This classic hearty Instant Pot Barley Soup is loaded with nutritious vegetables, tender beef, and barley. It’s an easy comforting winter soup recipe made in one pot!
When it’s getting cold outside, all you want is a bowl of a warm hearty soup. This Barley Soup is not only packed with nutritious ingredients, like vegetables, whole grain barley, and tender beef, but also is super easy to make in your Instant Pot.
Like my other soups (Borscht and Chicken Soup), this Beef Barley Soup is perfect for meal prepping. It will keep well in the fridge for up to 5 days and will get even more flavorful.
How to make it
Here are a few easy steps to make this delicious hearty Beef Barley Soup.
- SEAR THE MEAT.
To start, we need to rinse and pat dry the beef stew meat. If the pieces are too big, cut them in about 1×1 inch cubed.
NOTE 1: I like to cut the meat smaller to make sure it will be perfectly cooked.
Set your Instant Pot on “SAUTE”, add some olive oil, and let the oil get hot.
When the oil is hot, add half of the beef and sear until it’s browned. Then take it out and repeat the same with another batch.
NOTE 2: I like to brown the meat in 2-3 batches. If you put in everything at once, the meat will be overcrowded and start boiling in its own juices. When you sear beef in batches, there is more space in-between of each piece, that allows them to brown.
NOTE 3: When you brown the meat, it’s important not to stir it too much. Just put it in a single layer, leaving some space in-between, and let it cook for 2-3 minutes until it gets a nice crust, then flip it and cook more.
- SAUTE THE VEGETABLES.
When the beef is browned, take it out of the pot to a separate bowl and set aside.
Add diced onion and celery and cook for about 5-7 minutes, until they are translucent and softened.
Then add minced garlic and cook for another minute.
After that, deglaze the pot with Beef Broth.
- ADD THE REST OF THE INGREDIENTS.
Now we can turn off Instant Pot and add the rest of the ingredients (browned beef, diced tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, barley, and water).
Close the lid and make sure that the venting knob is set to “SEAL”.
Cook the soup for 20 minutes on “HIGH” pressure.
When done, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes.
After the soup is cooked, taste it and add more salt to your liking.
MORE COMFORT MEALS YOU MIGHT LIKE:
- Borscht Soup with Beef
- Mac and Cheese
- Dutch Oven Beef Stew
- One Pot Chicken and Rice
- Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Pasta with Meat Sauce
- Easy Mongolian Beef
MORE INSTANT POT RECIPE YOU MIGHT LIKE:
- Instant Pot Pot Roast
- Instant Pot Chicken Soup
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork
- Instant Pot Chicken Wings
- Instant Pot Boneless Short Ribs
- Instant Pot Pulled Chicken
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Barley Soup with Beef
Did you make this recipe?!? I’d love to know how it turned out! leave a comment and a rating below👇 thank you!
Instant Pot Barley Soup with Beef
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef stew meat cut in 1x1 inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 4 cups beef broth
- 15 ounces diced tomatoes 1 can
- 2 carrots diced
- 6 small potatoes cut in quarters
- 1 cup barley rinsed
- 2 cups water
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry 2 pounds beef stew meat. If the pieces are too big, cut them in about 1x1 inch cubed.
- Set your Instant Pot on “SAUTE”, add 2 tbsp olive oil, and let the oil get hot.
- When the oil is hot, add half of the beef and sear until it’s browned. Then take it out and repeat the same with another batch.
- When the beef is browned, take it out of the pot to a separate bowl and set aside.
- Add 1 diced onion and 2 stalks diced celery and cook for about 5-7 minutes, until they are translucent and softened.
- Add 2 cloves minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add 4 cups beef broth and deglaze the pot.
- Turn off Instant Pot and add the rest of the ingredients (browned beef, 15 ounces diced tomatoes, 2 diced carrots, 6 diced potatoes, 1 cup barley, and 2 cups water).
- Close the lid and make sure that the venting knob is set to “SEAL”.
- Cook the soup for 20 minutes on “HIGH” pressure.
- When done, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes.
- When done, taste the soup and add more salt to your liking.
Ok, I just made this and it’s the best ever recipe for beef barley soup!! I did add a bay leaf and a little basil. Superb, my husband is raving
Thank you so much, Robin! I’m so happy you both enjoyed the recipe!
I just put mine in my instant pot and can’t wait for it to be done!
Let me know how it came out 😉 Hope you like it!
How would it change if I wanted to use ox tails instead of the stew meat?? Thanks
Making this week! Will be my first time using my instant pot.
Yaay! Good luck,with your new IP! Just make sore you brown the beef tips long enough to get the crisp. The rest is very simple 😉
I hope this uses Quick Barley – that is all I have.
The soup was delicious, except that i’ve Added 4 cups of water instead of 2.
Thank you for the recipe:)
It’s a cold and rainy day here in Pittsburgh and this soup is exactly what I herd! It looks scrumptious!
I would love to sit down to a big bowl of that soup. It really is my kind of comfort food and I don’t get barley often enough
Your soup is a must try for this winter season for sure. It looks so comforting and filling, it will be a great easy dinner.
Your photos are beautiful! I wish I could reach in and grab a bowl of this soup…it looks absolutely delicious and comforting!
I just bought an Instant Pot so I’m on the hunt for great soups for the fall and winter, and this beef barley soup definitely hits all the marks for me! It looks so hearty and cozy! Thank you for sharing!