Crock Pot Beef and Barley Soup

Warm, hearty, and bursting with wholesome flavors, this Crock Pot Beef and Barley Soup is the perfect comfort food for chilly days. Featuring tender chunks of seared beef, nutrient-packed carrots, celery, and onion, and nutty pearl barley slow-cooked to perfection, this recipe combines simple ingredients with rich, savory seasonings like thyme and garlic. The addition of diced tomatoes and a bay leaf infuses the soup with depth, while the low-and-slow cooking process in the crock pot ensures a melt-in-your-mouth tenderness that can’t be rushed. Ready with just 20 minutes of prep and 8 hours of hands-off cooking, this easy beef and barley soup is ideal for busy weeknights or meal prep. Serve it hot with a sprinkle of fresh parsley for a cozy, satisfying meal the whole family will love.

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:480 mins

Total Time:500 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 lb Beef stew meat
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 3 pieces Carrots, diced
• 2 pieces Celery stalks, diced
• 1 large Yellow onion, diced
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• 6 cups Beef broth
• 0.75 cup Pearl barley
• 14.5 oz Canned diced tomatoes
• 1 piece Bay leaf
• 1 tsp Dried thyme
• 1 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper
• 2 tbsp Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Step 2

Season the beef stew meat with salt and pepper, and sear in the skillet until browned on all sides (about 4-5 minutes per side).

Step 3

Transfer the seared beef to the crock pot.

Step 4

Add the diced carrots, celery, onion, and garlic to the crock pot.

Step 5

Pour in the beef broth and diced tomatoes (with their juices).

Step 6

Stir in the pearl barley, bay leaf, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper.

Step 7

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours, until the beef is tender and the barley is fully cooked.

Step 8

Remove the bay leaf before serving.

Step 9

Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired, and serve hot.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2883.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2349.5

Total Fat 114.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 36.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 6.3g
Cholesterol 416.5mg	0%
Sodium 8772.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 166.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 40.0g	0%
Total Sugars 27.9g
Protein 157.1g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 490.7mg	0%
Iron 22.5mg	0%
Potassium 4431.0mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 44.3%

Protein: 27.1%

Carbs: 28.6%