Lemon Parmesan Orzo Instant Pot

Whenever I am bored of rice and want to change things up, my first thought is to make orzo pasta for an easy side dish. It is perfect with baked chicken or salmon. My daughter loves orzo pasta, too. She calls it rice pasta. The best part is that this orzo pasta side dish cooks quickly in the Instant Pot. It can also be cooked while making the main dish on the stove or in the oven. It is also versatile – I added lemon, garlic, parmesan, and cherry tomatoes. You can add other veggies such as bell peppers, asparagus, broccoli, etc. We also love to make Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad and Pesto Orzo Salad with this orzo. If you like it creamy, add heavy cream and your favorite cheese to make it more comforting. It’s so good!

What is Orzo Pasta?

Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta made with semolina flour made from durum wheat. As orzo pasta is made from durum wheat, it is not gluten-free. Orzo can be served and cooked very similarly to rice. As it is a type of pasta, you can also cook it the traditional way pasta is cooked and stir it in the sauce. Or make it like we are making here as a one-pot recipe in the pressure cooker. Orzo can be served hot or cold as a salad or side dish. Or in a soup such as this Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup.

Ingredients

Let’s start with gathering the ingredients. This recipe is very versatile, so if you don’t have one ingredient, it is fine to skip or substitute.

How to Make Instant Pot Orzo?

Start the instant pot in sauté mode and heat it. Add butter and orzo pasta. Toast the orzo for a few minutes until some grains turn light brown. Toasting the orzo is completely optional. However, I feel it adds a wonderful taste to the final dish. Add the garlic and broth. You can use vegetable or chicken broth based on your preference. You can also cook the pasta in water. Pressure cook for just 3 minutes, then quick release the pressure. Add the flavors – lemon juice, parmesan, parsley, and halved cherry tomatoes. Stir them in and let the pasta rest for a few minutes. And the orzo pasta is ready to be enjoyed. Serve it with a side of baked chicken or salmon. A perfect meal…yum!