Instant Pot Booyah—a chicken, beef and vegetable soup/stew that can be made quickly in your Instant Pot or slowly simmered all day in your slow cooker.
SLOW COOKER instructions are listed in the recipe card below
Each week in 2020 I’m sharing a recipe inspired by one of the 50 states. So far I’ve covered…
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- See all the state recipes in one place
Today’s recipe is inspired by the Badger State, Wisconsin. When I think of Wisconsin I think of the Green Bay Packers, lots of cheese, cranberries, University of Wisconsin, cold winters and lots of lakes.
Really there are so many recipes I could have done for Wisconsin. This cheesy brat cassserole could have been one since Sheboygan is the “Bratwurst Capital” of the world. Cranberry cake could have been one since cranberries are Wisconsin’s largest fruit industry and they are Wisconsin’s official state fruit. Anything with dairy, especially cheese, could have made the cut as well since Wisconsin ranks first among all states in the production of Cheddar, American, Mozzarella, Brick, Muenster and Limburger cheese.
Instant Pot Booyah
When I heard the term booyah in context with food and Wisconsin I was intrigued. What is booyah? And why does it have such an awesome name? According to Wikipedia, “Booyah (also spelled booya, bouja, boulyaw, or bouyou) is a thick stew, believed to have originated in Belgium, and made throughout the Upper Midwestern United States. Booyah can require up to two days and multiple cooks to prepare; it is cooked in specially designed “booyah kettles” and usually meant to serve hundreds or even thousands of people. The name can also refer to a social event surrounding the meal.”
There are as many booyah recipes out there as booyah cooks, and every one is the ‘right’ one. What they all agree on is that booyah is a soup of stewed chicken and many types of vegetables, and the longer it simmers, and the more the ingredients merge, the better it tastes.
Food historian Terese Allen, The Flavor of Wisconsin
This sounded like a perfect food to make in an Instant Pot or slow cooker. A stew that is simmered for hours/days in large quantities could easily be pared down and made at home either quickly in your Instant Pot or slowly in your slow cooker.
I worked off a recipe I found online to make my own version of booyah in the Instant Pot. It seemed like just another vegetable chicken soup when I removed the lid. But what I came to realize was that each bite was thoroughly delicious. With so many vegetables and two types of meat each bite is anything but boring. The leftovers taste better the next day too! It’s a fairly healthy soup/stew that I think you’ll really love! Try my recipe for small batch Instant Pot booyah as soon as you get a chilly fall day.
Instant Pot Wisconsin Booyah
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes (plus NPR)
- Total Time: 43 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
A chicken, beef and vegetable soup/stew that can be made quickly in your Instant Pot or slowly simmered all day in your slow cooker.
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 pound beef stew meat
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 1 cup shredded cabbage
- 1 pound cubed potatoes
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup frozen green beans
- 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the oil and the beef. Brown the beef for about 5 minutes. Add in the onion and saute until soft. Add in the chicken and then season it with the seasoned salt and pepper. Pour in the broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to deglaze.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 20 minutes. When time is up perform a quick release and remove the lid.
- Add in the celery, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, corn, bay leaf, Worcestershire and soy sauce. Cover the pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 3 minutes. When time is up let the pressure release naturally for 15-20 minutes and then move the valve to venting. Remove the lid. Add in the peas. Shred the chicken.
- Salt and pepper to taste. Ladle soup into bowls and enjoy with oyster crackers.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the oil and the beef. Brown the beef for about 5 minutes. Add in the onion and saute until soft. Transfer to the slow cooker.
- Add in the chicken, seasoned salt and pepper and broth.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
- Add in the celery, carrots, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, corn, bay leaf, Worcestershire and soy sauce. Cover and cook on low for another 4 hours. Remove the lid. Add in the peas. Shred the chicken.
- Salt and pepper to taste. Ladle soup into bowls and enjoy with oyster crackers.
Notes
I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1*. Make in the 8 quart pot with no changes. To make in a 3 quart pot the recipe will need to be cut in half.
- Category: Soup
- Method: Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Can you use boneless skinless chicken breast instead of the thighs ?
If so how much
Sure, use between 1 to 1.5 pounds
Can this soup be canned ???
I’m not sure. I really have no experience with canning whatsoever 🙈
When do the potatoes get added.no mention
In step 3 😊
I would prefer to use bone in and skin on, I believe you lose flavor by their removal before cooking. Would the cook time need adjustment? If you have to shred chicken skin and bone could be removed after they have contributed their goodness.
Great plan Nancy! No need to change the cooking time.
It uses a lot of different veggies because it is usually a harvest time soup/stew get together! It is made in large pots over fires and everyone brings bowls or containers to enjoy and take some home.
I just love the idea of this!
Is there a recipe for New Jersey?
Not yet! I need one!
Are the thighs boneless or bone-in?
Recipe says boneless skinless……
I don’t eat beef. Do you think I could substitute cubed pork roast for the beef?
For sure 👍