Instant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (2024)

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This Instant Pot Chicken Pho Soup Recipe made in only 35 minutes with Pho spices, lime, cilantro, tomatoes, hoisin, and bean sprouts! You will fall in love with this tasty and quick pho soup!

Instant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (1)

I had my first Pho soup at a Thai fusion restaurant years ago. For some reason, the town that I grew up in did not have a Vietnamese restaurant. It makes me sad because I fell in love with Pho right away, but it would be years before I tried any other Vietnamese dishes. The salads are my next favorite! If you haven’t eaten Vietnamese food, it’s time to start!! I realize that some people have never had Pho and I wanted to make something so you can taste this amazing dish!!

Instant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (2)

Instant Pot Chicken Pho Soup Recipe

You can cut the time in half or more by making your pho soup in a pressure cooker. It goes so much faster that you will never make it in a stock pot again!

Pho Spices

I want to discuss the Anise spice included in this recipe because it is something that my husband does not like. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard him say – I hate Anise – it’s black licorice!

This makes me sad, and I was determined to convince him that Pho was worth a try even with the vehement hatred of one of the ingredients. I am happy to report that he loved the soup even with the Anise flavor. As I explained to him, the flavors work together to create an absolutely perfect spiced broth that is like no other!

Today, I made the Pho soup in the Instant Pot with the Stew setting of High Pressure set for 35 minutes. I’ve seen reports that people leave it longer, but I am all about the quick and easy meal! You don’t need the extra time. The chicken breast I used shredded beautifully at after 35 minutes and quick release of the pressure.

If you are using a tougher meat like an inexpensive beef cut or oxtail, you will probably need to let it go longer to break up the toughness. We are trying to eat less beef, so the chicken was a natural choice for this Pho Recipe. The Instant Pot is one of my kitchen devices and part of myUltimate Kitchen Tool and Equipment Buying Guide.

Instant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (3)

Another note that I want to point out is that you can either keep the spices contained in a tea infusing ball or you can add them straight in like I did and used a cheesecloth to strain them out later. Pho broth is pretty clear and that usually because it’s been strained. I like the idea of the tea-infused mesh ball, but I haven’t bought one yet. I have one in my Amazon cart and dying to order it for the next time I want to make a Chicken Pho Recipe.

Instant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (4)

Instant Pot Pho Soup Recipe Ingredients

Here are the pho ingredients to make a fully stocked pho soup. If you are missing some of these, you can still make a good pho soup.

1 Cup White/Light Green Scallions
2 32-Ounce Containers of Reduced Sodium Chicken BrothInstant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (5)
1 Pound of Chicken Breast
1-inch piece of Ginger
2 garlic cloves, lightly crushed
1 1/2 teaspoons of Coriander seedsInstant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (6), crushed
1 tbsp of aniseInstant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (7)
1/2 tbsp black pepper or black pepper cornsInstant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (8)
4 ounces of rice stick noodlesInstant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (9)
1/4 teaspoon of salt
2 1/2 cups of baby spinach
1 1/2 cups of halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup bean sprouts
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves
Lime wedges, to taste
1 tsp Whole Cloves
Sriracha or Hoisin SauceInstant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (10), to taste
1 Jalapeños, diced
1 tbsp fish sauce

The fish sauce and salt are to taste. I recommend starting with 1 tablespoon of fish sauce and then adding more salt or fish sauce to your own liking.

Paleo Pho / Whole 30 Tips

To make this Paleo Pho and Whole 30 friendly, use paleo approved chicken broth or make your own at home. Also, swap the noodles out for zucchini noodles and swap the regular sriracha out for a paleo sriracha like this one.You can learn all about how to eat paleo here.

Tools & Supplies

Instant Pot
Tea Infused Mesh Ball or CheeseclothInstant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (11)
Pho Bowls
Mini Spice Bowls

How to Make Pho Soup in the Instant Pot?

Place the chicken breast, coriander seed, ginger, garlic, Thai basil, cloves, anise seed, pepper, salt, scallions, and chicken broth into the instant pot and cook for 35 minutes on high pressure.

Instant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (12)

While it is cooking, let the rice stick noodles soak in water. Cut the cherry tomatoes into halves, slice rounds of the jalapeños, slice a lime into wedges, pluck the mint off the stems, wash the bean sprouts and spinach, and dice the cilantro.

Instant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (13)

Let the pressure out using quick release at the end of 35 minutes. Strain the broth using cheesecloth. Take the chicken out and shred it with forks. Add the chicken back into the strained broth. Add 1 tbsp of fish sauce into broth and mix.

Ladle the soup into large bowls.

Then, insert the noodles, spinach, tomatoes, cilantro, bean sprouts, jalapeños, and a small dash of Sriracha or hoisin to your liking. Remember, the more Sriracha you add, the hotter it will be! Then finish with a squeeze of lime juice from a lime wedge.

Instant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (14)

Print

Instant Pot Pho Soup

Instant Pot Pho Chicken Soup Recipe made in only 35 minutes with Pho spices, lime, cilantro, tomatoes, hoisin, bean sprouts for this Chicken Pho Recipe

Course Soup

Cuisine Vietnamese

Keyword instant pot, spinach

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 314kcal

Author April Golightly

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Scallions green & white
  • 32 oz Bone Broth
  • 1 Pound Chicken Breast
  • 1/2 oz Ginger peeled & diced
  • 2 tsp garlic crushed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons coriander seeds crushed
  • 1 tbsp anise
  • 1/2 tbsp pepper
  • 4 ounces rice noodles
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/2 cups baby spinach fres
  • 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1/2 cup bean sprouts
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro coarsely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons mint leaves fresh
  • 4 Lime wedges to taste
  • 1 tsp cloves whole
  • 1/2 tsp Sriracha
  • 1/4 cup Jalapenos diced & seeded
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce add more if needed to taste
  • 1 stem Thai Basil

Instructions

  • Place the chicken breast, coriander seed, ginger, garlic, Thai basil, cloves, anise seed, pepper, salt, scallions, and chicken broth into the instant pot and cook for 35 minutes on high pressure.

  • While it is cooking, let the rice stick noodles soak in water. Cut the cherry tomatoes into halves, slice rounds of the jalapeños, slice a lime into wedges, pluck the mint off the stems, wash the bean sprouts and spinach, and dice the cilantro.

  • Let the pressure out using quick release at the end of 35 minutes. Strain the broth using cheesecloth. Take the chicken out and shred it with forks. Add the chicken back into the strained broth. Add 1 tbsp of fish sauce into broth and mix.

  • Ladle the soup into large bowls.

  • Then, insert the noodles, spinach, tomatoes, cilantro, bean sprouts, jalapeños, and a small dash of Sriracha or hoisin to your liking. Remember, the more Sriracha you add, the hotter it will be! Then, finish with a squeeze of lime juice from a lime wedge.

Nutrition Facts

Instant Pot Pho Soup

Amount Per Serving (1 Bowl)

Calories 314Calories from Fat 27

% Daily Value*

Fat 3g5%

Saturated Fat 0g0%

Cholesterol 72mg24%

Sodium 460mg19%

Potassium 839mg24%

Carbohydrates 34g11%

Fiber 3g12%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 36g72%

Calcium 88mg9%

Vitamin C 40mg48%

Vitamin A 2550IU51%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

Paleo Pho / Whole 30 Tips

To make this Pho paleo and Whole 30 friendly, use paleo approved chicken broth or make your own at home. Also, swap the noodles out for zucchini noodles or Pasta Zero Miracle Noodles and swap the regular sriracha out for a paleo sriracha like this one.

Tips on Fish Sauce and Salt

The fish sauce and salt are to taste. I recommend starting with 1 tablespoon of fish sauce and then adding more salt or fish sauce to your own liking.

Sharing is Caring – Please Pin thisInstant Pot Chicken Pho Recipe!

Instant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (15)

More Instant Pot Recipes

If you like this chicken pho recipe, here are some more Instant Pot Recipes to try.

  • Instant Pot Beef Roast Recipe
  • Paleo Shredded Buffalo Chicken Recipe
  • Instant Pot Carrot Soup Recipe
Instant Pot Chicken Pho SOUP recipe (2024)

FAQs

What gives pho broth its taste? ›

Broth - the soul of Pho. Beef bones play a crucial role in influencing the quality of the broth. Combined with spices such as ginger, charred onions, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and coriander seeds, the broth gains a distinct aroma.

Why is pho broth so good? ›

The broth is the soul of pho, easily the most important component. Though chicken variants exist, pho broth is typically made from beef, onions/shallots, ginger, yellow rock sugar, fish sauce, and spices. The broth is where the flavor is and It's what makes pho, pho.

Is pho broth the same as bone broth? ›

Bone broth, the soup base used for pho, has received a lot of attention lately for its curative properties and one of the reasons is that it contains collagen, a protein found in bone marrow.

What's the difference between pho and Pho Ga? ›

There are two kinds of Pho, either Pho bo (beef noodle soup) or Pho ga (chicken noodle soup). So, if you are trying a noodle soup without beef or chicken, your noodle soup could be any kind of Vietnamese noodle soup but Pho (except the vegetarian version of Pho).

What is the secret ingredient in pho broth? ›

Sa sung—dried peanut worms—have been described as the secret ingredient of great pho.

What is the main spice in pho? ›

Spices: There are 5 important spices in pho broth — star anise, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, and coriander seeds. I really recommend using the whole (not ground) spices if possible, which we will briefly toast to bring out extra flavor.

Is pho broth anti inflammatory? ›

Pho is very nutritious. From its ingredients, it's been shown to reduce inflammation and improve joint health. If you suffer from something like chronic pain or arthritis, you may want to entertain the idea of enjoying more pho. The broth particularly can be very anti-inflammation.

Is pho healthier than ramen? ›

Pho is usually considered a healthier choice than ramen because it tends to have fewer calories and less fat, making it a lighter meal. But both pho and ramen still give you a good amount of protein, vitamins, and minerals.

Is pho the healthiest soup? ›

Pho is nutritious and is high in protein, but does have high sodium and calories. It may help reduce inflammation and improve joint health. Pho (pronounced “fuh”) is a hearty Vietnamese soup usually made with a meaty broth, rice noodles, various herbs, and either beef, chicken, or tofu.

What is the difference between chicken broth and pho broth? ›

Making a good pho broth will feel familiar to anyone who has ever made their own chicken stock or beef stock. The process is almost exactly the same, except for the addition of a few uniquely Vietnamese ingredients like star anise, cinnamon, ginger, soy sauce, and fish sauce.

What kind of meat do I buy for pho? ›

Top choices for beef pho are sirloin steak, round eye, or London broil. All of these are quick-cooking pieces of beef that won't leave you chewing for hours. My favorite of the bunch is round eye, which is what I've used today — this cut is leaner than sirloin and I like its beefy flavor, especially in this pho.

Do you eat all the broth in pho? ›

It is important to finish your soup when eating pho. Leaving broth in your bowl is considered wasteful in Vietnamese culture.

Is chicken pho healthier than beef? ›

Chicken pho generally has the least fat and is a good source of lean protein. If you're just here for the beef, round cuts are the leanest, followed by brisket and flank. If you like pho with the more traditional tripe, you'll be happy to know that it's quite lean and low in calories.

Is chicken or beef pho better for sickness? ›

Chicken is leaner than beef." The noodle soup has also been cited by doctors as an excellent cold remedy due to all the healing spices it's packed with, such as coriander and anise.

Is beef or chicken pho better when sick? ›

Just don't overdo the spices since that could upset your stomach. Pho has a lot of very beneficial ingredients, particularly if you go with chicken. Chicken soup has been shown in studies to be very beneficial for people suffering from a cold or common bugs.

What makes pho broth different? ›

Pho Broth Spices and Other ingredients

The spices are toasted to bring out the flavour before adding into the pot. And the ginger and onion are charred to add a subtle smokey flavour into the broth – a secret little step that adds that extra something-something to make this pho recipe authentic and traditional!

What makes pho smell so good? ›

Star anise, cloves, and cinnamon are the aromatic trinity in traditional pho stock. Try adding a few whole spices to the store-bought stuff, along with fresh ginger and a glug of fish sauce.

What is the difference between ramen broth and pho broth? ›

If you compare the two soups side by side, the noodles in pho are soft and translucent, and the noodles in ramen are firm and chewy. Pho broth is thin and clear, and ramen broth is usually dark and cloudy.

How is pho broth so clear? ›

Hi korean recipes soak meat in cold water a half hour to remove blood and impurities before cooking to get a clear broth.

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