Hearty Beef Barley Soup Recipe

Published: Mar 14, 2023 · Modified: May 17, 2025 by Chef Dennis Littley

Nothing says comfort food like a bowl of Homemade Beef Barley Soup. Our old-fashioned beef barley soup is loaded with tender chunks of beef, wholesome barley, and a mirepoix of vegetables, making it perfect for those chilly days when your body craves a warm and comforting hearty meal.

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My beef barley soup recipe is delicious, satisfying, and a great way to get more whole grains and hearty vegetables into your diet. This delicious soup is a full meal on its own, but you can also serve it with a salad, cheesy garlic bread, or a big slice of warm, crusty bread.

This hearty soup has the consistency of beef stew, but you can always add more beef broth if you want your beef barley soup to have a thinner consistency.

Ingredients for Beef Barley Soup Recipe

Gather the ingredients to prepare our homemade beef barley soup recipe. Culinary professionals call this the “Mise en Place,” which means “everything in its Place.”

Setting up your ingredients not only helps speed up the cooking process but also ensures you have all the necessary ingredients on hand to make the recipe.

If you have beef leftover you can use it up in my beef stroganoff recipe.

Can I add other vegetables to this soup?

You sure can. To stretch the soup, add your favorite fresh or frozen vegetables along with additional beef broth. Green beans, peas, and corn are some of my favorite additions, as are button or cremini mushrooms.

How to Make our Beef Barley Soup Recipe

Follow along with my simple step-by-step instructions to learn how to make our Beef Barley soup recipe in your home kitchen.

Add two tablespoons of olive to a large pot over medium-high heat, then add the beef chunks to the pot in a single layer. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook the beef for 3-4 minutes on each side, then remove the beef and juices from the pan and set them aside until needed.
Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the same pot the beef was cooked in over medium-high heat. Then add the carrots, celery, and onion to the pot and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Add the garlic and tomato paste to the cooked vegetables.
Mix the tomato paste into the vegetables and let it cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add the red wine to the pot to deglaze the pan. Remove the pot from the heat and use a large spoon to scrape all the browned bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan.

*I used chuck roast to make my beef barley soup, but you could also use beef short ribs, and let the collagen-rich beef on the bone add additional flavor to the soup

collage showing how to finish making recipe.

Add the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, and thyme to the pot, along with the cooked beef chunks.
Bring the mixture to a light boil, then reduce the temperature to low. Let the soup simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. *Skim any excess fat off the top of the soup.
Add the barley to the soup and continue to simmer the soup for another 45-60 minutes. *As the soup simmers, the broth will reduce, and you’ll need to add water to the soup towards the end of the simmer. I added another 1 ½ cups of water to the soup to get the consistency right.
Add the chopped parsley to the soup and stir together. Taste and reseason the beef barley soup as needed with salt and black pepper.

Wouldn’t you love to serve this flavorful soup to your family? I know after one spoonful of my Beef Barley Soup, they’ll be asking when you’re going to make it again. This is one of those soup recipes you’ll be making time and time again.

To make this soup in a slow cooker, follow the recipe as written. Cook the soup on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

To use an Instant Pot:

Use the sauté function to brown the beef and cook the vegetables, then cook the soup on high pressure for 25 minutes, followed by a natural pressure release.

Once cooled to room temperature, store the soup in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Recipe FAQ’s

What cut of beef should I use for the beef barley soup recipe?

I prefer using collagen-rich cuts of beef like chuck roast for this soup. The longer cooking process makes it tender and allows the flavor to build in the soup.
You can also use any leftover cooked beef, from top round steak to short ribs. You just won’t need to cook the soup for as long.

Should you cook barley before adding it to the soup?

The short answer is no. The pearl barley will thicken the soup as it cooks, making it a more hearty soup. If you prefer a more brothy soup, you can cook the barley prior to adding it to the soup.
If you want to add it to the soup already cooked, simply boil it for 20-30 minutes.

Can you overcook barley in soup?

In some cases, particularly if you use a slow cooking method, the barley can become overcooked. Add the pearl barley uncooked, and it will thicken the soup during the cooking process, making it more hearty.

Can I freeze this soup?

Yes, you can. Beef barley soup freezes well. Let the soup cool completely, then transfer it to airtight containers or freezer bags, leaving some space for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw the soup in the refrigerator overnight and then warm it gently on the stovetop.

More Soup Recipes You’ll Love!

Homemade Beef Barley Soup Recipe

Chef Dennis Littley

My old-fashioned beef barley soup is loaded with tender chunks of beef, wholesome barley, and a mirepoix of vegetables making it perfect for those chilly days when your body craves a warm and comforting hearty meal.

4.99 from 116 votes

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 2

Total Time 2 15

Course Appetiser, Soup

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 233 kcal

Ingredients

1.5 lbs chuck roast ½-¾ inch cubes trimmed of excess fat
3 tablespoon olive oil
1 cups carrots medium dice
1 cup celery medium dice
2 cups onion medium dice
4 tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoon minced garlic
8 cups beef broth
½ cup red wine -optional
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon fresh thyme finely minced or 1 teaspoon dried
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt to taste
¼ teaspoon black pepper to taste
1 cup pearl barley
2 tablespoon Italian parsley finely minced

Instructions

Add two tablespoons of olive to a large pot over medium-high heat, then add the beef chunks to the pot in a single layer. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook the beef for 3-4 minutes on each side, then remove the beef and juices from the pan and set them aside until needed.
Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the same pot the beef was cooked in over medium-high heat. Then add the carrots, celery, and onion to the pot and cook for 3-4 minutes.
Add the garlic and tomato paste to the cooked vegetables and mix well. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add the red wine to the pot to deglaze the pan. Remove the pot from the heat and use a large spoon to scrape all the browned bits that have stuck to the bottom of the pan.
Add the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, and thyme to the pot along with the cooked beef.
Bring the mixture to a light boil, then reduce the temperature to low heat. Let the soup simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
*Skim any excess fat off the top of the soup.
Add the barley to the soup and continue to simmer the soup for another 45-60 minutes.
*As the soup simmers the broth will reduce and you'll need to add water to the soup towards the end of the simmer. I added another 1 ½ cups of water to the soup to get the consistency right.
Add the chopped parsley to the soup and stir together. Taste and reseason as needed with salt and black pepper.
Serve the soup with crusty bread, and enjoy.

Notes

*Add your favorite fresh or frozen vegetables along with additional beef broth to stretch the soup. Green beans, peas, and corn are some of my favorite veggies to add.

To make this soup in a slow cooker, follow the recipe as written. Cook the soup on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

To use an Instant Pot, use the sauté function to brown the beef and cook the vegetables, then cook the soup on high pressure for 25 minutes, followed by a natural pressure release.

What cut of beef should I use for beef barley soup?

I prefer using collagen-rich cuts of beef like chuck roast for this soup. The longer cooking process makes it tender and allows the flavor to build in the soup. You can also use any leftover cooked beef that you have on hand. You just won’t need to cook the soup for as long.

Should you cook barley before adding it to the soup?

Can I freeze this soup?

Nutrition

Calories: 233kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 15gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 664mgPotassium: 486mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1999IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 2mg

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Comments

4.99 from 116 votes (81 ratings without comment)