Garlic Orzo with Bacon & Greens in the Instant Pot

This garlic orzo is so easy in the Instant Pot! It’s the perfect quick and easy lunch or comfort-food dinner. We love it with bacon and greens, but the variations are endless! 

Hey y’all! It’s my first new recipe of 2020! I kind of feel like I should be starting the year off with a real zinger, but instead I’m going to kick off the year with what we all really need right now– more easy, tasty recipes that our families will love and that will only leave us with one pot to wash!

And we all said, AMEN.

I shared this recipe in my Instagram stories a couple of weeks ago (if you’re not hanging out there with me everyday, I don’t want to induce FOMO, but let’s just say there’s a lot of good stuff happening), and after I had several requests for the recipe, I decided to write it up on the blog too.

Garlic Orzo with Bacon & Greens in the Instant Pot

I have been making a variation of this dish for YEARS. Way before I even knew what an Instant Pot was. My mother-in-law made buttered orzo for her kids (including my husband) when they were growing up, so I quickly learned how to make it as well.

Orzo is easy enough to cook on the stovetop, but as with many pastas (including boxed mac’n’cheese), it’s just a little faster and more simple to cook everything in the one pot in the Instant Pot.

The base of this dish, the garlic orzo, is delicious on its own, but when you start adding in a few quick additions, the dish quickly becomes an easy, healthy meal idea.

I always have “power greens” (spinach, Swiss chard, and kale ala Costco) on hand, as well as cooked chopped bacon and parmesan cheese (both also from Costco). Consider this just a starting point, though. You could make this dish so many different ways with different cheeses, rotisserie chicken, broccoli, peas, etc. The combinations are myriad.

As always, I love to hear when you try a recipe! Come back and let me know how you enjoyed it, or tag me when you share a picture on social media. Bon appetit!

Garlic Orzo with Bacon & Greens in the Instant Pot

★★★★★ 5 from 9 reviews

• Author: Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 minutes high pressure
• Total Time: 0 hours
• Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
• Category: main dish
• Method: pressure cooker
• Cuisine: pasta

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Description

This garlic orzo is so easy in the Instant Pot! It’s the perfect quick and easy lunch or comfort-food dinner. We love it with bacon and greens, but the variations are endless!

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 5 tbsp kerrygold butter, divided
• 3 large cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups orzo pasta
• 2 generous pinches kosher salt
• 1/2 cup cooked chopped bacon
• 1 cup chopped greens (I use a mix of spinach, Swiss chard, and baby kale)
• heaping 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

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Instructions

1. Turn Instant Pot on to Saute. While the Instant Pot heats, peel and mince the garlic. Measure out the orzo and 2 1/4 cup of water.
2. When the Instant Pot’s display reads “HOT”, add 2 tablespoons of butter and the minced garlic. Saute the garlic for 30 seconds, then add the orzo, salt, and water. Stir until the ingredients are incorporated. Place the lid on the Instant Pot, turn the valve to sealing, and set the cook time for 2 minutes on high pressure.
3. When the cook time is complete, quick release the pressure. Set the lid aside, then stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Add the bacon, greens, and parmesan cheese. Add extra salt to taste.
4. Serve with additional parmesan cheese (optional).

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Notes

The base of garlic orzo works well with lots of different variations. Sub roasted chicken for the bacon, or use ham or sausage, or a mix of multiple proteins. Sub greens for broccoli, peas, or another green veggie.

You can also sub half the butter for olive oil for a lighter calorie dish.

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