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Smooth, creamy and delicious! The black and red pepper give it a little bit of heat and the half and half gives it great body and beautiful color.
My sweet friend Bonnie, City Home/Country Home, posted this Butternut Squash Soup recipe last fall, but I didn’t get around to making it until recently. I was at the Indoor Farmers Market and the farmer talked me into buying butternut squash for the first time. Since I’d been wanting to try this soup, it wasn’t a tough sale.
I was a bit concerned about how my kids would like the soup, but I didn’t need to worry, the whole family loved it. The black pepper and red pepper flakes give it a little bit of heat and the squash just gives it great body and beautiful color.
Their one complaint about the soup was that it didn’t have anything in it. Since it’s pureed smooth, they didn’t think it was filling enough for dinner. My youngest suggested adding orzo, which I thought was a brillant idea.
So I decided to make it again and this time I added orzo and diced chicken. Now it was hearty, but still smooth, creamy and delicious. My oldest son said it reminded him of a chowder.
I made my soup in my pressure cooker. It didn’t save tons of time, but it’s so nice not to have to stir it or worry about it while it’s on the stove. I based my cooking time on the Cuisinart tomato soup recipe which uses a natural release. One day I’ll try a quick release which would really speed up the process.
This is a great Butternut Squash Soup with Chicken and Orzo recipe. I hope you’ll give it a try. Visit Bonnie for the stove top cooking directions and to check out all her other fabulous recipes. Thanks for sharing this one Bonnie!
Visit Pressure Cooking Today for all my pressure cooking recipes.
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Pressure Cooker Butternut Squash Soup with Chicken and Orzo
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. of fresh baked butternut squash peeled, and cubed
- 3 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup green onions diced
- ½ cup celery diced
- ½ cup carrots diced
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 2 14.5 oz. cans chicken broth
- 1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes with juice
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ⅛ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 cup orzo cooked
- 1 cup chicken cooked and diced (I used rotisserie chicken)
- 1 to ½ cup half and half
- Green onion tops sliced very thin (save for garnish)
Instructions
- Melt butter in pressure cooker pot. Sauté onions, celery, and carrots.
- Add garlic, stir briefly and add chicken stock, tomatoes and squash. Season with red pepper flakes, pepper and nutmeg.
- Select high pressure and 10 minutes cook time. (It took the pressure cooker 10 minutes to come up to pressure and 30 minutes for a natural pressure release after the cook time, for a total prep time of 50 minutes. The second time I made it I was impatient and used a quick pressure release 10 minutes after the cook time ended.)
- Puree until mixture is very smooth. (I used my immersion blender and pureed it in the pressure cooker pot.)
- Select Simmer and add chicken, orzo, and half and half and heat until chicken is heated.
- Serve garnished with thinly sliced green tops of onions and a swirl of half and half.
Angela
Butternut is probably my favorite squash. It is so easy to work with and has such a rich, fresh taste.
Reeni
We are butternut lovers over here! We usually eat it pureed too and would love your delicious and hearty version!
gloria
Barbara I love your soup. look delicious! gloria
teresa
to healthy and hearty! i love this, especially the addition of chicken and orzo. lovely!
Renee (kudos kitchen)
This looks and sounds amazing! I’m a huge butternut squash fan and the addition of the orzo is brilliant! Bravo to your son for coming up with that idea. Thanks for sharing this recipe Barbara. It’s a keeper for sure!!!
Barbara
You are finding so many ways to use your pressure cooker, Barbara! I make a great butternut squash soup, but it doesn’t have the heat this one does with the red pepper flakes. The Italian seasoning is interesting too. Going to try this next time I make it.
(love that happy summery soup bowl!)
Bonnie
Thanks for the mention Barbara. I’ll have to try your version. And I really like the idea of making in the pressure cooker (since you inspired me to buy one).
Sue
I have wanted to make this since I saw it on Bonnie’s blog, and now I really want to make it! Thanks for the reminder:)
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
Aww mum you made this just for me? Cos I love orzo in soup (and just on my plate!). I feel like you are reading my mind because it’s getting colder here and I’m craving soup 😀 xxx
Katrina
After what is going on outside today, soup sounds great. And I love butternut squash and have on in my pantry!
sweetlife
butternut, orzo and chicken a great soup, love the color and your pic is perfect!!
sweetlife
Judy
Barbara, thanks for this. I’m going to give it a try.
Anne
A feast for the eyes… love your photo (and the beautiful soup bowl!). Perfect for today’s sloshy weather…
Rocky Mountain Woman
That looks wonderful! Great idea for this snowy weekend I have ahead..
I love love love my pressure cooker…
xxoo,
RMW
Kalynskitchen
It really sounds like a great soup. I’m not that much of a fan of completely smooth soups, so I like your version with chicken and orzo.
marla {family fresh cooking}
Love this idea for a pureed soup – I too add protein & other goodies in to make mine a full meal 🙂 xo
Maria
Great soup for a day like today!
Nicole@HeatOvenTo350
I love butternut squash soup, but I’ve never thought to put orzo and chicken in it. What a great idea.
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc
looks fantastic! Bookmarking this one for sure
Rosa
A lipsmackingly good soup!
Cheers,
Rosa