bones, too. 

If you use leftover bones, simply follow the directions to make this soup. Adding the leftover bones will increase the amount of amino acids and collagen to your chicken broth. It’s also a great way to use up all your leftovers!

How can I make this a homemade chicken noodle soup?

On the keto diet, most noodles are going to be out. However, you have some options for an Instant Pot chicken noodle soup. After the pressure has been released in step 5, and you have removed the lid, turn the pot back on to sauté, and add some low carb noodles. 

Cook the noodles in the hot liquid for 3-4 minutes, depending on the type you use. Options include zucchini zoodles, my homemade keto egg noodles, or shirataki noodles.

Do you want to make this chicken soup a complete meal?

I love homemade bread with my soup. It’s warm and comforting. You too? How about some coconut flour biscuits, or a low carb yeast bread for your bread machine? Try this almond flour bread for a delicious side, too! Slather that with fresh, creamy butter and you are set!

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Recipe