This Instant Pot beef barley soup is the perfect winter soup. Filled with flavor, cooks in just 30 minutes, and filled with chunky vegetables and tender beef. You’ll love this easy, classic soup!

If there is one thing I love on a cold winter night it’s hands down a big bowl of soup.

We are HUGE soup eaters in our house.

Especially when that soup is EXTRA hearty like this Instant Pot beef barley soup.

It’s packed with chunked veggies, extra tender beef stew meat, and lots of pearled barely.

I love to serve this soup with a wedge of bread so I can soak up any all of the leftover broth left in my bowl.

Don’t worry if you have never made beef barley soup before. With the Instant Pot or any other brand of an electric pressure cooker, you’ll be rewarded with the biggest pot of comfort and deliciousness!

What is pearl barley?

There are 2 main types of barley you can find in the grocery store – pearl or hulled barley.

For this recipe you’ll want to get your hands on the quicker cooking pearl barley.

Pearl barley is barley that has had it’s outer hull and bran layers taken off so it’s results in slightly less nutrient version BUT cooks up much quicker.

Most recipes that call for barely will call for pearl barley as it cooks up MUCH faster than the hulled barley.

You may also see hulled barely called “barley groats.”

Where can I find pearl barley?

I have no issue finding pearl barely in all of the groceries I frequent – Publix, Walmart, Food Lion, and Harris Teeter.

You can typically find it in the same area you would find dried beans, grains, and rice.

If you cannot find it in the store you can also buy it from Amazon.

What type of beef should I use for beef barley soup?

I typically use store-bought beef stew meat.

While it’s not the most tender of cuts because I’m using it in my Instant Pot I know it will turn out tender.

If you cannot find store-bought cut stew meat, you can cube a chuck roast into 1-1/2 inch cubes.

Chuck roast is always my go-to meat for soup and stews after stew meat.

Can I add other vegetables to this soup?

Of course!

The mix I use here just so happens to be my favorite.

I have also successfully added a 1/2 cup more pearl barley. It turned out fine because I make this soup heavy on the broth.

How do I store leftover Instant Pot beef barley soup?

After your soup has cooled, I store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

As the soup sits, the barley will soak up more of the stock, and the leftover soup may appear much thicker.

I usually add a little more broth or water before reheating the soup.

What can I serve with beef barely soup?

I like to serve my soup plain, but it pairs wonderfully with toasted bread, crackers, and even a warm grilled cheese.

Because this soup contains lots of vegetables and beef, it’s very hearty and filling.

Love this Instant Pot Beef and Barley Soup?

Why not try a few of my other hearty pressure cooker meals!

• Instant Pot Pinto Beans
• Instant Pot Pumpkin Beef Stew
• Pressure Cooker Butternut Squash Congee
• Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala
• Pressure Cooker Cranberry Sauce Pulled Pork
• Instant Pot Pork Chili Verde
• Instant Pot Asian Chicken and Rice Soup
• Instant Pot Red Wine Rosemary Short Ribs