Beef Barley Soup Recipe - iFoodReal.com (2024)

This Beef Barley Soup is flavorful, incredibly easy and satisfying on a cold day. One pot meal ready in an hour with ground beef, barley and vegetables. So good!

Busy? Make in slow cooker or try this Instant Pot beef barley soup.

Beef Barley Soup Recipe - iFoodReal.com (1)

Soups are busy parents, grandparents and anyone’s budget life savers.

Unlike my grandma and other classic beef and barley soup recipes out there, I like to use ground beef for beef barley soup. Small pieces of cooked hamburger pair well with barley and end up in every spoonful making soup extra rich.

Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I do crave tender beef chunks. That’s when I make vegetable beef soup recipe, beef stir fry recipe or beef and broccoli. But for this particular soup recipe, I am just fine to use minced meat.

Ingredients and Notes

This beef barley soup recipe is the best! It is quick, easy and healthy. It uses simple ingredients and is highly customizable. I give you lots of options below.

  • Ground beef: It cooks much faster than beef stew meat. If you use lean hamburger, you can drain excess fat after sauteing. Cooked leftover beef from Instant Pot pot roast or sirloin tip roast is great and will take only 40 minutes to create a rich flavoured beef barley soup.
  • Barley: I prefer to use hulled barley that is high in fiber, protein and is a whole grain. Hulled barley or sometimes called whole wheat barley is more chewy and can be found in most grocery stores. You can use pearl barley, it is just less nutritious. Also buckwheat groats are a pretty close substitute in taste and texture.
  • Vegetables: Veggies used in classic soups like onion, garlic, carrots, potatoes and celery create a flavor base for meat and broth.
  • No beef broth? I get it, I often do not have one on hand. Use any other low sodium broth, Instant Pot beef bone broth, chicken broth or Instant Pot chicken broth. Water works too, you might cook barley beef soup a bit longer or add more seasonings.
Beef Barley Soup Recipe - iFoodReal.com (2)

How to Make Beef and Barley Soup

Beef and barley soup recipe is quick and easy. Traditional mirepoix vegetables onion, carrots and celery are sauteed with dried thyme for additional flavor and no extra calories. Then all ingredients are simmered in low sodium beef broth for only 40 minutes vs. 1 hour and often longer.

  • Saute onion and garlic in hot olive oil: That is why I love my Lodge dutch oven – you can saute and cook soup in same pot and it cooks faster because cast iron retains heat well.
  • Cook beef breaking into small pieces: Meat doesn’t have to be cooked through, just small pieces are welcome to end up in every spoonful. Also sauteing dried herbs like thyme helps them release their natural oils and add more flavor.
  • Simmer soup for 40 minutes after you added barley, broth, bay leaves, salt and pepper. It is important to bring any soup to a boil first and then simmer covered.

Tips for Best Results

Here are my top tips for the best beef barley soup recipe ever!

  • If you don’t love thyme: Use dried oregano, dried rosemary or dried basil.
  • Add 2 cups of cubed potatoes to bulk up the soup: But cut them larger so they don’t fall apart completely during 40 minutes.
  • Love mushrooms in beef barley soup? Saute 1 cup sliced brown mushrooms after onion and garlic.
  • If you would like to make this soup in Instant Pot: Saute ground beef first, then cook with all other ingredients (but use only 6 cups broth) on high pressure for 10 minutes. Wait 20-30 minutes to avoid splatters and then release remaining pressure, if any.
  • Got slow cooker? Saute meat and veggies and then slow cook all ingredients together for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. That is when chewy hulled barley comes in handy – it won’t be as mushy as pearled barley.
Beef Barley Soup Recipe - iFoodReal.com (3)

How to Make Ahead, Store and Reheat

To make ahead: Saute all veggies and meat. Add to a large glass container or bowl with a lid along with all spices. Refrigerate for up to 2 days. Then add stock and cook beef barley soup as per recipe.

You can also freeze the make ahead version above in a plastic bag: Then cook from frozen on the stove or Instant Pot following recipe’s cooking time.

This method wouldn’t work for crockpot though because it is not recommended to allow not fully cooked meat sit in warm slow cooker for hours. However, you can first thaw it in the fridge for 24 hours or maybe overnight and then slow cook.

Store leftovers: For up to 5 days in the fridge. Or freeze beef and barley soup leftovers for up to 3 months. Reheat by simmering on low heat in the pot on the stove.

More Soup Recipes to Try

  • Stuffed bell pepper soup
  • Chicken wild rice soup
  • Instant Pot stuffed pepper soup
  • Chicken stew
Beef Barley Soup Recipe - iFoodReal.com (4)

Beef Barley Soup Recipe - iFoodReal.com (5)

Beef Barley Soup Recipe

This Beef Barley Soup Recipe is flavorful, incredibly easy and satisfying on a cold day. One pot meal ready in an hour with ground beef, barley and vegetables.

5 from 29 votes

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Print RecipeSave RecipeRate Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat large Dutch oven or pot on medium heat and swirl oil to coat.

  • Add onion and garlic, saute for 3 minutes, stirring often.

  • Add carrots, celery, ground beef and thyme. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring and breaking meat into small pieces.

  • Add beef broth, potatoes, barley, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Stir, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 40 minutes.

  • Turn off heat, stir, add parsley and adjust any seasonings to taste, if you wish.

  • Serve hot with a slice of toasted bread.

Video

Notes

  • Store: For up to 5 days in the fridge. Reheat by simmering on low heat in the pot on the stove.
  • Freeze: Cooked soup up to 3 months.
  • Freezer meal: Saute veggies and meat. Add to freezer bag with spices. Cook from frozen on the stove or Instant Pot adding broth and following recipe cooking time.
  • Barley: I prefer to use hulled barley that is high in fiber, protein and is a whole grain. It is also called whole wheat barley and texture is chewier. You can use pearl barley, it is just less nutritious.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 358mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g

Course: Soup and Stew

Cuisine: Ukrainian

Author: Olena Osipov

Did you make this recipe?Mention @ifoodreal or tag #ifoodreal!

Categories:
Beef, Cuisine, Dinner Recipes, Kid Friendly Recipes, One Pot Meals, Soup and Stew Recipes, Ukrainian, Video

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About Olena

Welcome! I grew up in Ukraine watching my grandma cook with simple ingredients. I have spent the last 11 years making it my mission to help you cook quick and easy meals for your family!

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Beef Barley Soup Recipe - iFoodReal.com (2024)

FAQs

Why does my beef barley soup have no flavor? ›

9 Answers
  • If you use self-made beef stock, try boiling a bit longer, so that the flavour of the beef is a bit more concentrated.
  • Boil your soup a bit longer.
  • Use more beef stock and/or cubed beef.
  • I don't know how much herbs you put in. Maybe a bit more pepper or rosemary can make a difference.
Mar 27, 2011

Is barley soup anti inflammatory? ›

Research shows that barley helps to regulate blood pressure, boost immunity and provide anti-inflammatory effects.

What are the ingredients in Progresso Beef Barley Soup? ›

Ingredients. Water, Beef Broth, Cooked Diced Seasoned Beef and Modified Food starch Product (beef, beef broth, hydrolyzed soy protein, modified food starch, salt, sodium phosphate, natural flavor, maltodextrin), Carrots, Barley, Tomatoes, Tomato Paste, Celery.

What if I put too much barley in my soup? ›

As barley is a starch the best you can do is dilute it, or thin it out a bit. You may need to add a fair bit of broth and more of your vegetal ingredients. Possibly to the point of doubling your recipe. It will depend on when you find the taste and texture to have gotten back to acceptable levels.

How can I deepen my soup flavor? ›

Dried herbs and seasonings: homemade seasoned salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and dried bay leaves lend flavor to the soup.

How do I increase the depth of flavor in soup? ›

Add acidic ingredients.

Foods that have a great deal of acidity, like lemon juice, vinegar, white wine, and tomato puree, can help liven up the flavor of bland-tasting bone and other broths. "The acidity of these ingredients works to complement and enhance the broth's flavors, not mask it.

What are the side effects of barley soup? ›

Side effects might include gas, bloating, and an unpleasant taste. Some people might also be allergic to barley. When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if barley is safe. Allergic skin reactions are possible.

Is barley good for your bowels? ›

Unstrained barley water contains high levels of fiber. This can promote good digestion and gut health. However, if you consume too much of it, its fiber content can cause stomach cramps, constipation, bloating, and gas.

Is barley soup good for high blood pressure? ›

The fiber in barley might lower cholesterol and blood pressure in people with high cholesterol. Barley may also reduce blood sugar and insulin levels. Barley seems to slow stomach emptying.

What is a substitute for barley in beef barley soup? ›

Millet is a great substitute for barley because it has a similar texture and taste. It does have a milder flavor so if your dish uses barley as the star ingredient, you may need to add more flavors with millet as your substitute to make your dish more flavorful.

Should barley be soaked before adding to soup? ›

Do you have to soak barley before cooking? Pearl barley does not need to be soaked prior to cooking because it cooks quickly. Hulled barley benefits from soaking in water for a few hours before cooking. However, you should still budget more time for the hulled grain to cook (about 35 to 40 minutes).

How much sugar is in beef barley soup? ›

Per 1 Cup Serving: 110 calories; 0.5 g sat fat (3% DV); 680 mg sodium (29% DV); 3 g total sugars.

What foods should you avoid with barley? ›

Foods that must be eliminated completely include all those containing derivatives of wheat, rye and barley. Bread, cakes, biscuits, crackers, pastry, pasta and breakfast cereals made from wheat/rye/barley should all be eliminated from your diet or exchanged for gluten free versions.

What happens if you don't rinse barley before cooking? ›

There is no need to rinse barley before using it. To enhance the flavor of barley, heat the kernels in a skillet for a few minutes or cook it in broth instead of water. You can save time by cooking extra barley and freezing it. Add it to soups or salads as you need it.

What is the difference between pearl barley and hulled barley? ›

Hulled barley, considered a whole grain, has had just the indigestible outer husk removed. It's darker in color and has a little bit of a sheen. Pearled barley, also called pearl barley, is not a whole grain and isn't as nutritious. It has lost its outer husk and its bran layer, and it has been polished.

How do you fix bland barley soup? ›

A few things could fix the blandness, If a soup is tasting bland in the bowl, consider adding acid rather than salt. A squeeze of lemon or lime, or a dash of yogurt or sour cream can add brightness to the bowl.

Why is my beef soup bland? ›

The best way to ensure a flavorful soup is to brown the beef and onions in the beginning. If the soup tastes bland at the end of cooking, add more spices and herbs. After adding, allow the soup to cook a little longer so the flavors to meld together.

Why is my beef stock tasteless? ›

A good stock isn't done until it's been strained, seasoned and cooled. Skimping on any of these steps can leave you with stock that's murky, bland or stale-tasting. To strain, pour the stock into a colander lined with at least two layers of cheesecloth.

Why does my beef have no flavor? ›

Bland diets (rations) lacking in diversity lead to bland flavored beef. The beef may be tender and juicy but it will only taste like whatever it was seasoned with. The same is true with chicken breasts. Beef needs a diverse forage-based (mineralized) diet to create flavor.

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