Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup is a hearty, flavorful soup with tender beef and vegetables, plus plump barley. It’s an easy crockpot recipe that’s comfort in a bowl! Watch the video!
But the most common method is to add the grains straight to a broth or stew. Cooking this way, at a gentle simmer, takes approximately 30 minutes.
How to Make Beef Barley Soup
This is such an easy beef and barley soup recipe. After browning the beef, all you do is stir in the remaining ingredients, put on the cover, and let the slow cooker do the rest of the work! Scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions.
- Brown the beef: Brown the beef in the, either in olive oil on the stovetop or in the slow cooker if you have that option. the stovetop to brown, and then transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker.
- Add remaining ingredients: Then add everything else (except the fresh parsley – that’s for sprinkling over individual bowls when serving) and stir well to incorporate.
- Cook: Cover and cook on high for 4 hours. Then turn heat to low and cook for 2 hours more, or until beef is absolutely fork tender.
Here are more slow cooker recipes for you!
Tips for the Best Beef Barley Stew
- Use a flavorful cut of beef. An inexpensive cut is best – beef chuck is my preference. It’s full of flavor and the slow cooker will magically transform this otherwise tough cut of meat into irresistible, fork-tender bites of beefy heaven. If you can’t find chuck, top round would be my second choice. Just know that the overall flavor and texture will not be as good as chuck.
- Get a good sear on the beef. This creates enormous flavor. Also be sure to give each piece of beef enough room to get truly browned. If you pile all the beef pieces on top of each other, they’ll just steam instead of brown.
- Cut the veggies somewhat thick. They cook for a long time in the slow cooker. So if you cut them small, they’ll end up mushy. If you prefer smaller pieces of veggies, I would suggest adding them a bit later in the process.
- Don’t skimp on the cook time. The slow cooking process produces a stew with fabulously tender chunks of beef. Don’t cut the cook time short if the beef isn’t absolutely tender.
- But don’t overcook it, either! Yes, it is possible to overcook a beef stew. When it comes to soups and stews, there’s nothing I dislike more than when vegetables are cooked to a mushy mess.
This hearty stew just begs to be sopped up by some warm, crusty bread. Or how about steaming hot popovers? Try my traditional Popovers recipe – or if you have sourdough starter or discard, these heartier Sourdough Popovers are AMAZING!
A fresh side salad would also be good. Dress simple fresh greens with my Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing – our family loves it!
I might also suggest, as my photo depicts, a glass of dry, robust red wine for sipping. So very lovely.
Beef Barley Soup
FAQ
Does pearl barley thicken stews?
Does pearl barley need to be boiled?
Can I use pearl barley without soaking?
Does barley get mushy in soup?
Can you add pearl barley to a soup or stew?
If you want to add pearl barley to a soup or stew but don’t want the barley to thicken it then cook it separately first. Boil in water for 20-30 minutes and rise before using. Pearl barley is often added to a Scotch Broth.
What is the difference between barley and pearl barley?
Barley: This is a whole grain with only the hull removed. There is more fiber and is more healthier than pearl barley. It is full of fiber, which makes it chewier and it takes longer to cook. It has more iron and trace minerals. Pearl barley: This is the most popular type of barley available. It is small, white and pearly. It is less chewy than dehulled barley since both bran layers and the outer husks have been previously removed.
Can you use beer in beef & barley stew?
Virtually all the alcohol in the beer cooks off during the long stewing time. However, if alcohol is a concern, you can just use extra beef stock. The flavour will not be exactly the same, but it will still be delicious. Your family will love this warming Beef and Barley Stew! I often make a double batch as it keeps really well in the fridge.
Do I need to cook pearl barley before cooking?
You do not have to cook pearl barley before adding it to the stew. However, it is recommended that you rinse the pearl barley before adding it to the stew, and this will help remove any impurities and starch. Do I need to soak pearl barley before cooking? No, pearl barley does not need to be soaked before cooking.