Easy Instant Pot Lemon Chicken and Orzo (From Frozen!)

What’s for dinner when it’s 5 PM and you’ve completely forgotten to thaw the chicken? This incredible, one-pot Instant Pot Lemon Chicken with Orzo is your new weeknight lifesaver! Yes, you can cook your chicken breasts directly from frozen and still achieve a perfectly juicy, tender, and incredibly flavorful result. This complete, restaurant-quality meal, with a luscious and creamy lemon-herb orzo, all comes together in one pot for the easiest dinner you’ll make all week.

This isn’t just a recipe; it’s a guide to unlocking one of the most magical features of your pressure cooker. We’ll show you the simple secrets to a flawless one-pot pasta and a perfectly cooked chicken every single time. This is a bright, satisfying, and sophisticated meal that tastes like you spent hours on it, but only you will know it was a last-minute miracle.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Recipe Overview: The “Forgot-to-Thaw” Dinner Miracle

What makes this Instant Pot Lemon Chicken so spectacularly delicious is its brilliant and completely foolproof one-pot method. The recipe is a masterpiece of efficiency. We use the “Sauté” function to build a deep flavor base with mushrooms and shallots. Then, we cook the orzo pasta, the broth, and the frozen chicken breasts all together under pressure. This technique allows the orzo to absorb all the delicious flavors and release its starches, creating a naturally creamy, risotto-like texture. A final swirl of heavy cream, Parmesan, and fresh spinach creates a luxurious, all-in-one meal that is simply unforgettable.

Metric	Time / Level
Total Time	45 minutes
Active Prep Time	15 minutes
Difficulty Level	Easy
Servings	4

The Essential Ingredients for This One-Pot Wonder

This recipe uses a handful of fresh, high-impact ingredients to create its signature bright and creamy flavor.

• The Frozen Chicken:
  • Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: The magic of this recipe is using about 12 ounces of chicken breasts straight from the freezer! The high-pressure, steam-filled environment of the Instant Pot is perfect for cooking chicken from frozen, ensuring it turns out moist and tender, not dry or rubbery.
• The “Risotto-Style” Orzo:
  • Orzo Pasta: This small, rice-shaped pasta is the perfect choice for a one-pot dish. As it cooks directly in the broth under pressure, it absorbs all the delicious, savory flavors of the chicken, lemon, and aromatics, and its released starches are the secret to the naturally creamy sauce.
• The Creamy Lemon-Thyme Sauce:
  • The Aromatics: A simple but elegant base of delicate shallots, earthy button mushrooms, and fresh thyme creates a wonderful, savory foundation.
  • The Brightness: It is absolutely essential to use both fresh lemon juice and fresh lemon zest for the most vibrant, multi-dimensional, and authentic lemon flavor that perfumes the entire dish.
  • The Creamy Finish: A final swirl of heavy cream and freshly grated, salty Parmesan cheese at the very end transforms the dish into a truly luxurious and velvety meal.
• The Greens (Fresh Spinach): A few large handfuls of fresh baby spinach are stirred in at the very end. This adds a beautiful pop of vibrant green color and a boost of extra nutrients.

Step-by-Step to a Perfect Instant Pot Dinner

This elegant meal comes together in one pot and just a few simple stages.

Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics

Step 1: First, set your 6-quart Instant Pot® to the high “Sauté” setting. Add the 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter.

Step 2: Once the butter has melted, add the 8 ounces of sliced button mushrooms, a generous pinch of kosher salt, and several grinds of fresh black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 6 minutes, until the mushrooms are a beautiful golden brown and their excess liquid has evaporated.

Step 3: Stir in the 1 thinly sliced shallot and the 2 teaspoons of thyme leaves. Continue to cook for about 2 more minutes, until the shallots have softened and are fragrant.

Step 2: Assemble the Pot and Pressure Cook

Step 1: Press “Cancel” to turn off the Sauté function. Stir in the 8 ounces of uncooked orzo, the 3 cups of low-sodium chicken broth, and the zest and juice of 1 lemon.

Step 2 (The Magic Step!): Place your 2 frozen chicken breasts directly on top of the orzo mixture. Sprinkle the chicken with 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and a couple of grinds of fresh black pepper.

Step 3: Follow the manufacturer’s guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high for 10 minutes.

Part 3: The Natural Release (Don’t Skip This!)

Step 1: After the 10-minute pressure-cook cycle is complete, do not perform a quick release. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes.

Pro Tip: This is a crucial step for tender, juicy meat! A natural release allows the pressure inside the pot to drop gradually, which helps the meat to relax and reabsorb all its delicious juices. A quick release can sometimes cause the meat to become tough.

Step 2: After 10 minutes of natural release, you can then perform a quick release of any remaining steam. Being careful, unlock and remove the lid.

Part 4: Finish the Creamy Orzo and Serve

Step 1: Using tongs, carefully transfer the cooked chicken breasts to a cutting board and slice them crosswise.

Step 2: Stir the 8 cups of baby spinach, the 1/4 cup of heavy cream, and the 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese into the hot orzo in the pot. The residual heat will wilt the spinach and create a beautiful, creamy sauce.

Step 3: Season the orzo with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a couple more grinds of pepper.

Serve the creamy orzo in shallow bowls, topped with the beautiful, juicy slices of lemon chicken.

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Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

• Make-Ahead: For an even faster meal, you can get a head start by chopping all your vegetables and zesting your lemon up to a day in advance. Store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator.
• Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Reheating: The orzo will absorb more of the sauce as it sits. The best way to reheat this dish is in a skillet on the stovetop over a low heat with a generous splash of milk or chicken broth to loosen the sauce and bring back its creamy consistency.

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Creative Recipe Variations

1. Use a Different Protein: This fantastic one-pot method is also absolutely delicious with frozen boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They are even juicier and may require an extra minute or two of cooking time. You could also use frozen shrimp—just reduce the pressure cooking time to 1-2 minutes.
2. Add a Different Vegetable: If you’re not a fan of mushrooms, you could easily swap them out. For some extra color and sweetness, you can stir in about 1 cup of frozen peas or some chopped asparagus along with the spinach at the very end.
3. Use a Different Pasta or Grain: If you don’t have orzo, you could substitute it with another small pasta shape, like ditalini or small shells. You could also use a quick-cooking grain like white rice, but you may need to adjust the liquid ratio and the cooking time according to your Instant Pot’s guide.

Enjoy Your New Weeknight Lifesaver!

You’ve just discovered a truly magical recipe that is a perfect harmony of wholesome, fresh ingredients and delicious, satisfying flavors. This Instant Pot Lemon Chicken and Orzo is a testament to the power of a modern kitchen appliance to create a meal that is both incredibly fast and incredibly elegant. It’s a rewarding and deeply satisfying recipe that is sure to become a new family favorite.

We hope you enjoy every last, creamy, and delicious bite!

If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves their Instant Pot!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)