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Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Soup

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This easy, hearty soup features tender beef, chewy barley, and wholesome vegetables slow-cooked to comforting perfection. It’s a nostalgic, crowd-pleasing meal ideal for chilly nights and family gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced (about 1 cup)
  • 2 celery stalks, diced (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tbsp)
  • 3/4 cup pearl barley
  • 8 oz white mushrooms, sliced (optional)
  • 1 large russet potato, peeled and diced (about 1 cup)
  • 6 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 large bay leaf
  • 3 fresh thyme sprigs or 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • Additional cracked pepper (for serving)
  • Crusty bread or homemade rolls (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Add beef cubes and sear until browned on all sides, about 3–4 minutes per batch. Transfer browned beef to the slow cooker.
  3. Peel and slice carrots, dice celery, finely chop onion, mince garlic, slice mushrooms, and dice potato.
  4. Add all prepped veggies to the slow cooker with the beef.
  5. Sprinkle in the pearl barley.
  6. Stir in tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, bay leaf, and thyme.
  7. Pour in beef broth.
  8. Cover and set slow cooker to LOW for 7–8 hours, or HIGH for 4–5 hours.
  9. About halfway through, stir the soup if possible.
  10. When beef is fork-tender and barley is plump, taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  11. Remove bay leaf and thyme sprigs (if using fresh).
  12. Stir in chopped parsley for garnish.
  13. Ladle hot soup into bowls, top with extra black pepper and parsley.
  14. Serve with crusty bread or rolls.

Notes

Browning the beef before slow cooking adds deeper flavor. For gluten-free, substitute barley with brown rice or quinoa. Adjust broth for desired soup thickness. Prep ingredients the night before for easy morning assembly. Soup thickens as it sits; add extra broth when reheating. Customize with extra veggies or herbs as desired.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef barley soup, slow cooker soup, comfort food, hearty soup, crockpot beef soup, easy family dinner, autumn recipes, meal prep soup

Find it online: https://norasfoods.com/slow-cooker-beef-and-barley-soup-recipe-easy-hearty-comfort-meal/