Instant Pot Cheesy Garlic Orzo

Instant Pot Cheesy Garlic Orzo is a delicious pasta side dish, and those little orzo pasta grains become so soft and creamy. It is very easy and quick to make pressure cooker orzo pasta! Comfort food in a bowl.

This Instant Pot Cheesy Garlic Orzo is one of my favorite Instant Pot side dishes. I'm a cheese, pasta, and garlic lover, so this recipe was born one night when I had a craving and decided to go for it! I'm glad I did because it turned out so tasty.

This delicious Instant Pot Cheesy Garlic Orzo pasta side dish is pretty quick cooking, and can be cooking while you are making the main dish on the stove or in the oven (or in another Instant Pot®!). It also doubles well.

This is a versatile Instant Pot side dish. You can add vegetables to really ease the guilt of all that cheese! Or some shrimp would be wonderful add at the end and allowed to cook in the residual heat. Yum!

You can even add chicken, for a hearty and delicious main dish, if you like.

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5 from 1 vote

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Instant Pot Cheesy Garlic Orzo

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

4 mins

Total Time

14 mins

 

Instant Pot Cheesy Garlic Orzo is a rich and tasty pasta side dish made in your electric pressure cooker.

Course: Dinner, pasta, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: instant pot orzo

Servings: 4 - 6 servings

Calories: 398 kcal

Author: Sandy Clifton

Ingredients

• 2 tsp Olive Oil
• 2 tsp Butter
• ½ small Onion, diced
• 3 cloves Garlic
• ½ tsp Salt (or more to taste)
• 2 cups Chicken Broth (or vegetable broth)
• 8 oz Orzo Pasta (1 ½ cups dry)
• 1 ½ cups Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
• 1 cup Half and Half
• 1 tsp Fresh Thyme Leaves, optional garnish

Instructions

1. Turn on your pressure cooker's Sauté function (normal, med. heat). Add the Oil and butter.

2. Add the onions and cook until translucent, stirring occasionally.

3. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly.

4. Add the salt and broth. Stir, and let come to a simmer.

5. Stir in the Orzo. Then place the lid on, locking in place. Set the Steam Release Knob to Sealing position.

6. Cancel the sauté function.

7. Press the Pressure Cook/Manual button (or dial) and the + or - (or dial) to select 4 minutes.

8. When the cooking cycle has finished, immediately turn the Steam Release Knob to the Venting position (Quick Release). When all of the steam has vented, and the pin in the lid drops down, open the lid.

9. Stir in the parmesan cheese, then stir in the mozzarella.

10. Stir in the half and half.

11. Serve immediately, garnish with fresh thyme if desired.