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Homemade beef barley soup with tender beef, carrots, celery, and pearl barley in a rich broth, topped with fresh parsley in a black bowl.

Beef Barley Soup

A deeply comforting and hearty winter Beef Barley Soup made with tender chunks of beef, nutty barley, and flavorful vegetables simmered in a rich broth. Perfect for snow days, cozy weekends, or any time you need a bowl of warmth.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Beef Barley Soup, Beef barley soup Pioneer Woman, Best beef barley soup recipe, Classic beef barley soup epicurious, Irish beef barley soup, Old fashioned vegetable beef barley soup
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Browning + Simmering: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 50 minutes
Servings: 7
Calories: 370kcal
Cost: $22

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven (Or any heavy-bottomed pot)
  • Cutting board (For chopping vegetables/beef)
  • Sharp knife (For slicing and dicing)
  • Wooden spoon (For stirring)
  • Ladle (For serving)
  • Measuring cups/spoons (For precision in flavor)

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon Olive oil - For browning beef
  • 1 tablespoon Butter - Added after browning
  • 2 lb Beef stew meat - Cut into bite-sized chunks
  • 1 cup Pearl barley - Not quick-cooking
  • 6 cup Beef broth - Use low-sodium if desired
  • 2 cup Water - Adjust based on thickness
  • 3 Carrots - Sliced into rounds
  • 3 Celery stalks - Chopped
  • 1 Yellow onion - Diced
  • 3 clove Garlic - Minced
  • 1 cup Mushrooms - Optional, sliced
  • 2 Bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon Dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon Dried rosemary
  • Salt To taste
  • Black pepper - To taste
  • 2 tablespoon Tomato paste - Adds richness
  • tablespoon Fresh parsley - For garnish, chopped

Instructions

  • Pat beef dry and season with salt and pepper.
  • Heat oil, brown beef in batches, remove and set aside.
  • Add butter to pot and scrape up browned bits.
  • Sauté onion, carrots, and celery; add garlic.
  • Stir in tomato paste and cook; add mushrooms.
  • Return beef, add broth, water, herbs; bring to simmer.
  • Simmer covered for 1 hour until beef is tender.
  • Add barley and simmer another 45–60 minutes.
  • Adjust seasoning, remove bay leaves.
  • Ladle into bowls, garnish with parsley, serve with crusty bread.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes.Feel free to add more of your favorite toppings.

Nutrition

Serving: 350g | Calories: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6.5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 690mg | Potassium: 720mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 7200IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 3.1mg