Description
A hearty and comforting soup made with tender beef, wholesome barley, and a variety of vegetables and spices. Perfect for cold winter days or whenever you crave a delicious and nutritious meal.
Ingredients
- 1 pound stewing beef, cubed
- 1 cup pearl barley
- 4 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 8 cups beef broth
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the cubed beef on all sides. Transfer the browned beef to the crock pot.
2. Add sliced carrots, chopped celery, diced onion, minced garlic, and pearl barley to the crock pot.
3. Pour beef broth over the ingredients, ensuring they are covered. Add diced tomatoes, bay leaves, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
4. Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until beef is tender and barley is cooked through.
5. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Remove bay leaves before serving. Ladle hot soup into bowls, garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve with crusty bread or crackers.
Notes
For deeper flavor, you can deglaze the skillet with a splash of red wine or broth before adding the beef to the crock pot. Leftovers store well and taste even better the next day. Use quick-cooking barley for shorter crock pot times if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 352
- Sugar: 4.1g
- Sodium: 1035mg
- Fat: 12.5g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30.6g
- Fiber: 6.9g
- Protein: 27.4g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Beef & Barley Soup Crock Pot, slow cooker beef soup, hearty barley soup