Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup

Instant pot beef and barley soup is a warm hearty delicious soup in a rich and flavorful broth. Loaded with barley, vegetables and seasonings. This easy homemade recipe takes only 30 minutes and is perfect for any night of the week.

Next time try this easy creamy instant pot tomato soup.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why You'll Love It
• 📝 Ingredients
• 🥄 Instructions
• 💡 Expert Tips
• ⌛ Make Ahead
• 🍽️ Serve With
• 👩‍🍳 Variations
• 🧺 Storage
• 💬 FAQs
• 📣 Related Recipes
• Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup

Start with chopping up your veggies as it's best to get the prep work done ahead of time. Browning the beef, sautéing the vegetables, adding your seasonings and broth to your instant pot. The result is spoon tender beef and vegetables with a savory broth.

❤️ Why You'll Love It

• Flavorful and hearty soup in only 30 minutes.
• Perfect for a lunch or dinner.
• Make a pot of it ahead of time and heat as you need it.
• Barley is a healthy grain full of fiber, magnesium and other vitamins & minerals.

If this is your first time using your instant pot or if you're a seasoned user, you will adore this easy soup recipe. A little bit of prep and the rest is done in your instant pot. Homemade soup has never been easier!

📝 Ingredients

📋 Ingredient Notes

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• Beef stew: Stew beef or chuck roast cut into pieces cubes.
• Salt/Pepper: Adds flavor to the beef.
• All-purpose flour: Used to coat the beef stew meat.
• Olive oil: Needed to sauté the meat and veggies into it.
• Onion, garlic, carrots, celery and tomato paste for Mirepoix flavor base.
• Dry oregano: A classic flavor used in beef dishes.
• Fresh basil: Amazing flavor to the beef and barley soup.
• Boiling water: Used to deglaze the instant pot.
• Beef broth: I used regular beef broth, but you can use low sodium broth if you prefer.
• Pearl barley

🥄 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.

• In a medium bowl, place beef stew then add salt, black pepper and flour. Toss to coat.
• Turn on your instant pot to the sauté option, heat oil then add beef stew.
• Sauté until beef is browned; this will take about 5 minutes.

• Add chopped onion, garlic, carrots and celery. Continue to cook and stir for another 5 minutes.
• Add oregano, basil and tomato paste and mix them in. Pour one cup of water and deglaze the bottom of your instant pot. Add the remaining water, stock and barley.

• Cancel the sauté option, cover and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes making sure the valve is set to sealed. Let it naturally release the pressure for 5-10 minutes then do a quick release.

💡 Expert Tips

• I do not like using hulled barley in this recipe but if you must then increase the cooking time by 10 minutes. Hulled barley needs more time to cook and this might make the veggies mushy.
• Reheat on stove top on medium or in the microwave.
• You can use low-sodium beef broth for this recipe if you prefer. You can also make your own beef bone broth and add it for more richness.
• A bay leaf can be added with the seasonings as well, just remember to take it out before serving.

⌛ Make Ahead

You can make the soup ahead of time, cool and then store until you're ready to reheat it. Easily reheat on your stove top or in your microwave.

🍽️ Serve With

This soup is hearty enough by itself, however a loaf of crusty bread or even garlic bread goes so well with this soup recipe.

👩‍🍳 Variations

• Add some small chopped up potatoes. The potatoes can be added after the barley and then continue on with the recipe.
• Use Italian seasoning or dried thyme if you like more herbs in your soup.
• A touch of Worcestershire sauce adds a great taste.
• Mushrooms are a great addition too. Add sliced mushrooms when you add the onions.
• Red pepper flakes are a fabulous way to add a little kick to your barley soup.

🧺 Storage

Store leftover instant pot beef and barley soup in an airtight container in your refrigerator for 3-4 days or in your freezer for 4-6 months.

💬 FAQs

📣 Related Recipes

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• Instant Pot chicken and rice soup is a warm and comforting dish done in minutes for a delicious warm meal. Tender chicken, rice and vegetables cooked in flavorful broth for the perfect dinner to warm you up.
• Bamya is delicious okra stew in tomato and pepper sauce. Bamya is a middle eastern dish, popular year round.
• With just a few key ingredients, you can bring the taste of Morocco to your kitchen with this easy harira soup recipe. A filling and warming recipe that you need to try.
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• Gluten free beef stew with fall apart beef, tender vegetables in a hearty rich sauce. A great weeknight dinner your whole family will enjoy.

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