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Home » Instant Pot Recipes

Published: Nov 18, 2019 · Modified: May 29, 2023 by chhavi

Instant Pot Chicken Barley Soup

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Instant Pot Chicken Barley Soup - Hearty Chicken Soup with Carrots,Celery ,Onions and Pearl barley.This Instant Pot Soup recipe is Super healthy.It can be made Paleo and Whole 30 compliant with a few easy swaps!

Close up of Instant Pot Chicken Barley Soup in a blue bowl

This Soup recipe can also be made with left over Rotisseri chicken or Raw Chicken Thighs.

If you need to make a glutenfree version, you can replace barley with quinoa or Sourgham(Jowar).Jowar will give a similar finish as barley.

It's also a great recipe for meal planning. I make a giant batch of this and eat it for dinner over the week.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Chicken Barley Soup

Ingredients for Instant Pot Chicken Barley Soup on a cutting board

This gorgeous soup can be made easily with pantry staples.
All you need is-

  • Pearl Barley
  • Chicken - Already Cooked or Raw Whole Chicken Thighs
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Onions
  • Chicken Broth
  • Herbs
  • Olive Oil

A note on Chicken

You can use already cooked shredded chicken like leftover Rotisseri Chicken or even turkey.If using already cooked chicken, add it in the end after the pressure cooking step is over.

When using Raw Chicken, I prefer Whole Chicken Thighs because their cooking time matches that of the barley.If you use chicken breast, they tend to over cook.Though you can use frozen chicken breast instead.

Instant Pot Chicken Barley Soup

How to make Instant Pot Chicken Barley Soup

Step 1: Prep

Cut the Vegetables- Onions,Carrots,Celery and Garlic.

Step 2:Saute

Select the SAUTE function.Once hot, add oil.Add Garlic and saute for 10-15 seconds. Add and Saute the Onions, celery and Carrots.Cook till they are translucent.

Step 3:Pressure Cook

Cancel Saute. Add all the left over ingredients- Barley,Chicken,Chicken stock(or water),Salt and pepper.Mix it up.

Close the lid and Select Pressure Cook for 18 minutes.Let the pressure release naturally.

Open the instant pot, remove the chicken and shred it.Put it back in the pot.

If using Cooked chicken, add it after opening the instant pot.Add the chicken and bring it to boil in saute mode.

Is Chicken Barley Soup healthy?

Low GI Soup- This soup is low on GI because of the pearl barley.

Gluten Free- Barley contains Gluten but the soup can be made gluten free if you substitute barley with Sourgham or quinoa.Sorurgham will have same meaty bite as barley.

Paleo and Whole 30- you can omit the barley to make is paleo and whole 30 friendly.Also, you could replace the barley with chunks of potatoes to make it a more wholesome soup.

Tips and Alternatives for Chicken Barley Soup

Natural Pressure Release - When cooking anything liquidy in the instant pot, it's always advisable to let the pressure release naturally.This is done to avoid the liquid spurting out of the pressure valve.

Change up the veggies- You can add a lot more veggies to the soup.Green Peas,Cauliflower and Potatoes will work very well in this Barley Soup.

Close up of Instant Pot Chicken Barley Soup in a blue bowl

Here are some more healthy instant pot recipes for you

Soups are easy dinner options that are healthy and filling.They also freeze well.Thats the reason everyone should have several soup recipes in their repertoire.

Here are some easy instantpot soup recipes for you

Instant Pot Thai Pumpkin Soup
Instant Pot Quinoa Bowl
Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken
Instant Pot Carrot Soup
Instant Pot Zuchinni Soup

Tried it? I’d love to know! Tag me or drop a comment below — your feedback totally makes my day.

Mention #yellowthyme or tag @yellowthyme on Instagram or follow me on Pinterest.


Instant Pot Chicken Barley Soup

Instant Pot Chicken Barley Soup - Healthy Hearty Pressure Cooked Soup Recipe with pearl Barley,Chicken Thighs & Vegetables.Perfect for Winters!
3.67 from 21 votes
Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Print Recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 23 minutes minutes
Servings: 5
Calories: 247kcal
Author: Chhavi

Equipment

  • Instant Pot

Ingredients 

  • ½ Cup Barley
  • 2 Chicken Thighs Whole / more options in notes
  • ½ Cup Celery Chopped
  • ½ Cup Onion Chopped
  • ½ Cup Carrot Chopped
  • 3-4 Cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • Salt to Taste
  • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper or more as per your tolerance
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 1 Sprig Fresh Oregano Optional
  • 3 Cups Chicken Broth or Water

Instructions

  • Heat the Instant Pot in SAUTE mode.
  • Once hot, add olive oil.
  • Add the Garlic and let it sizzle for 10-20 seconds.
  • Add the Chopped onions,Carrots and Celery and Saute for 3 minutes till the onions start turning translucent.
  • Add the Oregano, Bayleaf, Chicken Thighs,Barley,Salt,Pepper and 3 cups of water.
  • Cancel SAUTE and Close the lid.Select PRESSURE COOK on HIGH for 18 minutes with the pressure valve in SEALING position.
  • Let the pressure release naturally.
  • Open the lid, take out the bay leaf and oregano and discard.
  • Take out the chicken thighs- Shred and add back to the soup.(If using precooked chicken add at this stage)
  • Add more water/Stock if you like the soup to be more watery.Bring to boil and seve hot.

Notes

Note on Chicken
It is recommended you use chicken thighs if cooking them along with the soup.
Or you can use already cooked ,shredded chicken like leftover rotisseri chicken.If using already cooked chicken, add it in after the pressure cooking step is over.

Nutrition

Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 16.6g | Protein: 14.7g | Fat: 13.5g | Saturated Fat: 3.5g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 70mg | Potassium: 169mg | Fiber: 3.9g | Sugar: 1.3g | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg

More Instant Pot Recipes

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    Instant Pot Kheer - Indian Rice Pudding
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Reader Interactions

Comments

    3.67 from 21 votes (21 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Niki says

    January 26, 2020 at 11:08 pm

    When do you add the barley? There’s no mention of this in the recipe.

    Reply
    • chhavi says

      January 27, 2020 at 9:57 am

      Hey Niki,
      Barley is added just before the pressure cooking step along with the chicken.

      Reply
  2. Gloria says

    November 10, 2020 at 1:51 pm

    If I use more broth and I add more ingredients to balance out the broth do I add more cooking time?

    Reply
    • chhavi says

      November 17, 2020 at 8:02 am

      No i dont think so.The instant pot will just take longer to come to pressure. Though be careful about not going above the 2/3 level given in the instant pot.

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Chhavi! Thank you for visiting Yellowthyme!Here you will find a collection of easy & delicious recipes made with fresh, simple ingredients.

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