5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Beef & Barley Soup
Mid-January is peak soup season, and nothing beats a bowl of slow cooker beef and barley soup when the wind won’t quit and you want something hot, filling, and comforting. This easy 5-ingredient beef and barley soup is inspired by old-fashioned Midwest cooking simple ingredients, slow simmered, and deeply satisfying.
With tender beef, chewy pearl barley, and vegetables soaking up rich broth, this crockpot beef barley soup is the kind of meal you throw together in the morning and come home to at night, filling the house with a warm, nostalgic aroma. It’s hearty enough to be a full meal on its own and perfect for cold weather dinners
Why You’ll Love This Beef & Barley Soup:
Just 5 main ingredients simple and stress-free
Hearty & filling barley stretches the beef and keeps you full longer
Budget-friendly affordable ingredients feed the whole family
Set-and-forget slow cooker recipe perfect for busy days
Classic comfort food warming, cozy, and satisfying
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Beef & Barley Soup
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
1½ pounds beef stew meat, cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup pearl barley, rinsed
1 medium onion, chopped
8 cups beef broth (or enough to cover ingredients by about 1 inch)
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn, green beans)
Salt and black pepper, to taste (optional)
Instructions:
Add the beef stew meat to the bottom of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, spreading it evenly.
Sprinkle the chopped onion over the beef, then add the rinsed pearl barley.
Pour in the beef broth until the ingredients are covered by about 1 inch. Stir gently.
Cover and cook on LOW for 7–8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until the beef is tender and barley is soft.
About 30–45 minutes before serving, stir in the frozen mixed vegetables. Cover and continue cooking until heated through.
Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Adjust thickness by adding more broth or uncovering briefly to reduce.
Ladle into bowls and serve hot.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve this hearty beef and barley soup with warm dinner rolls, crusty farmhouse bread, or a simple green salad. A few dill pickles or pickled beets on the side add a bright contrast to the rich broth.
Tips & Variations:
Brown the beef first for deeper flavor (optional).
Swap frozen veggies for fresh carrots, celery, or cabbage.
Add a bay leaf or dried thyme for extra depth.
Leftovers thicken overnight add broth when reheating.
Easy 5-ingredient slow cooker beef and barley soup made with tender beef, hearty barley, and vegetables. A budget-friendly, comforting winter soup perfect for busy days.
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