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Hearty Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup

Close-up of a white bowl filled with rich beef barley soup, featuring chunks of beef, carrots, celery, and barley.
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Make this hearty beef barley soup in your slow cooker for tender beef and chewy barley. It is a comforting, nourishing meal perfect for cold nights.

Ingredients

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  • 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup pearl barley, rinsed
  • 6 cups beef broth
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 cup frozen peas (added at the end)

Instructions

  1. Season the beef cubes with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Remove the browned beef and set it aside.
  3. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the skillet. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  4. Transfer the browned beef, cooked vegetables, rinsed barley, beef broth, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaf to your slow cooker.
  5. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the beef is very tender and the barley is cooked through.
  6. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Stir in the frozen peas during the last 15 minutes of cooking time.
  7. Taste the soup and adjust salt and pepper if needed before serving this warm and comforting meal.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, you can sear the beef in a Dutch oven on the stovetop before transferring everything to the slow cooker.
  • If you prefer a thicker soup, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water and stir it into the soup during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
  • This recipe is great for meal prep; it freezes well for future easy dinners.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://yumdrizzle.com/hearty-slow-cooker-beef-barley-soup/