Beef Barley Soup

Last Updated: June 9, 2020

Making a pot of wholesome Beef Barley Soup from scratch doesn’t have to be a long complicated process. This recipe is easy and in just about an hour you can have a delicious and hearty meal on the table.

Hearty and full of flavour, this Beef Barley Soup is easy to make, delicious and healthy. Barley has a slightly nutty flavour and a chewy consistency. It’s high in protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals (see here for more on its health benefits). This soup can be enjoyed as a meal and has approximately 314 calories in one serving.

To make this soup in just about an hour, I used Pearl barley. Though it’s not considered a whole grain and is less nutritious than hulled barley, it’s still very good for you. If you prefer to use hulled barley to take full advantage of its health benefits, you can do so but will need to increase the cooking time.

How to Make Beef Barley Soup from Scratch

If you’re wondering which cut of beef to use to make this soup, I find chuck roast or sirloin tip works wonderfully. To speed up the time it takes to cook Beef Barley Soup and reduce the amount of broth needed, it’s a good idea to cook the barley separately.

Since barley absorbs a lot of liquid, cooking it partway on its own reduces the amount of stock needed in the soup. It also reduces the total amount of time needed to make the soup. So to speed things up, cook the barley by boiling it in a separate pot while you make the soup.

Let the barley simmer for about twenty minutes, drain it and add it to the remainder of the ingredients in the soup pot. Continue to simmer the soup for an additional 15 to 20 minutes to finish cooking it.

To serve, top the soup with a bit of chopped fresh parsley. Though this soup is filling enough to enjoy as a main, you can serve it with slices of crusty bread. Enjoy!

More Easy and Hearty Soups to Try

• Easy Black Bean Soup
• Creamy Chicken Noodle and Vegetable Soup
• Tomato Orzo Soup

Beef Barley Soup

Adapted from Serious Eats

Making a pot of wholesome Beef Barley Soup from scratch doesn't have to be a long complicated process. This recipe is easy and in just about an hour you can have a delicious and hearty meal on the table.

4.86 from 7 votes

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Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 45 mins

Total Time 1 hr 5 mins

Course Main, Soup

Cuisine Western

Servings 6

Calories 314 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 pound beef chuck roast or sirloin tip, you can use less beef if you prefer a less meaty soup
• 1 onion medium
• 1 celery stick
• 1 carrot large
• 2 garlic cloves
• 5 cups beef or chicken broth more broth may be needed as barley absorbs alot of liquid as its cooking
• 1 bay leaf
• salt and pepper to taste
• parsley few sprigs
• 1/2 cup pearl barley rinsed

Instructions

 

• In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat the butter and olive oil over medium-high heat.
• Season the beef with salt and pepper and brown it on all sides. Remove the beef from the pot and set it on cutting board. Cut the meat into 1/2 inch cubes.
  
• In a second pot, bring 3 cups of water to a boil and add the barley. Lower heat and let simmer for 20 minutes, drain and set aside.
  
• Meanwhile, to the pot where you browned the beef, add the onion, celery and carrots. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for an additional minute. Lower heat to medium and cook, stirring every few minutes, until vegetables soften, about 7 minutes.
• To the soup pot, add the beef cubes, bay leaf and stock. Stir and scrape the bottom of the pot to release the caramelized bits. Taste and adjust salt and pepper to your liking. Bring the soup to a boil and cook for 20 minutes.
  
• Add the drained barley to the soup.  Let soup simmer for approximately 15 to  20 minutes more or until beef and barley are tender. Add more broth if desired and adjust seasoning.
• Before serving, sprinkle soup with chopped fresh parsley.

Notes

1. To shorten the time needed to make this soup, start cooking the barley by boiling it in water in a separate pot while making the rest of the soup. Let the barley simmer for about twenty minutes, drain it and add it to the remainder of the ingredients in the soup pot.
2. If you choose hulled barley for this recipe, I recommend you cook it on its own for at least 30 minutes prior to adding it to the soup pot. It will continue cooking with the remainder of the ingredients.

Nutrition

Calories: 314kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 18gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 58mgSodium: 449mgPotassium: 727mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1790IUVitamin C: 2.5mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1.9mg

Keyword Barley Soup, Beef Barley Soup

Tried this recipe? Have any questions, comments or suggestions? Leave a comment below!Let us know how it was!

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