Hearty Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Soup

Name: Hearty Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 8 h
Total time: 8 h 15 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound beef chuck roast, cut into bite sized cubes; 1 cup pearl barley, rinsed; 1 large yellow onion, diced; 3 carrots, peeled and sliced; 2 stalks celery, sliced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 6 cups beef broth; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 bay leaf; Salt and black pepper to taste; 1 tablespoon olive oil

This cozy soup is the perfect meal to come home to after a long day.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· July 19, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

8 hours

Total

8 hours 15 minutes

Serves

There is nothing quite like walking through the front door and being greeted by the smell of a slow cooked meal. This beef and barley soup is a favorite in my house because it is so filling and full of flavor. The beef gets incredibly tender while the barley soaks up all those delicious juices from the broth.

My best tip is to sear the beef in a pan before adding it to the slow cooker if you have an extra few minutes. It adds a lovely depth to the flavor that really makes the dish special. If you are in a rush, just toss it in raw and it will still taste wonderful.

🧺 Ingredients

1 pound beef chuck roast, cut into bite sized cubes
1 cup pearl barley, rinsed
1 large yellow onion, diced
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 stalks celery, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups beef broth
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat and brown the beef cubes on all sides, then transfer them to your slow cooker.
2
Add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic to the slow cooker.
3
Stir in the rinsed barley, dried thyme, and bay leaf.
4
Pour the beef broth over the mixture and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
5
Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 4 hours until the beef is tender and the barley is soft.
6
Remove the bay leaf before serving and adjust the seasoning if needed.

💡 Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Note that the barley will continue to soak up liquid as it sits, so feel free to add a splash of extra broth when reheating. This soup pairs beautifully with a thick slice of buttered crusty bread.

#soup #beef #comfort food #healthy #slow cooker

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