Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup - An easy-to-make, flavorful soup filled with tender meat, plump barley and lots of vegetables. This big beefy stew is hearty and satisfying. Because it's made in the pressure cooker it tastes like a soup that has been slowly simmered all day.
Next time try Slow Cooker Beef Stew and Dumplings.
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Why you'll love this recipe
Slow-cooked soups are best made on weekends and holidays, right? Well no more! When you use your pressure cooker, it takes less than half the time!
✔️ It’s done in less than an hour!
✔️ It's a hearty soup and one of our favorite soups for a cold day.
✔️ It's affordable as well, like the Potato Soup with Ham recipe (which is also made in the pressure cooker).
✔️ You'll find all the ingredients you need at the grocery store - no hunting around for special ingredients.
This is one of our favorite soup recipes! It's a meal your whole family will enjoy! Rich roast beef, sautéed veggies and tender barley – what’s not to love? This easy recipe makes 8 generous servings, so it’s easy on your wallet also!
Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- round-steak - beef chuck roast, beef stew meat, or leftover roast beef
- pearled barley - a delicious whole grain, you'll find it in the dried beans section
- crushed tomatoes OR canned French onion soup and beef consommé - big shortcut on flavor
- flavorful beef broth - low sodium is best, you can substitute with chicken broth if you'd prefer.
- carrots, celery, onion, sliced mushrooms, garlic and frozen peas - tons of fresh vegetables make this soup extra hearty.
- salt, pepper, bay leaf, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes - seasonings to perfect flavor the soup.
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!
- Trim fat from the round-steak (if desired). Cut stew meat into small cubes. Sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper, set aside.
- Peel and dice carrots and onion. Slice the mushrooms. Mince the garlic.
- Turn the Instant Pot on saute mode, when it is hot add the olive oil and round-steak.
- Brown meat on all sides.
- Add the carrots and onions along with the Italian seasoning. Stir well to combine. Sauté for another couple of minutes. Add the garlic and stir again.
- Now add the liquid, both soups, and the stock. Add the bay leaves and barley. Stir everything to combine. Scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pan.
- Turn the Instant Pot off, then press the manual setting. Set the timer to 20 minutes, high pressure. Top with the lid and seal. Turn the valve to seal.
- When the timer is done your meal is complete. Do a quick pressure release, stir and serve!
- Optional - stir in a handful of minced parsley and a tablespoon of red wine vinegar. It will brighten the flavors of the soup.
Stove top instructions
- Stovetop directions for Beef Barley Soup – brown the meat, add the vegetables as described in the instruction.
- Add the liquid, cover and simmer for 2-3 hours until the meat is tender and the barley is cooked through.
- Add the peas at the end just prior to serving.
Crockpot instructions
- Omit the olive oil when using the slow cooker. Add all of the ingredients to the crockpot. Cover and set on low cook 8-10 hours or until the meat is tender.
- Add the peas at the end, stir well and serve.
FAQ's
If you've never made barley you might have a few questions. We love it and it's perfect when added to soups and stews. I think you'll really enjoy it also. If I missed a question, don't hesitate to comment or pop me an email!
No need to precook the barley. It is added to the soup along with the rest of the stew ingredients.
There is no need to soak the barley before cooking. Just rinse it well under cool water prior to adding it to the pressure cooker.
What can take 45 minutes on the stovetop happens quickly when using an Instant Pot. Twenty minutes under pressure and the barley is plump and cooked.
Yes, this soup freezes great! After the soup is completely cooled, place it in a freezer container and seal well. It will last up to three months.
Tips
Wait to add the frozen peas until thereat is completely cooked. If you add them earlier, they will get mushy.
Variations
- You can really add a variety of vegetables to this soup, potatoes, green beans, corn, zucchini, really any fresh vegetables.
- A dash of Worcestershire sauce is a great addition and will deepen the flavor of the soup.
- Adding a tablespoon of tomato paste will deepen the flavor without making it overly tomato-ee. (Is that a word? Well you know what I mean! 🤣)
Storage
Refrigerate - Allow to cool completely, store in an airtight container up to three days.
Freeze - This soup freezes great up to three months.
Reheat - Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Related Recipes
Corned Beef Stew - This soup is rich, thick and delicious!
Instant Pot Lentil Soup and Instant Pot Chicken Soup are both recipes that are made in the pressure cooker. Both easy to make, hearty soups!
Serve with
Serve with crusty bread! Make a batch of fresh dinner rolls (this recipe uses frozen bread dough and it's super easy!) or these Cheesy Pizza Hut Breadsticks.
This make-ahead Roast Beef Rollups Recipe is the perfect bite with this soup!
Serve a salad with this meal, that would be super yummy as well! This Garden Salad Recipe is just so good!
Instant Pot Beef Barley Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound round steak cut into cubes
- 15 ounces crushed tomatoes or one 10.5 oz can each French onion soup and beef consommé
- 4 cups beef stock
- 1 yellow onion peeled and diced
- 3 carrots peeled and diced
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms I used a package of pre-sliced mushrooms
- 3 cloves garlic
- ¾ cup pearl barley
- 1 cup frozen peas
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
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Instructions
- Remove the fat from the round-steak (if desired). Cut the steak into small cubes. Sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper, set aside.
- Peel and dice the carrots and onion. Slice the mushrooms. Mince the garlic.
- Turn the Instant Pot on sauté, when it is hot add the olive oil and round-steak.
- Allow the meat to brown and on all sides. About two minutes per side.
- Add the carrots and onions along with the Italian seasoning. Stir well to combine. Sauté for another couple of minutes. Add the garlic and stir again.
- Now add the liquid, both soups, and the stock. Add the bay leaves and barley. Scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pot - that adds flavor! Stir everything to combine.
- Turn the Instant Pot off, then press the manual setting. Set the timer to 20 minutes. Top with the lid and seal. Turn the valve to seal.
- When the timer is done your meal is complete. Do a quick release, stir and serve!
- Optional - stir in a handful of minced parsley and a tablespoon of red wine vinegar. It will brighten the flavors of the soup.
Notes
How to make Beef Barley Soup on the stovetop or in the slow cooker;
- Slow Cooker Directions – Add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker (minus the olive oil). Set on low. Cook 8-10 hours or until the meat is tender. Add the peas at the end, stir well and serve.
- Stovetop directions – start with a large stock pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil and brown the meat. Next add the vegetables as described in the directions above. Simmer for a couple of hours until the meat is tender and the barley is completely cooked. Add the peas at the end just prior to serving.
Lois
This is a wonderful satisfying soup. So tasty.
Bowl Me Over
I'm so glad you enjoyed it Lois!!!
Christie
I haven't had beef and barley soup in forever! Since it's go to snow this week, I'll be putting it on the menu!
Bowl Me Over
Barley soup is so good! Such a classic meal, I hope you give this a try Christie!!
Michele Phillips
We're allllllll about soups in our house, and beef barley is definitely a favorite! Love all the veggies and flavors that you've included in this recipe! And that shopping list is SUCH a time saver for those of us who are trying to be more organized! 🙂
Bowl Me Over
Wonderful then I know you'll love this one Michele - enjoy!
Angela
I'm going to be getting an instant pot very soon and this is definitely going to be one of the first things I make for sure!! I love beef & barley and the ease of this recipe sounds amazing~
Bowl Me Over
Oooh! Swing back by and enter the giveaway on the blog! You'll find it on the Chef's Blend Spice Mix - good luck Angela!
Jennifer A Stewart
My mom used to make beef and barley soup and at first I was not a fan but totally love it now!
Bowl Me Over
Wonderful, I hope you give it a try Jennifer - thank you for stopping by!
Sandra Shaffer
Yep! I'm on the Instant Pot bandwagon and LOVE the meals that I have made so far. This beef barley soup looks delicious and soooo nutritious! Have you tried freezing this soup? I would like to make in advance so I can have ready-made meals.
Bowl Me Over
Yes Sandra, this soup freezes great! It’s perfect for make ahead - truly one of those soups that get better with time also!
Michelle
I love soups like this! I really do need to invest in an Instant Pot!
Bowl Me Over
Enter the contest I have running Michelle - perhaps you’ll win one!!!
michele
I love anything that screams comfort food.... and this fits that bIll! Im a recent corned beef convert and Ive been looking for new recipes to try with it. (How did I go all my life without trying that?). Pinning to make asap!
Bowl Me Over
Enjoy Michele - this soup has a ton of flavor and it’s easy too - love that! Thank you so much for stopping by!
[email protected]'s Dinnertime Dish.com
I love making soup in the Instant Pot, it's so easy and it tastes like it cooked all day! This soup looks absolutely amazing and I'm sure it tastes fantastic!
Bowl Me Over
Thank you so much Lisa, I hope you get a chance to give it a try!
Liza
Mmm! Love it! Beef and barley can be so tricky to make! Especially if you don't have all day to cook. This recipe is so perfect for a one-bowl meal for the whole family! Definitely making it! 🙂
Bowl Me Over
It can take all day Liza!! Or soak up every ounce of liquid if you don’t measure it right. It’s a tricky ingredient, but tasty too. I’m so pleased with this soup, thank you for stopping by!
Sandi
I could use a big bowl of hot soup! I love that you used the Instant Pot, that is my new favorite way to make soup quickly!
Bowl Me Over
Yes!! That Instant Pot is such a great kitchen tool - I love mine too!