Beef Barley Soup

Beef Barley Soup is a hearty, old-fashioned soup loaded with tender beef, wholesome barley, and a medley of vegetables. Slowly simmered in a savory broth, it’s rich in flavor and perfect for warming up on a cold evening. This soup is filling enough to serve as a complete dinner with just some crusty bread on the side.
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 50 minutes mins
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 lbs beef chuck cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 3 carrots sliced
- 2 celery stalks sliced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 8 cups beef broth
- 1 cup pearl barley rinsed
- 1 cup diced tomatoes canned or fresh
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
Method
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Season beef with salt and pepper, then sear in batches until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pot, add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook 5 minutes until softened.
- Return beef to the pot. Stir in beef broth, barley, tomatoes, bay leaves, thyme, and paprika.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours until beef and barley are tender.
- Remove bay leaves, adjust seasoning to taste, and garnish with fresh parsley.
- Serve hot with crusty bread.
Notes
This soup tastes even better the next day after the flavors meld.
For a shortcut, use leftover roast beef instead of raw beef.
Add mushrooms or potatoes for extra heartiness.
For a shortcut, use leftover roast beef instead of raw beef.
Add mushrooms or potatoes for extra heartiness.
