Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 15 mins | Total Time: 30 mins | Servings: 6
Big in flavour, thick, and rich Beef Barley Soup that’s easily and quickly made in an Instant Pot. This soup is packed with big chunks of tender beef and barley in a rich broth. Pure comfort in a bowl.
Ingredients
3 tbsp butter divided
1 ½ to 2 pounds beef stew meat cut into 1 ½” cubes
½ c. diced onion
½ c. diced celery
½ c. diced carrots
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 sprig fresh rosemary or ½ tsp dried rosemary
5 sprigs fresh thyme or ½ tsp dried thyme
2 medium bay leaves
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground pepper
6 c. beef broth
1 c. Quick Barley or Barley Pearls
3 tbsp cornstarch
3 tbsp cool water
How to make Instant Pot Beef Barley Soup
Step 1: Set the Instant Pot in Saute setting and melt 2 tbsp butter.
Step 2: Season the stew meat with salt and pepper. In small batches, add them to the Instant Pot. Cook until all sides are brown. Transfer the cooked stew meat to a bowl and set aside.
Step 3: Into the Instant Pot, add the rest of the butter along with the diced onion, diced celery, and diced carrots. Saute for about 3 minutes until the onion is almost translucent. Add in the minced garlic and stir. Saute for a minute more.
Step 4: Add back the stew meat to the Instant Pot with the accumulated liquids followed by the beef broth and fresh or dried herbs.
Step 5: Stir well to combine. Cover the Instant Pot, turning the pressure valve to a sealing position. Set on Manual and cook for about 18 minutes.
Step 6: When done, let the Instant Pot naturally release the steam for 2 minutes before carefully quickly releasing the rest of the steam.
Step 7: Remove the lid very carefully, then stir in a cup of Quick Cook Barley into the hot soup.
Step 8: Whisk the cornstarch with cool water in a small bowl. Stir this into the Instant Pot.
Step 9: Again, set the Instant Pot to Saute function and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Continue to cook the soup for another 10 minutes or until the barley is soft and the broth has thickened.
NOTES:
The cooking method will depend on the type of barley used.
After the beef soup has pressure-cooked, add the quick barley to the Instant Pot.
If using barley pearls, add them to the Instant Pot in the beginning and cook them with the other ingredients.
Increase the cooking time to 20 minutes if the beef stew is cut into large pieces.
NUTRITION FACTS:
Serving: 1Bowl | Calories: 328kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 1371mg | Potassium: 711mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1884IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 4mg

Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter divided
- 1 ½ to 2 pounds beef stew meat cut into 1 ½” cubes
- ½ c. diced onion
- ½ c. diced celery
- ½ c. diced carrots
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary or ½ tsp dried rosemary
- 5 sprigs fresh thyme or ½ tsp dried thyme
- 2 medium bay leaves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- 6 c. beef broth
- 1 c. Quick Barley or Barley Pearls
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp cool water
Instructions
Step 1: Set the Instant Pot in Saute setting and melt 2 tbsp butter.
Step 2: Season the stew meat with salt and pepper. In small batches, add them to the Instant Pot. Cook until all sides are brown. Transfer the cooked stew meat to a bowl and set aside.
Step 3: Into the Instant Pot, add the rest of the butter along with the diced onion, diced celery, and diced carrots. Saute for about 3 minutes until the onion is almost translucent. Add in the minced garlic and stir. Saute for a minute more.
Step 4: Add back the stew meat to the Instant Pot with the accumulated liquids followed by the beef broth and fresh or dried herbs.
Step 5: Stir well to combine. Cover the Instant Pot, turning the pressure valve to a sealing position. Set on Manual and cook for about 18 minutes.
Step 6: When done, let the Instant Pot naturally release the steam for 2 minutes before carefully quickly releasing the rest of the steam.
Step 7: Remove the lid very carefully, then stir in a cup of Quick Cook Barley into the hot soup.
Step 8: Whisk the cornstarch with cool water in a small bowl. Stir this into the Instant Pot.
Step 9: Again, set the Instant Pot to Saute function and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Continue to cook the soup for another 10 minutes or until the barley is soft and the broth has thickened.
Notes
The cooking method will depend on the type of barley used. After the beef soup has pressure-cooked, add the quick barley to the Instant Pot. If using barley pearls, add them to the Instant Pot in the beginning and cook them with the other ingredients. Increase the cooking time to 20 minutes if the beef stew is cut into large pieces.