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Beef Barley Soup Recipe – such a hearty and comforting soup. Make in the crock pot, Instant Pot or even on the stove top for a great dinner any night of the week.
I am a sucker for a good soup. Ham & Bean soup comes together in the crock pot, so only about 10 minutes of work and dinner is done. Dinner with just a few minutes work is kind of my dream.
Or Chicken Enchilada Soup for a Mexican twist. If you can have a soup that is hearty and filling, I am happy. Serve with cornbread or crusty bread for a comforting dinner.
This beef barley soup reminds me of what my mom used to make. Except I feel like there were more vegetables and less barley. It wasn’t something we had very often though, so I really don’t remember. My dad was never a fan of soup. I have been eyeing this Greek Lemon Chicken Soup for awhile, and might even try it out on him to see if I can change his mind!
The best thing about this beef and barley soup is you can make it in the slow cooker or in the instant pot or even on the stove top. I love my instant pot for chicken – so fast!! Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken is a staple at our house. Either way you make it, it is delicious, hearty, and great comfort food. In the slow cooker the beef cooks all day, so you come home to a steaming bowl of soup.
If you go the instant pot route it is ready in less than an hour. The beef gets nice and tender in short amount of time. Serve this barley soup with crusty bread. You can add other veggies if you like, I went with just onions and carrots. But you can add celery or green beans or anything else that you like.
The best meat to use for beef barley soup is stew meat. It is already pre-sliced in the right size for you. Plus it gets super tender when you cook it. You could actually get sirloin steak if you wanted, but stew meat is just easy!
This Instant Pot Beef Stew is another great use for stew meat. If you see it on sale, stock up! Whenever it is cold out, I always turn to soup, and this Chinese Egg Drop Soup looks like something my husband would go crazy for.
So the next time it is cold out or you just want a hearty comforting bowl of soup, try this Beef Barley Soup. You will not be disappointed. The leftovers only get better, so you have lunch the next day too.
Beef Barley Soup
Ingredients
- 2 pounds stew meat
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup carrots, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 cups beef broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- 2/3 cup pearl barley
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Season stew meat with salt and pepper. Heat oil over medium high heat (or in the saute setting of an instant pot). Brown meat for 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from pan. Add onions and carrots, saute until tender. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Add the browned meat and sauteed vegetables into the bottom of a slow cooker. Mix in broth, bay leaves, thyme and barley. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.
- Remove bay leaves and any thyme stems. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Add browned stew meat to the onions and carrots. Mix in broth, bay leaves, thyme and barley. Cook on the soup setting for 25 minutes.
- Remove bay leaves and any thyme stems. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
For the Stove Top
- Add browned stew meat to the onions and carrots. Mix in broth, bay leaves, thyme and barley. Bring to a boil and simmer for 45 minutes until meat is tender and barley is cooked.
- Remove bay leaves and any thyme stems. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Perfect timing ! It’s so cold and snowy over here so it makes great treat ! Thank you !
Comfort food at its finest!
this looks so hearty!!
recipe for spicy meatball soup