Description
Hearty and comforting Beef and Barley Soup featuring tender beef chuck, chewy pearl barley, and fresh vegetables simmered in a rich beef broth. This nourishing soup is easy to make, perfect for family dinners, batch cooking, and customizable to your taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Broth
- 1.5 pounds beef chuck, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 6 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
Grains
- 3/4 cup pearl barley (do not rinse)
Vegetables
- 2 medium carrots, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Herbs and Seasonings
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (plus extra for garnish)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Other
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter (for sautéing)
Instructions
- Prepare and Brown the Beef: Cut beef chuck into bite-sized pieces and pat dry. Heat olive oil or butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Brown beef in batches until caramelized, then set aside.
- Sauté the Aromatics and Vegetables: In the same pot, add diced onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until vegetables soften and onions become translucent. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
- Combine Broth, Beef, and Barley: Return browned beef to the pot. Stir in beef broth and tomato paste. Bring to a simmer, then add pearl barley.
- Simmer Until Tender: Cover the pot and simmer gently over low heat for 1 to 1.5 hours until beef is tender and barley is plump.
- Season and Finish with Herbs: About 10 minutes before the end, add chopped thyme and parsley. Season soup with salt and pepper to taste, adjusting as needed. Stir well to combine.
Notes
- Brown the beef thoroughly to develop deeper flavor and rich color.
- Do not rinse pearl barley to retain surface starches for natural thickening.
- Simmer the soup gently over low heat to keep beef tender and flavors melded.
- Use homemade beef broth for a richer, more authentic taste if possible.
- For meal prep or freezing, cook barley separately and add it fresh when reheating to avoid mushy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Soups
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg