This delicious chicken orzo soup with turmeric is so warming and incredibly healing. It has a little more oomph than the classic chicken noodle soup, with its anti-inflammatory properties and fresh herbs. It is my go-to soup when I am feeling a little under the weather or just want something cozy on a cold day. This chicken orzo soup is made in the Instant Pot, making it incredibly quick and easy to put together.
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Anti-inflammatory ingredients
Why is Chicken soup so….healing? It seems so simple but there are a lot of reasons why chicken soup is so healing. For thousands of years, chicken broth has been used in soup to serve those who are sick and ailing. I don’t know about you but there’s something about sipping on a hot bowl of soup that makes me feel so much better. Yes, hot liquids are soothing to the throat and can open up airways, but are there components in chicken broth that can actually aide in the healing process? I wanted to find out!
Benefits of Chicken broth:
Homemade chicken broth is hydrating and full of vitamins and minerals. Homemade chicken soup has even been used as a therapy in ancient times and chicken soup thought to have originated in ancient China according to an article from Scitechdaily.com. Containing collagen, chicken soup can be great for gut health and in repairing gut lining. Chicken soup also contains the amino acid, glutamate which could aid in improved digestion and help our bodies absorb proteins more effectively.
Benefits of Turmeric & Black Pepper:
In this chicken orzo soup, we’ll be adding golden turmeric and plenty of black pepper so that we can reap as many benefits from the curcumin (compound found in turmeric) as we can. Curcumin is not easily absorbed, however black pepper can help with the absorption process, allowing us to get the most out of its amazing anti-inflammatory qualities. This article from Healthline.com goes into the scientific details if you’d like to read more.
Benefits of garlic:
In this healing soup, I definitely couldn’t leave out garlic. And plenty of it. It’s delicious and adds tons of flavor but it also has a role to play in the healing properties of this soup. I tend to pop a clove of garlic here and there if I’m feeling the ick coming on. Garlic has an abundance of health benefits including lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Research has also shown that garlic contains antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress.
Benefits of Thyme:
This herb is from the mint family and is known to help fight infections, regulate mucus and reduce cough. So it’s only natural to add this to this immune boosting soup. This 2006 study from Pubmed speaks to the efficacy of thyme and improvements in cough.
What you will need:
This is a very easy recipe and you will only need a few kitchen tools to get the job done. I use my Instant Pot for everything. There was a time when I was extremely intimidated by the idea of using a pressure cooker and it sat in my pantry for 3 months before I touched it. Fast forward 4 years, I don’t think I could live without it. In fact, I own 2. There are a lot of different models out there. Some can get really fancy but a basic model is really all you need. Personally I use this model the most.
If you don’t have an IP, see notes below.
INGREDIENTS for Chicken Orzo Soup with Turmeric
- 4 Cups Chicken broth
- 4 Chicken thighs (with skin) You may use chicken breasts if you prefer
- 2 Stalks celery
- 1 Yellow onion
- 4-6 cloves of garlic
- 1 tsp dried Thyme or 1 Tbs of fresh Thyme
- 2 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1/4 tsp red chili flake
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- salt to taste
- 1/2 cup Orzo pasta
- Fresh Parmesan (optional)
- 1 Tbs Olive Oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Set your Instant Pot to the Sauté function.
- Prepare chicken thighs by patting dry with a paper towel.
- Season on all sides with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil.
- When the IP reads “HOT”, add chicken thighs, cooking each side for about 5 minutes.
- While thighs are cooking, dice onion, celery and garlic.
- With tongs, remove thighs from pot and onto a plate. The chicken will not be fully cooked. That’s ok! They will finish cooking under pressure in the IP and you will be left with very tender chicken.)
- Add a little more oil to the pot and add in veggies, cooking for about a minute.
- Stir with a wooden spoon, scraping the bottom of the pot as you stir.
- Add salt, pepper, Turmeric, chili flakes and thyme, allowing to become fragrant (about 30 seconds.)
- Add thighs back into the pot.
- Turn IP sauté function off by pressing the CANCEL button.
- Add chicken broth and orzo pasta into the pot.
- Place the IP lid onto the pot and make sure the valve is set to the SEALED position.
- Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. (Note: It will take a few minutes for the IP to pressurize.)
- When finished, carefully release the pressure valve allowing for the IP to completely vent.
- Remove instant pot lid, and with tongs remove chicken thighs.
- On a plate or in a baking dish, use two forks to shred the chicken and skin off the bones.
- Place shredded chicken back into the pot and serve. I like to top mine with fresh parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes. Afterward, for storage, allow to cool completely before transferring to a glass airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I really like these large glass storage containers for storing soup. It’s even better the next day! Enjoy!
Chicken Orzo Soup Notes:
Can I make this soup without a pressure cooker?
Yes! You can make this on the stove top in a large pot or dutch oven. Instead of pressure cooking for 5 minutes, your cooking time will be a bit longer. All you need to do is allow the soup to simmer steadily on medium heat for 20 minutes or until the thighs are cooked through and the orzo is al dente!
Can I use any kind of chicken?
In this soup, I prefer chicken thighs with the skin because the dark meat lends so much more flavor, but you can definitely use skinless chicken breast instead. This recipe is a great way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken too!
Don’t have orzo?
Alternately, if you don’t have orzo, you can use noodles or even rice! Use what you have! I really like the texture of orzo in this soup though and it cooks very quickly. The one from Trader Joe’s is great but any kind of orzo will do!
Instant Pot Chicken Orzo Soup with Turmeric
This Chicken Orzo soup with turmeric is healing and delicious. With its many anti-inflammatory properties, this soup is perfect on a cold day or if you are feeling under the weather. Make in the Instant Pot for a quick and nourishing meal.
Ingredients
- 4 Cups Chicken broth
- 4 Chicken thighs (with skin)
- 2 Stalks celery
- 1 Yellow onion
- 4-6 cloves of garlic
- 1 tsp dried Thyme
- 2 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1/4 tsp red chili flake
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- salt to taste
- 1/2 cup Orzo pasta
- Fresh Parmesan (optional)
- 1 Tbs Olive Oil
Instructions
- Set your Instant Pot to the Saute function
- Prepare chicken thighs by patting dry with a paper towel
- Season on all sides with salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil.
- When the IP reads "HOT", add chicken thighs, cooking each side for about 5 minutes.
- While thighs are cooking, dice onion, celery and garlic.
- With tongs, remove thighs from pot and onto a plate.
- Add a little more oil to the pot and add in veggies, cooking for about a minute.
- Stir with a wooden spoon, scraping the bottom of the pot as you stir.
- Add salt, pepper, Turmeric, chili flakes and thyme, allowing to become fragrant (about 30 seconds.)
- Add thighs back into the pot.
- Turn IP saute funtion off by pressing the CANCEL button.
- Add chicken broth and orzo pasta into the pot.
- Place the IP lid onto the pot and make sure the valve is set to the SEALED position.
- Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. (Note: It will take a few minutes for the IP to pressurize.)
- When finished, carefully release the pressure valve allowing for the IP to completely vent.
- Remove lid, and with tongs remove chicken thighs.
- On a plate or in a baking dish, use two forks to shred the chicken and skin off the bones.
- Place shredded chicken back into the pot and serve. Top with fresh parmesan and enjoy!
Notes
When venting your Instant Pot, loosely place a kitchen towel over the vent to prevent your kitchen cabinets from mess! Sometimes when pressure cooking with a lot of liquid, it can make a mess when venting.
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