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Hearty Beef Barley Soup | 45-Min Cozy Fall Family Dinner

Best Beef and Barley Soup Recipe Easy 45 Minute Cozy Fall...

Beef and barley soup is the ultimate hearty comfort soup for fall family dinners. This cozy recipe cooks in 45 minutes. Try it today.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Ground Beef Recipes
Cuisine: American
Calories: 385

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb beef chuck, cubed
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 carrots, sliced
  • 3 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 cup pearl barley
  • 8 cups beef broth
  • 2 cups diced tomatoes
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups mushrooms, sliced

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium-high heat until shimmering. Working in batches to avoid crowding, brown the beef chuck on all sides for 8-10 minutes total, then transfer to a plate. Don't rush this step because the browned bits add incredible depth to your finished dish.
  2. Add diced onion to the same pot and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened and fragrant. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, being careful not to burn it because burnt garlic turns bitter immediately.
  3. Return the beef to the pot along with carrots, celery, mushrooms, and pearl barley. Stir everything together for 1-2 minutes to coat with the oil and aromatics that now coat the bottom of the pot.
  4. Pour in beef broth and diced tomatoes, then add bay leaves, thyme, and oregano, stirring well to combine. Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 40-45 minutes until the beef is tender and barley is cooked through. The beef and barley soup recipe transforms completely during this gentle cooking time.
  5. Taste the broth and season generously with salt and pepper until it's absolutely delicious. Remove bay leaves before serving this comfort soup to family and friends who'll ask for the recipe immediately.