Description
A hearty and delicious beef barley soup made in a slow cooker with tender beef, vegetables, and pearl barley.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds beef chuck roast (diced into 1-inch cubes)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 medium white onion (diced small)
- 3 carrots (peeled and diced small)
- 2 celery ribs (diced small)
- 1 cup baby bella mushrooms (sliced)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2–3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 5 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup pearl barley
- 2 cups baby golden or yellow potatoes
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons freshly minced parsley (optional for garnishing)
Instructions
- To a large skillet, add the oil, beef, season with salt and pepper, and heat over medium-high to sear the beef for about 5 minutes.
- Place the seared beef into the insert of a large slow cooker; set aside.
- To the same skillet, add the onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms, thyme, and paprika, adding more oil if necessary. Sauté for about 5 minutes until veggies are soft.
- Add the garlic and tomato paste, stir, and cook for about 1 minute.
- Transfer the veggie mixture to the slow cooker with the seared beef.
- Add the broth, balsamic vinegar, barley, potatoes, and bay leaves to the slow cooker, stir to combine, cover, and cook on HIGH for 4-5 hours or LOW for 7-8 hours until the potatoes and beef are tender.
- Stir a couple of times during cooking. After cooking, remove bay leaves, taste, and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Notes
- Cooking times may vary as slow cookers differ in heat output. Check for doneness about an hour before the end of the cooking time.
- If cooking on low, you may need to add additional broth or water as liquid can evaporate.
- For more soupy consistency, add broth/water as needed during cooking.
- Adjust seasoning based on the saltiness of broth used and personal preference.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Soup
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 90mg