Tender beef, hearty vegetables, and plump barley come together in this Ultimate Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup, the perfect comfort food for chilly days or when you’re feeling under the weather. This recipe is not only delicious but also incredibly easy to make, requiring minimal hands-on time thanks to the slow cooker. Say goodbye to canned soups and hello to a homemade version that tastes like a warm hug!
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds stew meat (nicely marbled beef chunks)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 10 cups water
- 3 mounded tablespoons good quality beef base
- 3 stalks celery (about 2 cups), chopped
- 2 onions, chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large potato, peeled and shredded (about 2 cups)
- 3-4 large carrots, peeled and shredded (about 2 cups)
- 1 cup pearl barley, rinsed
Preparation:
Start by generously seasoning the beef with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Brown the beef in batches, ensuring each piece is seared on all sides before removing to a plate. Once all the meat is browned, return it to the pot and add 10 cups of water along with the beef base. Toss in the celery, onions, and garlic, then bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for about 2 hours, or until the beef is tender. Add the shredded potatoes and carrots, simmering for another 30-45 minutes until the carrots are tender. Finally, stir in the barley and cook for an additional 30 minutes, or until the barley is plump and the soup is rich and flavorful.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
For a hands-off approach, brown the beef in a large pan as instructed, then transfer it to a slow cooker. Deglaze the pan with 2 cups of water, scraping up the browned bits, and add this along with the remaining 8 cups of water to the slow cooker. Add the beef base, celery, onions, and garlic, and cook on low for 6 hours. Stir in the potatoes and carrots, cooking for another hour, then add the barley and simmer for an additional hour, or until everything is tender and delicious.
Enjoy this Beef Barley Soup as a comforting meal that’s perfect for any season!
