Instant Pot Soup Recipes For The Easiest Weekday Meals
Homemade soups are an easy way to serve a meal when time and ingredients are limited. The problem is, most soups require at least an hour of cook time for flavors to really develop. That’s where the Instant Pot comes into play.
The Instant Pot, or any pressure cooker, makes a soup taste like it’s been simmering for 10 hours . Not to mention, pressure cookers make bean and lentil-based soups easier for weekday meal planning as they require a fraction of the typical cooking time.
We tapped a registered dietitian for pressure cooker soup recipes that are easy enough to put together on a busy weeknight.
Dont Skip Charring The Onion And Ginger
You might think this step in the Instant Pot chicken pho recipe is unnecessary. However, its one of the steps that help produce a super flavorful broth!
It also adds a lovely brown color to the broth, helping to create a more traditional dish.
While some cooks note that you can skip this step when making pho in an Instant Pot, I like to stress this tip as it will make your pho ga that much better.
Plus, it only takes a few minutes and minimal cooking effort to do this step.
Tips For Making Pho Ga In The Instant Pot
The Instant Pot cuts down the cooking time to a fraction of what it would take on the stove. It takes about 30 minutes to make ph gà in the Instant Pot instead of 90 minutes on the stove.
- I used a whole, free range chicken for this recipe but you can substitute with your favorite cuts . Free range chicken has a firmer texture once cooked.
- I have an 8-quart IP which holds about 12 cups of water. I used 10 cups of water for a 4 pound chicken. Avoid going over the maximum line.
- If youre using a 6-quart IP, use a 3 pound chicken and about 8 cups of water.
- If the water goes over the line, make sure to ladle some out.
- Cook the chicken on HIGH pressure for 10 minutes. Let the pressure naturally release for 20 minutes before manually releasing the rest of the pressure.
- Remove the chicken from the IP and let it cool down before preparing the meat.
- Strain the broth and discard all the solids.
- Skim off the fat at the surface if youre concerned about the calories. I usually make the broth the night before and leave it in the fridge overnight to let the fat condense at the top. Right before rewarming the broth, I skim off the fat and discard it.
- Taste and adjust your seasoning right before serving.
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An Easy Instant Pot Chicken Pho Recipe
Some versions of pho are made with a deeply flavored beef bone broth that can take hours, if not days, to create. This version, however, uses ingredients that are easy to keep on hand, like bone-in chicken thighs, instant rice noodles, and pre-made broth or stock, along with an array of delicious spices.
Its so fun and delicious, and comes together incredibly quickly in your Instant Pot!
What Toppings Should I Serve With Chicken Pho
Part of the Pho soup experience is the toppings! It would not be Pho if it wasnt for all the toppings. Fresh herbs is a staple of Vietnamese cuisine and a must when having this noodle soup. Here are some topping ideas:
- Chiles if you cant find Thai chiles, jalapeños or serranos can be used.
- Condiments: In addition to the toppings, condiments can be added for extra flavor. Fish sauce, soy sauce, chili oil, chili paste.
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What To Serve Pho With
- Noodles: for the noodles, use either thin or flat rice noodles. Fresh is best! You can find fresh pho noodles at your local Asian supermarkets. Cook them right before you’re ready to serve so they don’t become mushy. My trick is to dip to noodles in a pot of boiling water for a minute and take it out immediate. Once the noodles go into your bowl, the hot broth will continue cooking it.
- Garnishes: with ph gà, we typically serve it with Vietnamese mint , Thai basil , chopped cilantro, and sliced scallion. Tear up the herbs and add them to your bowl. Vietnamese also enjoy ph with a handful of bean sprouts. You can leave them raw for a crunch or blanch the bean sprouts. Both ways are delicious and depend on your preference. For a citrus kick, squeeze in a bit of lime juice. I actually prefer to squeeze the lime juice into my condiment bowl, a trick I learned from my friend Thao in college.
- Condiment: the two must have condiments for ph are hoisin sauce and sriracha. You can squeeze them directly in your bowl or a small plate to dip your meat in. I prefer to leave them out since it changes the flavor of the broth. Some people like their ph extra spicy and adding a few slices of bird’s eye chili will do the job.
After making ph gà in the Instant Pot, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the stove. I love the light and clean broth with notes of ginger and spices, springy noodles, and tender chicken. It was pure joy to slurp up this hearty bowl of Instant Pot ph gà!
How To Make Chicken Pho From Scratch
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Why This Recipe Works
Making Pho Broth In A Pressure Cooker
Pho, the Vietnamese soup of noodles and aromatics served in a clear, spiced broth, is really a great candidate for the pressure cooker. After all, it’s really no much more than a simple broth with noodles in it, and as I’ve demonstrated in the past, the pressure cooker is the ideal vessel for making a clear, full-flavored broth.
Traditional pho, whether it’s the chicken version I’m making today or a more involved beef pho, starts by browning onions and ginger until nearly black, either over the direct heat of a flame, or in a pot . Next, you add water or broth along with aromatics: star anise, cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, coriander seed, and some cilantro stems. Add your chicken or beef, some rock sugar and fish sauce, bring the whole thing to a simmer, then settle down for a long, slow cook with plenty of babysitting and skimming to make sure that the broth comes out clear and the meat comes out tender.
A pressure cooker relieves you of this tedium in two ways. First off, the high pressure environment of a pressure cooker allows water to heat well past its 212°F boiling point and allows meats to cook far faster. A chicken leg takes just about 15 to 20 minutes to cook down to fall-off-the-bone tender in a pressure cooker, a time savings of over 50%, all the while giving up plenty of liquid and gelatin to the broth.
J. Kenji López-Alt
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Andrea Nguyen Is The Queen Of Vietnamese Cooking
As James Oseland has proclaimed, Andrea Nguyen is the worlds greatest expert in Vietnamese cooking, and I agree. Ten years ago, I bought Andreas debut cookbook, Into The Vietnamese Kitchen it showed me that I could finally recreate restaurant-quality Vietnamese food at home. Ive been a super fan of Andreas ever sincecyberstalking her via her Vietworld Kitchen website and eagerly collecting all of her subsequent cookbooks. About a year ago, Henry and I traveled to Vietnam with her as she and the equally awesome Karen Shinto shot photos and gathered inspiration for The Pho Cookbook. The results are to die forespecially for a pho junkie like me. This gorgeous collection of pho recipes is perhaps my favorite of Andreas single-subject tomes. Each page is packed with indispensable tips on sourcing the best ingredients and seasoning the broth just right.
What Is An Instant Pot
The Instant Pot is a programmable pressure cooker that speeds up cooking by 2 to 10 times while using up to 70% less energy.
In short, its a very multi-purpose cooking appliance and has been a kitchen appliance staple of mine for the last two years. As a result, its simply the perfect go-to appliance for busy weeknights!
If youre unsure what size Instant Pot to get, here is my size recommendation:
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Is Pho Ga Healthy
Yes, chicken pho is pretty healthy. It contains an excellent source of protein from chicken slices, which is necessary for a healthy diet.
The addition of herbs to the broth and as a topping also helps boost the nutrients of the dish. Using vegetables as a topping also adds to the healthiness of this dish. Rice noodles are naturally gluten-free, so pho is typically suitable for those who have gluten sensitivities.
While pho ga offers many health benefits, its necessary to note the high sodium content and calorie count in each bowl. Even though pho ga is delicious, you shouldnt eat it every day because of these notes.
Instant Pot Ph G Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup
My Instant Pot ph gà features a light and clean broth with notes of ginger and spices, springy noodles, and tender chicken. By using the Instant Pot, you get have a nourishing bowl of ph gà ready in just 30 minutes.
The weather has substantially cooled down for a change. We even had a few days of rain which made my plants extra happy. With the cooler weather, we’re cooking soup just about everyday. Recently I experimented with my favorite Vietnamese chicken noodle soup recipe, also known as ph gà, and gave it an upgrade via the Instant Pot. With the Instant Pot, you can have a steaming bowl of ph gà in about 30 minutes!
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Char Onions And Ginger
Make sure your pot is as hot as it can be over medium heat .
Pour in 2 tbsp vegetable oil and ensure to coat the oil over whole bottom of the pot.
Carefully place 2 halved medium onions and the ginger pieces in the pressure cooker. Allow the onions and ginger to char without touching them .
At the four minutes mark, add in the crushed garlic clove.
*Pro Tip: Dont skip this step as charring the onions & ginger will bring out their flavors. It will not only deepens the Instant Pot Pho gas overall flavor.
More Chicken Soup For The Soul
Theres just something about brothy chicken soup. It makes you feel so homey and good. Not to mention if youre feeling a bit under the weather it will perk you right up. Here are some of my favorite chicken soup recipes that you can make in your Instant Pot.
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- Prep Time:25 minutes
- Cook Time:10 minutes
- Total Time:35 minutes
A shortcut recipe for a flavorful chicken and rice noodle soup.
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How To Keep Shredded Chicken Breast Juicy
To complete the toppings for my chicken pho, I like to use shredded chicken breast. But the main problem most people have with chicken breast is how dry it can get when you overcook it. I think we can all agree that chalky, flavorless chicken breast definitely does not make for a satisfying bowl of pho. So how can you avoid overcooking chicken breast?
My secret to keeping chicken breast juicy for this Vietnamese chicken pho recipe or any recipe that needs shredded chicken breasts is poaching them. To do this, I add the chicken breasts to a pot of cold water and bring it to a gentle boil. After 5 minutes, I turn off the heat and let the chicken cook, covered, in the residual heat for 25 to 30 minutes depending on the thickness. Done this way, the chicken breast comes out perfect each time. Its tender, juicy, and most importantly never overcooked.
What Vegetables Should I Use
The next most important building block are the vegetables. Basic veggies like ginger, carrots & onions are used to add natural sweetness to the broth. I sometimes add jicama or daikon if I have those on hand.
According to The Kitchn, you need to char the onions and ginger to help add a smoky aroma that helps the broth develop a more complex and deeper flavor. No need to peel them, just cut them in half, and roast them in the oven for 10 minutes at 400F.
Its important to wash your veggies well before placing them in your pot. Again, theres no need to peel the carrots, just roughly cut into 3-4 inch pieces. You will be discarding the vegetables because itll be flavorless and mushy after its done cooking.
I dont add rock sugar or MSG to my broth because I dont think its necessary. The flavor comes from the bones, spices and vegetables.
Check out my to see what my pho broth looks like.
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What Is Free Range Chicken
Free Range Chickens have been raised in farms that let them freely roam outdoors , rather than being locked in cages.
Why Free Range Chickens? They are more firm, flavorful, and have a better mouthfeel.
*Pro Tip: The chicken is the soul of Chicken Pho. So the chickens quality makes a world of difference in making this Pho Ga. If you wish is to make a yummy bowl of Pho Ga, its essential to buy a high quality chicken!!
We highly recommend using Free Range Chickens because they have better texture & stronger chicken flavors to impart into the Chicken broth. But if you dont have access to Free Range Chickens, regular chickens will also work.
Instant Pot Pho Recipe + Video
This recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Pho makes traditional pho in a fraction of the time with the help of your pressure cooker. This delicious pho recipe results in a flavorful broth and tender chicken. Combined with rice noodles, toasted spices, and fresh herbs, this soup packs so much flavor!
PS Obsessed with brothy soups? Youve got to try my Instant Pot chicken broth too!
You all probably know my kitchen obsession by now The Instant Pot.
Like, I seriously sit at my desk all day thinking up new ways to use this little pot. Tonight, Im dreaming of Red Beans & Rice, for Taco Tuesday, Instant Pot Chicken Tacos, and Wednesday Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana is exactly what needs to happen.
If you havent heard of the Instant Pot yet, let me introduce you. Its like an electric pressure cooker that has all these handy little buttons on it for cooking different things:
As handy as it is for all the above, the main reason I bought the Instant Pot was to make Pho.
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Why You Need To Make Instant Pot Chicken Pho
There are so, so many things to love about this recipe. Its gluten-free and can be made-ahead, making it a perfect weekend project that needs very little hands-on cooking. Diners can customize each bowl just the way they like it, so my spice-averse daughter can skip the spicy toppings but I can load up on them. The broth is nourishing and warming, but delicate at the same time.
It also makes enough for two dinners for my family of three. After we have it the first night, I freeze some chicken directly in the remaining broth to keep it from drying out and make sure I have some dried rice noodles in the pantry for when we need a quick weeknight meal. Oh, and did I mention our dog is also super-happy when we have chicken pho for dinner? She waits at my feet as Im taking the chicken off the bones, knowing that a few tasty morsels will find their way to her if shes patient enough. Its a win-win, chicken dinner for all.
