Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Instant Pot version is a hearty soup for the soul. It has chicken, vegetables, and pasta, and it is a perfect weeknight dinner option for under 30 mins.
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One Pot soups are always a comfort during the cold winter night. Less on effort and high on flavor are the recipes I always prefer. Here is one soup for those days.
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Orzo Pasta
Orzo is a thin, rice shaped Italian pasta. It looks like rice but is slightly bigger and sturdier. It is also known as risoni. Orzo is perfect for making pasta salad, soups and stews.
Why you will love this recipe
- An easy one pot soup.
- Comes handy with less prep work.
- Gets done in less than 30 mins.
- Very light and hearty soup.
Ingredients
Orzo - Orzo gives a nice texture to the soup along with chicken.
Chicken - chicken pieces with bones add more flavor to the soup. But it might be messy to discard the bones and shred the pieces. If you do not want to do that use chicken breast pieces.
Onion - Red onions are perfect for the soup as they are more flavorful.
Ginger and garlic - Minced ginger and garlic add a wonderful taste. They are much needed if we cook chicken.
Chicken broth - For a rich flavor. highly recommend adding it.
Dried herbs - They add a lovely flavor to the soup.
Carrots and Celery - Be it any soup carrots and celery are not to be missed.
Lemon - I prefer adding lemon juice towards the end. Adding them and cooking might give a bitter taste to the soup. You may also add some lemon zest if you prefer.
Salt and Pepper - A must add on to any soup
How to make Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup in Instant Pot
Switch on the Instant Pot in Saute mode. Add the Olive oil. Let it heat up. Add chopped garlic and minced ginger. Saute for a min.
Add chopped onion. Saute until they are soft.
Add Carrot, Celery, Water, and Chicken Stock.
Combine and add the chicken pieces.
Stir everything together and add Close the Instant Pot. Move the pressure value to the sealing position. Press cancel and then select pressure cook mode. Set 5 mins in high pressure.
After the cooking time. Do a quick release and open the Instant Pot.
Remove the chicken pieces from the soup. Discard the bones and shred the chicken pieces. Pieces with bones are more flavorful than the breast pieces for soup and hence I prefer the pieces with bones. But if you want to avoid adding the mess feel free to use the breast pieces. Drizzle in some lemon juice over the shredded chicken.
Now add the orzo pasta to the Instant Pot.
Once again stir and close the Instant Pot. Move the pressure value to the sealing position. Press cancel and then select pressure cook mode. Set 3 mins in high pressure.
After the cooking time. Do a quick release and open the Instant Pot. Add the shredded chicken back to the pot. Also add Pepper powder, dried oregano, dried rosemary, dried lemon grass, and the required salt.
Switch on the Instant Pot in saute mode. Cook for 1 min and switch off. Finally, add Lemon juice and a few lemon slices. Garnish with fresh parsley or Cilantro.
Instant Pot Lemon Orzo Chicken Soup is now ready.
Tips & Variation
- You can also add freshly grated parmesan while serving.
- Always use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the soup. They are more flavorful than extract or canned ones.
- You may also add in some baby spinach it really goes well in the orzo soup.
- Add some grated lemon zest for a more intense lemon flavor in the soup.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth if you think the regular broth is high in salt.
- You can also use leftover rotisserie chicken in the soup.
Serving Suggestion
Makes a perfect dinner option with some bread.
Storage Options
Store in a freezer safe container for up to 3 days. You may freeze for up to 3 months. Just before serving thaw and reheat on the stovetop. Add some water if needed and adjust the salt.
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📖 Recipe
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup Instant Pot
Standard 1 cup measures 240 ml
Equipment
- Instant Pot 6 Qz
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive Oil
- 3 clove Garlic chopped
- 1 tsp Ginger micned
- 1 Onion chopped
- 2 carrots
- 1 cup Celery chopped
- 500 gms Chicken use pieces with bone or breast pieces
- 2 cups Water
- 2 cups Chicken Stock
- ½ cup Orzo
- ½ tsp Pepper Powder
- ½ tsp Dried Oregano
- 1 Dried Lemon grass stalk
- ½ tsp Dried Rose mary
- Salt as needed
- 1 Lemom
- Parsley or Cilantro as needed for garnish
Instructions
- Switch on the Instant Pot in Saute mode. Add the Olive oil. Let it heat up. Add chopped garlic and minced ginger. Saute for a min.
- Add chopped onion. Saute until they are soft.
- Add Carrot, Celery, Water, and Chicken Stock.
- Combine and add the chicken pieces.
- 'Stir everything together and add Close the Instant Pot. Move the pressure value to the sealing position. Press cancel and then select pressure cook mode. Set 5 mins in high pressure.
- After the cooking time. Do a quick release and open the Instant Pot. Remove the chicken pieces from the soup. Discard the bones and shred the chicken pieces. Pieces with bones are more flavorful than the breast pieces for soup and hence I prefer the pieces with bones. But if you want to avoid adding the mess feel free to use the breast pieces. Drizzle in some lemon juice over the shredded chicken.
- Now add the orzo pasta to the Instant Pot.
- Once again stir and close the Instant Pot. Move the pressure value to the sealing position. Press cancel and then select pressure cook mode. Set 3 mins in high pressure.
- After the cooking time. Do a quick release and open the Instant Pot. Add the shredded chicken back to the pot. Also add Pepper powder, dried oregano, dried rosemary, dried lemon grass, and the required salt.
- Switch on the Instant Pot in saute mode. Cook for 1 min and switch off.
- Finally, add Lemon juice and a few lemon slices. Garnish with fresh parsley or Cilantro.
- Instant Pot Lemon Orzo Chicken Soup is now ready.
Notes
- You can also add freshly grated parmesan while serving.
- Always use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the soup. They are more flavorful than extract or canned ones.
- You may also add in some baby spinach it really goes well in the orzo soup.
- Add some grated lemon zest for a more intense lemon flavor in the soup.
- Use low-sodium chicken broth if you think the regular broth is high in salt.
- You can also use leftover rotisserie chicken in the soup.
Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist, the nutrition value provided here is an estimate. It will vary based on the quantity and brands of the products used.
Rita
Would you recommend freezing? Before or after adding lemon?