• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Welcome!!
  • Contact
  • Dessert
  • Main Dish
  • Breakfast
  • Appetizers/Snacks
  • Drinks
  • Salad
  • Bread

Dance Around the Kitchen

  • Recipes By Course
  • Recipes By Ingredient
  • Popular Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Welcome!!
  • Recipe Index
  • Recipes By Course
  • Recipes By Ingredient
  • Popular Recipes
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Main Dish

    Published: Jan 13, 2020 · Last Modified: Sep 3, 2022 by kelsey

    Beef and Barley Soup

    • Share
    • Tweet

    This hearty Beef & Barley Soup can be made in the slow cooker or on the stove top. Serve with crusty bread or a salad for a delicious meal!

    Jump to Recipe
    A white bowl of beef and barley soup with a sliver spoon in it.

    There's just something so cozy about a big bowl of soup on a cold winter day. Now that we're in the boring part of winter here in the Midwest (ya know, between the holidays and spring....), soup season is in full swing!

    This Beef and Barley Soup is one my mom has made for years. It's hearty, savory and makes for the perfect comfort food. Although I didn't appreciate it growing up, now I've learned that the soup is also a cinch to make!

    What kind of beef should I put in the Beef and Barley Soup?

    The soup calls for stew meat, which is what I typically use. When you see "stew meat" at the grocery store, it's typically cubed roast meat (like a chuck roast or round roast).

    Because a roast tends to be a little more tough than say a steak, it does really well in an application where it's cooked low and slow....Beef and Barley Soup!

    Can I make Beef and Barley Soup on the stovetop or in a slow cooker?

    Yes, you can make it either way. Here's how!

    SLOW COOKER: Place all ingredients into a slow cooker (other than the seasonings and corn starch) and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

    Remove the bay leaf and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Then, whisk in the water and corn starch mixture until slightly thickened.

    STOVE TOP: When I make this on the stove top, I like to sear the meat first to get some more bits of yummy caramelization. Then, I'll add the remaining ingredients (other than the seasonings and corn starch) and bring to a boil.

    Once the soup has reached a boil, reduce the temperature and simmer for 45 minutes, or until the meat is tender and the barley is soft. Remove the bay leave and seasoning with salt and pepper. Lastly, whisk in the water and corn starch mixture until slightly thickened.

    An over head shot of a bowl of soup on a wooden board.

    Which type of barley is best for soup?

    Hulled barley or pearl barley are both really great options. I've discovered that pearl barley is much easier to find (at least at my grocery store) than hulled barley.

    I typically just grab what I need at the bulk bins in the health section of the grocery store. This is simply because I don't go through a whole big bag of barley quick enough for it to make sense.

    Should I cook the barley before adding it to the soup?

    Nope! That's one reason this soup is so darn easy! Everything goes in raw/uncooked and comes out hours later so beautiful.

    Can I use quick barley in soup?

    You can. However, because it cooks so fast, I'd recommend waiting to add it until about 1 hour prior to serving.

    A bowl of beef and barley soup with a croissant on the side.

    What goes with Beef and Barley Soup for dinner?

    I like to serve this soup with a crust bread, a salad or bowl of fruit, and of course, a delicious dessert! Here are some of my top recommendations for sides and dessert.....

    Strawberry Spinach Salad - I love that this recipe brings some brightness and vibrancy to the meal. It's like bringing some sunshine into the cold, dreary days!

    Easy No-Knead Bread - This bread is simple to put together and has a nice crust on the outside. It's the perfect homemade bread for this hearty soup!

    Twinkie Cake - This cake is light and fluffy with the most delicious creamy filling. It'll lighten up a super hearty meal and finish it off on the right note!

    Get the recipe for Beef and Barley Soup below!

    Beef and Barley Soup

    Beef and Barley Soup

    Author:Kelsey
    This hearty Beef & Barley Soup can be made in the slow cooker or on the stove top. Serve with crusty bread or a salad for a delicious meal!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going to sleep.
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 6 hours hrs
    Course Main Course
    Servings 6

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 - 1 ½ lb cubed stew beef
    • ½ c chopped yellow onion
    • ½ c chopped celery
    • 1 c diced carrots
    • ¾ c dry barley
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 6 c beef broth
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper optional
    • 1 teaspoon salt optional
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • ¼ c water

    Instructions
     

    • In a slow cooker, combine the stew meat, onion, celery, carrots, bay leaf and broth.
    • Cook the soup on low for 6-8 hours.
    • Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the salt and pepper, to taste.
    • If you'd like your soup to be a little thicker, combine the cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Whisk into the soup and let cook on low for a few more minutes.
    Tried this recipe?Follow me at @dancearoundthekitchen.kelsey and let me know how you liked it!

    Recipe added to the Weekend Potluck.

    More Main Dish

    • Roasted Tomato Pasta Sauce
    • Slices of juicy steak on a cutting board.
      3 Ingredient Steak Marinade
    • Sausage & Peppers Pasta on a white plate with a skillet in the background.
      One Pot Sausage and Peppers Pasta
    • Poppy Seed Chicken on a white plate with steamed sugar snap peas on the side.
      Poppy Seed Chicken
    • Share
    • Tweet
    about kelsey

    About Kelsey

    Combining my love for food and family is a pretty easy calculation. Almost all family gatherings include food… After all, a party without cake is just a meeting right? Read more...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Kelsey! I am a wife, mother and BFFs with my KitchenAid mixer, happy to bring you easy meals and decadent desserts! Welcome to my blog!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • French toast sticks with maple syrup being drizzled over top.
      Homemade French Toast Sticks
    • Scoop of pumpkin pecan cobbler on a white plate with a scoop of ice cream on top.
      Pumpkin Pecan Cobbler
    • Mini Snickerdoodle Muffins on a little white plate with a glass of milk next to it.
      Snickerdoodle Muffins
    • Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll with a bite out of it on a white plate with a layer of smooth browned butter cream cheese frosting.
      Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Browned Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

    Hi, I'm Kelsey! I am a wife, mother and BFFs with my KitchenAid mixer, happy to bring you easy meals and decadent desserts! Welcome to my blog!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Glass with a frozen drink, with a pink and white straw and a strawberry on the rim. There's a carton of strawberry lemonade in the background.
      Frozen Strawberry Lemonade
    • Oreo Dirt Cup with pudding and oreo crumbs and gummy worms on top.
      Dirt Cups
    • Slice of Impossible Coconut Pie on a white plate.
      Impossible Coconut Pie
    • Blueberry Cream Cheese Pie with a dollop of whipped cream and a mint sprig on a white plate.
      Blueberry Cream Cheese Pie

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    SEEN ON

    as seen on promo graphic

    SEEN ON

    as seen on promo graphic

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Dance Around the Kitchen