Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup

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Make a hearty vegetable beef soup in no time with this Instant Pot soup recipe. Goodbye to all day simmering, this is a quick and easy dinner for any busy weeknight. This delicious soup is also Whole30, paleo and gluten-free. 
bowl of instant pot vegetable beef soup

What cut of beef is best for soup?

I always use sirloin steak in this vegetable beef soup recipe. Sirloin does not have a bone and has very little fat so it’s easy to cube.

It’s also juicy and fairly tender. It’s great for using in an Instant Pot soup recipe because it has enough texture to not get mushy with this kind of cooking. You’ll end up with beef that is hearty but tender enough to be cut with your spoon.

You could also use:

  • Chuck roast or shoulder
  • Short rib
  • Oxtail

Is it necessary to brown meat for vegetable beef soup?

Technically, you do not have to brown the meat before you cook it under pressure. The Instant Pot will cook the beef completely. It must have an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees.

I recommend taking the few extra minutes to brown the beef for this vegetable beef soup though. Browning breaks down the surface sugars on the meat and caramelizes the exterior. You will notice a big difference in the rich flavor of the finished product if you brown the meat first.

Browned meat will also hold its shape better while cooking.

2 bowls of Instant Pot soup with beef and vegetables

What is the soup function on an Instant Pot?

Some Instant Pots come with a button for soup. On this setting, the temperature and pressure are controlled so that it never goes into a heavy boil. The soup setting usually lasts for 20-40 minutes, but you can adjust that.

What veggies taste good in vegetable beef soup?

One of the easiest things to adjust in the vegetable beef soup recipe is the vegetables. Feel free to add or replace with any of these:

  • Butternut squash
  • Sweet potato
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Onions

Even if you make other changes, I would still use the onions and celery for flavor and the tomatoes for the rich red color of the broth.bowl of soup with beef, carrots, potatoes, and tomatoes

How do you know when a natural release is done on an Instant Pot?

When making soup in an Instant Pot, you always want to use the natural release. This means, basically, that you do nothing at all to the Instant Pot. Just let the pressure gradually release on its own.

This is important when making any soup because it will be boiling and foamy. If you do a quick release of pressure, foam will shoot right through the release valve on the Instant Pot. As a result, you greatly increase your chance of injury from steaming hot liquid.

A natural release takes anywhere from five to thirty minutes. With soup, it will take longer because there is more liquid in the pot.

Other Vegetable Soup Recipes to Make:

bowl of Instant Pot vegetable beef soup

Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup

Yield: 6 people
Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr
Make a hearty vegetable beef soup in no time with this Instant Pot soup recipe. Goodbye to all day simmering, this is a quick and easy dinner for any busy weeknight. 
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cups sirloin steak — cut into small cubes
  • 1 tsp garlic clove — minced
  • 1 cup red onions — chopped
  • 1 cup celery — diced
  • 4 cups butternut squash — diced
  • 2 cups diced tomatoes
  • 4 cups beef broth — I love this one from Kettle & Fire (It’s Whoel30 approved)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • Fresh thyme to garnish

Instructions

  1. Set Instant Pot to sauté and pour olive oil into the pot and allow to heat.

  2. Add the beef cubes and sauté until they get brown.
  3. Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Then, add onions and celery and cook for about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Turn off the pot, and add all the rest of the ingredients.
  5. Put on the lid, lock it and set to manual high pressure for 7 minutes. It’ll take about 10-15 minutes to reach pressure, then it will start counting down from After the 7 minutes is up, do a Natural Release (it may take 20-30 minutes depending on your Instant Pot).
  6. Open the Instant Pot and remove bay leaf. Top with thyme leaves before serving.

Recipe Notes

* Slow Cooker Instructions: 
In a skillet, pour olive oil into the pot and allow to heat. Add the beef cubes and sauté until they get brown. Transfer it to the slow cooker and add all the remain ingredients. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6 hours. When the soup is done, remove bay leaf. Top with thyme leaves before serving.
* Stove Instructions: 
In a large pot, pour olive oil into the pot and allow to heat. Add the beef cubes and sauté until they get brown. Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Then, add onions and celery and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Add all the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for about 20 minutes or until the veggies are tender. Once it's done, remove bay leaf. Top with thyme leaves before serving.
Course: dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: butternut squash, Instant Pot, Instant Pot Recipe, soup
All text and images © Olivia Ribas / Primavera Kitchen.

Nutrition Information

Amount per serving (1/6) — Calories: 176, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 48mg, Sodium: 685mg, Potassium: 796mg, Carbohydrates: 15g, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 5g, Protein: 18g

If you make this recipe, please don't forget to snap a photo and hashtag it #primaverakitchen. I really want to see!

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