Slow Cooker Ground Beef, Barley, and Vegetables Soup

Beef and Barley Soup
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Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 6 hrs
Total: 6 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 6 servings

When it's cold outside, having soup is as natural as wrapping yourself in a warm blanket and covering your feet with thermal socks. This classic beef barley recipe is healthy comfort food that the whole family can enjoy in the fall and winter months. Here's a soup that is not too thin and not too thick. It's a hearty combination of vegetables, ground beef, and barley with a taste that will bring back memories. Serve this warm with a rustic loaf of bread or biscuits and a crispy salad.

Adding croutons, fried onions, shredded cabbage or softened cubed potatoes would make the dish look finished and give it the twist it deserves. To make it extra special, pair the soup with a glass of wine and serve with a decadent dessert.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef

  • 1/2 cup chopped onion

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 2/3 cup pearl barley

  • 3 to 4 medium carrots, diced

  • 3 stalks celery, diced

  • 1 (28-ounce) can tomatoes

  • 3 1/2 to 4 cups beef broth

  • 2 cups water

  •  1 (10 1/2-ounce) can tomato soup, optional

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 1/4 cup minced parsley

  • 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Brown ground beef, onion, and garlic in a large skillet over medium-high heat; drain well.

  2. Transfer meat mixture to slow cooker; add barley and remaining ingredients.

  3. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour, then on low 5 to 6 hours.

  4. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Tips

  • Given the simplicity of beef barley soup, you can make it more elegant and fancy for a dinner or dress it down for a quick lunch. It's all in the presentation and accompaniments. A lunch might pair the soup with an open-faced sandwich or a couple of boiled eggs, while homemade croutons or a cheese topping could add some pizazz to the soup itself.
  • Pair this soup with a dry red wine or red blend.


Variations

  • Add 1 cup of shredded cabbage to the soup along with the barley and vegetables.
  • Add 1 to 2 cups of diced potatoes to the slow cooker.
  • For a spicy vibe, add a dash of cayenne pepper or hot sauce.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
341 Calories
15g Fat
16g Carbs
36g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 341
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 6g 28%
Cholesterol 101mg 34%
Sodium 1154mg 50%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 36g
Vitamin C 23mg 116%
Calcium 104mg 8%
Iron 5mg 29%
Potassium 1037mg 22%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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