Chicken Lemon Soup (Instant Pot + Stovetop)

Add water or broth, onion, garlic, celery, carrots, salt, basil leaves, and chicken to the Instant Pot. Close the lid, set valve to sealing, and cook on Manual/Pressure Cook for 10 minutes. Do not go over the max fill line! (See notes.)
14 cups water or chicken broth, 2 small yellow onions, 7 garlic cloves, 2 celery ribs, 4 medium carrots, 3 boneless, 3 dry basil leaves
Let naturally release pressure for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure. Remove chicken and shred with forks (or use a stand mixer with a whisk attachment). Set aside.
Remove vegetables along with one ladle of broth. Blend until smooth, then return mixture to the pot. Alternatively, use an immersion blender directly in the pot to blend until smooth.
Turn Instant Pot to Sauté, add pasta or rice, and cook until tender (check package directions for timing), stirring occasionally.
¾ cup small-cut pasta
In a bowl, whisk egg yolks with lemon zest and juice. Slowly add about 1 cup of hot broth from the pot while constantly stirring to temper the yolks.
3 egg yolks, Zest and juice of 1–2 lemons
Turn off the heat, stir the egg-lemon mixture into the soup, add shredded chicken and parsley, and adjust seasoning to taste.
Freshly chopped parsley, Salt

✨ Make Ahead

Cook the pasta separately and toss with a drizzle of olive oil so it doesn’t stick.
Store pasta and soup in different containers, then stir them together when reheating .
No mushy noodles here!

🧂 Salt

Broths can be tricky — some have no salt, some are reduced, and others are super salty. Taste first before adding extra 👍.

🍋 Lemon Flavor

Start with one lemon. If you love that bright, zingy flavor, squeeze in more at the end until it makes you smile 😋.

🍗 Chicken Choice

Thighs = richer, cozier flavor ❤️. Breasts = lighter and cleaner ✨. Both are delicious, just depends on your mood!

❄️ Freezing

This soup freezes beautifully without the pasta. Store pasta separately 🍝 and add it fresh later for the best texture.

⚠️ Instant Pot Size

Using a 6-quart Instant Pot? Don’t go past the max fill line 🚫. Add liquid only to the line, pressure cook, then stir in extra liquid afterward if you want it soupier 🥣.