Julie Clark
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Beef Barley Soup
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Comforting beef barley soup will warm you up on cold winter days! Tender beef, cooked carrots and pearl barley simmer in this beef broth based soup.
Cool days call for thick stews and soups. We often make our slow cooker beef stew, but sometimes life calls for a different soup….like this beef barley soup with veggies and tender chunks of beef.
I remember my mom making this beef barley soup recipe often when I was growing up. I’m not sure where she got the recipe, but it is a classic and a must-have for winter menus. It’s comforting and delicious paired with a salad and fresh homemade bread.
What kind of barley do you use for soup?
This recipe for beef barley soup uses pearl barley. Pearl barley is different from traditional barley because it has been hulled. The outer husk and bran layers have been removed to create a smooth “pearl-like” barley.
Don’t get an “instant” barley. It will cook too quickly and not end up with the right texture. How long does barley take to cook in soup? It will take about 90 minutes.
Do you cook barley before adding to soup?
There’s no need to cook pearl barley before adding it to soup. This soup calls for almost 2 hours of cooking time which will give the barley plenty of time to soften.
Ingredients Needed
- What is the best cut of beef for soup? Pre-cut stew meat is the easiest to use, or buy beef chuck roast and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Often times store-labeled stew meat or beef cubes is cut from chuck roasts.
- Thyme, rosemary, marjoram and black pepper. These are all dried herbs that flavor the soup.
How do you make beef barley soup?
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, sear the meat and onion in the oil.
- Add the broth, barley and seasonings. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.
- Add carrots. Bring to a boil again then reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until meat and carrots are tender. Stir several times during cooking.
- Add parsley and serve.
It’s really as easy as that! The soup takes almost 2 hours to cook, but it is mostly “hands off” times so you can get that laundry folded or bills paid while dinner is cooking.
Make it a meal.
So what side dishes go with soup? And what about a sandwich with beef barley soup? Try one of these:
- caesar salad
- broccoli salad
- dinner rolls
- sourdough bread
- grilled cheese with gouda and cheddar
- Italian tomato sandwiches
Can you substitute quinoa for barley in soup?
Yes! Quinoa makes a great substitute for barley. Simply the barley for the quinoa. It will most likely take much less time to cook than barley, so you may be able to cut down on cooking time this way.
Storage Instructions
If you store the soup in an airtight container, it will last about 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze homemade beef barley soup?
Yes! This soup freezes well. Store soup in your favorite freezer container or in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Thaw the soup in the fridge overnight and reheat by the bowl in the microwave.
Other Beef Soup Recipes
You may also love our whole grain chocolate cupcakes, black bean chili and chicken & dumplings.
Beef Barley Soup
Comforting beef barley soup will warm you up on cold winter days! Tender beef, cooked carrots and pearl barley simmer in this beef broth based soup.
Servings 8
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds beef stew meat (cut in ½” cubes)
- 1 medium yellow onion (chopped)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 cups beef stock
- 1 cup pearl barley (not quick cooking)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried marjoram
- ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary (crushed)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 medium carrots (peeled and sliced)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, brown the meat and onion in the oil.
- Add the broth, barley and seasonings. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.
- Add carrots. Bring to a boil again then reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until meat and carrots are tender to the desired consistency. Stir several times during cooking.
- Add parsley and serve warm.
Video
Notes
- Add minced garlic for added flavor.
- Garnish the top of the soup with fresh thyme.
- The calories shown are based on the recipe serving about 8 people, with 1 serving being about 1 cup of soup. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information.**
Nutrition
Calories: 264kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 427mg | Potassium: 810mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 5095IU | Vitamin C: 2.8mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 3.1mg
I’m still in the kitchen on Long Island (New York), We’re expecting a fierce snow storm and very high winds. We all will be snow spanked. I needed an inspiration. There it was: beef barley soup, the fragrance is so healing and soulful. Because we are all careful about social distancing due to Covid, when we’re done shoveling, neighbors will gather together and enjoy a steaming bowl of soup. Hmmm, yeah. Thank you for helping me make this happen,
Sounds delicious. How many servings?
Just wondered if you could make this in a crock pot?