Beef Barley Soup is a hearty, comforting soup full of tender beef, vegetables, and nutty barley. It’s perfect for a cozy meal and is relatively easy to make in one pot or a slow cooker. 🥣🥩
🥘 Classic Beef Barley Soup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef stew meat, cut into cubes
- 1 cup pearl barley
- 4 cups beef broth (or more for desired thickness)
- 2–3 carrots, diced
- 2–3 celery stalks, diced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1–2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt, pepper, and herbs (thyme, bay leaf, parsley)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
- Brown beef cubes on all sides, then remove and set aside.
- In the same pot, sauté onion, carrots, celery, and garlic for 3–4 minutes.
- Return beef to the pot, add beef broth, barley, salt, pepper, and herbs.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1–1.5 hours, until beef and barley are tender.
- Adjust seasoning and serve hot with crusty bread.
🌟 Tips & Variations
- For extra flavor, brown the beef in batches to avoid steaming.
- Add mushrooms or potatoes for more substance.
- Use a slow cooker: brown beef first, then add all ingredients and cook LOW for 6–8 hours.
- For a thicker soup, cook uncovered for the last 20 minutes.
If you want, I can also give a quick 3-ingredient version that’s more “dump-and-go” but still hearty.
Do you want me to make that version?
