Description
Instant Pot Lemon Herb Chicken with Orzo is a fresh, comforting weeknight-friendly one-pot dish featuring juicy chicken, tender orzo, bright lemon, and fragrant herbs.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup uncooked orzo
- 2¼ cups chicken broth
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp paprika
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to sauté mode and heat olive oil.
- Add chicken and season with salt, black pepper, paprika, oregano, and thyme. Sear for 2–3 minutes per side until lightly golden. Remove and set aside.
- Add onion to the pot and sauté for 2 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in orzo, chicken broth, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
- Nestle chicken back into the pot.
- Secure lid, set valve to sealing, and cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
- Allow a 5-minute natural release, then carefully quick release remaining pressure.
- Stir gently, garnish if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
- You can use either chicken breasts or thighs (bone-in or boneless work, but this recipe uses boneless for convenience).
- Optional garnish: fresh parsley.
- A perfect one-pot meal with minimal cleanup.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sauté and Pressure Cook (Instant Pot)
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Keywords: Instant Pot Lemon Herb Chicken with Orzo, Instant Pot chicken with orzo, lemon herb chicken, one-pot dinner, easy Instant Pot recipes