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I’m continuing my “Mini Series” of recipes for the 3 quart electric pressure cooker with Instant Pot Mini – Game Hen Noodle Soup. My love of soup is no secret. I even wrote a small ecookbook with soup recipes for the Instant Pot. This soup is comforting and very much like chicken noodle soup, only made with a Cornish game hen. Simple to make, and quick, too!
Instant Pot Mini – Game Hen Noodle Soup
I have loved Cornish Game Hens since I was a kid. It was so fun to see if I could eat a whole one by myself! Mom roasted them in the oven, and I have cooked them many ways myself. When I was deciding what to make for this “Mini Series” I got to thinking how perfect they are for the 3 quart pressure cooker. They’re so tiny!
I have made chicken noodle soup using a whole chicken since I learned to cook. I simmer the bird for 2 hours and then remove it and debone it and toss the meat back in. Then I started making it in the Instant Pot and it was faster, and tasted just as wonderful!
I figured why not make a “chicken” noodle soup for the 3 quart ‘Mini’ using my technique, with a Cornish Game Hen? They taste like chicken (ha!) and do make a nice little pot of soup!
Now we have Instant Pot Mini – Game Hen Noodle Soup! It cooks in about 15 minutes and makes 5 cups of soup. Just enough for 2 or 3 servings.
Stay tuned for more recipes for the 3 quart Mini electric pressure cooker. And enjoy this Instant Pot Mini – Game Hen Noodle Soup.
Instant Pot Mini – Mac and Cheese
Instant Pot Mini – Sweet Potato Chili
Instant Pot Mini – Jerk Thighs and Rice
Instant Pot Mini – Tasty Black Beans
Instant Pot Mini – Tortellini Soup
Instant Pot Mini – Spaghetti
Instant Pot Mini - Game Hen Noodle Soup
Ingredients
- 1 Cornish Game Hen* (AKA Rock Cornish hen)
- 4 cups Water, divided
- 1 small Onion, chopped
- 1 Celery Stalk
- 2 medium Carrots, chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic, pressed or minced
- 1 Bay Leaf
- ½ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Pepper
- 2 tsps Rubbed Sage
- 1 sprig Fresh Thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried)
- 1 sprig Fresh Rosemary, about 3"-4" long
- 1 ½ cups Wide Egg Noodles
Instructions
- Place 3 cups of the water in the inner liner of the pressure cooker. Turn on the Sauté feature to begin heating it up.
- Cut the game hen in half lengthwise (This helps make room for all of the ingredients) and put it in the pot with the water.
- Add all other ingredients except the egg noodles.
- Place the lid on the pot and set the steam release knob to Sealing.
- Cancel the Sauté function.
- Press the Pressure Cook button. Set time to 11 minutes using the + or - button.
- When cook cycle ends, let pot naturally release pressure for 10 minutes. Then manually release the remaining pressure by turning the knob to Venting.
- When the pin in the lid drops, it is safe to open the lid.
- Open and take out game hen with tongs and place in a bowl.
- Turn on the Sauté function again.
- Stir the soup. Taste and adjust salt, if needed.
- Add the remaining 1 cup of water and the noodles to the pot and the cook for 5-8 minutes, or until noodles are done.
- Meanwhile, debone the game hen and use a fork to break apart the meat or shred it. Set aside.
- When noodles are cooked, cancel the Sauté function and add the game hen meat to back into the soup and stir.
- Serve with some warm, crusty bread!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Resources to Make This Recipe and More
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It’s good!! I’ll make this again, triple veggies, add turmeric and ginger!! I used whole wheat pasta!
Can I make this with a Cornish hens I’ve already cooked?
Yes, but decrease the cook time by about 10 minutes.
This soup was delicious! I added a sweet potato, which did make it a little sweet. I never use this insta pot because it’s so hard to find recipes for it. If you come up with more recipes, I’d love to hear about them.
It’s a delicious soup. I added a bit of turmeric. Nice color and better taste.
As mentioned in my comment it on the Spaghetti recipe, I’m pretty much can’t cook. Tried this once with split breast, but did not have all the spices. Good, but missing something obviously. Got the spices, and did the same thing with split breasts. Wow! Sage Rocks! And so does this recipe.
I have acquired some frozen game hens for my next go, so my question is …do you thaw the hen? If so, what is the best way to thaw it?
Thanks..and thanks for the mini recipes.
Hi Evan! Yes, sage is so wonderful on poultry! As for thawing the hens, I would if you can, otherwise just toss one in and try it at the same cook time. It will take longer to come to pressure as it’s like having a big ice cube in there. If it ends up not being done all the way, you can pop the lid back on and set it for another 5 minutes.
Thank you for creating recipes for the Mini InstaPot—I’m just one person and those “family-size” recipes are way too much (and a pain to cut in half most times.I can’t wait to try this.
Could I make this in a crock pot instead since I dont have an instant pot? It looks delicious!!!
Hi Jen, you can definitely make this in the slow cooker/crock pot.
Place all ingredients except for the noodles in the pot.
Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.
Remove hen and bay leaf from the pot and debone it, cube or shred meat, and return meat to the pot.
Add the noodles.
Cook another 45 minutes to 1 hour or until noodles are done to your liking (about 20 to 30 minutes on high).
Alternatively, you can cook the noodles on the stove top and add them to the soup just before serving. This way, you can control how soft they get.
I was not able to find a game hen, so I made this with chicken legs. If I am able to find a frozen game hen, could I use that? How would I alter the recipe to accommodate frozen meat? Thanks so much, this was delicious!
Hi Harleen! The legs are a great alternative! When I cook soup with frozen meat I don’t change the time unless the meat is thicker than normal. Then I would only add maybe 3 minutes. I wouldn’t want the veggies to get mushy. Thank you for the review!
I love finding recipes for my 3 qt pot. I’m looking forward to finding more.
Hi Nora, I’m working on a few more. Lots going on in the pressure cooker world! 😀