These 7 Instant Pot Soups Are the Textbook Definition of Comfort Food

Few home essentials can amass a cult following quite like a cooking appliance. The iconic KitchenAid stand mixer and original Crock-Pot may have earned a place in the cooking tool hall of fame, but we’d argue that lately the Instant Pot has seized the top spot. Built for the crazy-busy generation, it’s equipped with eight different settings that minimize cooking time. In less than an hour, you can whip up a delicious, full-bodied meal that tastes like it’s been simmering all day. 

In the spirit of soup season, we took it upon ourselves to find the most delicious, in-season Instant Pot recipes to throw together on busy weeknights. Brimming with autumn and winter ingredients like carrots, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash, these seven dinner ideas are just as hearty as they are delicious. 

Leftover Turkey Soup

Your search for the perfect Thanksgiving leftovers recipe ends here. Dubbed the “ultimate comfort dish” by creator Holly Erickson of The Modern Proper, this nourishing turkey soup is just as delicious as it is practical. Bursting with wild rice, carrots, celery, kale, Parmesan cheese, and leftover turkey, this dish just may outshine the main event. She recommends serving it with The Modern Proper’s shaved brussels sprout salad with creamy maple dressing.

Instant Pot Pasta e Fagioli

Author Tieghan Gerard certainly had comfort food on the brain when concocting this mouthwatering pasta e fagioli recipe. Packed with thick-cut bacon, pasta, and such winter vegetables as carrots, kale, and onion, this classic Italian soup is simple, semi-healthy, and ready to eat in 40 minutes. Add the Parmesan rind directly to the pot for added flavor when cooking, and serve with crusty bread and grated Parmesan sprinkled over the top. 

Sweet Potato Stew

If you’re looking for an Instant Pot soup that truly encapsulates the flavors of the season, look no further than Chelsea Lord’s sweet potato stew. Brimming with carrots, celery, corn, beef, and sweet potatoes, this recipe is perfectly indulgent. Simply add everything to the Instant Pot and cook on the High Pressure setting for 35 minutes. Bring the meal full circle with homemade dinner rolls and a wintry side salad.  

Beef Bourguignon 

This rich, full-bodied beef bourguignon soup is exactly what your soul needs this winter. Made with tender beef braised in red wine plus potatoes, carrots, and bacon, the classic French dish is a cold-weather staple. Armed with the Instant Pot, Creme de la Crumb founder Tiffany Edwards shaves three hours off the traditional cooking time. To amp up the comfort food factor, she recommends serving it with mashed potatoes or over egg noodles.  

Creamy Autumn Squash Soup

For something a bit lighter (but just as nourishing), opt for Krista Rollins’s creamy autumn soup. With butternut squash, acorn squash, and sweet onions bathed in warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, this paleo-friendly dish highlights the season’s most cherished flavors. Serve with crumbled bacon, fresh herbs, and a drizzle of Greek yogurt over the top, plus a crunchy grilled cheese for dipping on the side.

Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Soup 

You can’t go wrong with creamy chicken and rice. Made with the standard carrots, celery, and onion, plus half-and-half, a knob of cream cheese, and a touch of thickening cornstarch, this healthy-ish soup is ready to serve in 35 minutes flat. Foodie Crush creator Heidi Larson recommends making a large batch and eating it all week. “It tastes even better the next day,” she says. 

Instant Pot Keto-Friendly Chili

No winter is complete without a hearty chili. Dubbed a “meat lover’s dream” by recipe creator Taylor Kiser, her unique take on this classic dish is keto, Whole 30, and paleo-friendly. Packed with tender, grass-fed beef seasoned with smoky paprika, onion, and garlic, the simple Instant Pot soup is entirely bean-free. Top your bowl with sliced jalapeños for a nice kick, and serve with a slice of bread. 

More Winter Recipes: 9 Crock-Pot Soups to Make This Winter, Because It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint 7 Instant Pot Recipes for When Your Weekday Energy Is Zapped 12 Hearty Soups to Ward Off Your Stubborn Winter Cold