Chicken Pesto Soup

Step 1

Take cauliflower rice out of the freezer and let it start to thaw on the counter. (I used a 10.5 oz. package which was 2.5 cups of cauliflower rice.)

Step 2

Trim chicken breasts and cut lengthwise into 2 or 3 strips each.

Step 3

Finely chop onion, celery, and carrots. (You can use less carrot if you'd like to reduce the carbs even more.)

Step 4

Turn Instant Pot to SAUTE, HIGH HEAT, and melt the butter. Then add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery and cook a couple of minutes.

Step 5

Add Italian Herb Seasoning, sage, ground thyme, salt, and fresh-ground black pepper and cook a minute more.

Step 6

Add chicken broth or stock, chicken breast strips, and soup base.

Step 7

Lock the lid and set Instant Pot to MANUAL, HIGH, 6 minutes.

Step 8

When time is up, let the Instant Pot natural release for 10 minutes; then carefully open the valve and release the rest of the pressure.

Step 9

Remove cooked chicken pieces to a cutting board.

Step 10

Turn Instant Pot to SAUTE, LOW and add the frozen cauliflower rice.

Step 11

While cauliflower rice cooks, shred chicken apart.

Step 12

After cauliflower rice has cooked at least 5 minutes, add shredded chicken to the soup and cook about 3 minutes more.

Step 13

Turn off the Instant Pot and stir in basil pesto and lemon juice.

Step 14

Serve right away and enjoy! We served this with more Parmesan cheese to add at the table.

Step 15

Thaw cauliflower rice, prepared vegetables, and prepare chicken same as above.

Step 16

You will need at least another 1/2 cup chicken broth or stock for stovetop cooking.

Step 17

Melt butter in a large soup pot and saute onion, carrots, and celery for a few minutes.

Step 18

Then add Italian Herb Seasoning, sage, thyme, salt, and fresh-ground black pepper and cook a few minutes more.

Step 19

Add chicken broth or stock, chicken breast strips, and soup base to the soup pot and turn heat to low.

Step 20

Let soup simmer about 4 minutes on low, or until chicken is firm.

Step 21

Remove chicken to cutting board and add cauliflower rice. Cook about 15 minutes more on low.

Step 22

Shred chicken apart and add to soup pot when the cauliflower rice is done. Cook about 5 minutes more to be sure chicken is heated through.

Step 23

Turn off heat, stir in basil pesto and lemon juice, and serve.