Hearty Beef Barley Soup

Name: Hearty Beef Barley Soup
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound beef chuck, cut into bite sized cubes; 1 cup pearl barley; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 onion, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 2 large carrots, sliced; 2 stalks celery, sliced; 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced; 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed; 6 cups beef broth; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; Salt and black pepper to taste; Fresh parsley for garnish

A cozy bowl of beef, tender barley, and fresh vegetables that warms you up from the inside out.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· September 21, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

20 minutes

Cook

1 hour 30 minutes

Total

1 hour 50 minutes

Serves

There is nothing quite like a big pot of soup simmering on the stove on a chilly day. This beef and barley soup is a favorite in my house because it is filling, healthy, and tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time to settle.

My best tip for this recipe is to make sure you use a good quality beef broth, as it really forms the base of the flavor. If you want a deeper taste, feel free to sear your beef cubes in the pot until they are nice and brown before you add your liquids.

🧺 Ingredients

1 pound beef chuck, cut into bite sized cubes
1 cup pearl barley
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 large carrots, sliced
2 stalks celery, sliced
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
6 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and black pepper to taste
Fresh parsley for garnish

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium high heat.
2
Add the beef cubes and cook until browned on all sides, then remove the beef from the pot and set it aside.
3
In the same pot, add the onion, carrots, celery, and mushrooms. Cook for about 5 minutes until the vegetables start to soften.
4
Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
5
Add the beef back into the pot, then pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce.
6
Stir in the barley and dried thyme, then bring the liquid to a boil.
7
Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let the soup simmer for about 45 minutes.
8
Add the cubed potatoes and continue to simmer for another 20 to 30 minutes, or until the beef, barley, and potatoes are tender.
9
Taste the soup and add salt and pepper as needed before serving with fresh parsley on top.

💡 Tips

This soup keeps beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or you can freeze it in airtight containers for up to 3 months. If the soup looks too thick after reheating, just stir in a splash of water or extra broth to bring it back to your preferred consistency.

#beef #soup #healthy #dinner #comfort food

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