This easy beef barley soup in a crock pot combines tender beef, vegetables, and plump barley for hearty, old-fashioned comfort food. An easy, hands-off recipe with stovetop directions included.
🤔 What type of barley is best for beef barley soup?
- Pearl barley: Best choice for easy, reliable results.
- Hulled barley: Works well but has a chewier texture.
- Quick or instant barley: Avoid—it cooks too fast for this crock pot recipe.
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Featured Comment by Josephine:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I have made this numerous times since I found the recipe in 2019. It is an all-time favorite for every occasion."
📝 TL;DR — Recipe Summary
What: Classic beef barley soup in a crock pot with tender beef, vegetables, and plump barley.
Why: Hands-off and flexible—make it in a 2-quart mini crock pot or scale up for the family, with stovetop directions included.
How: Brown the beef (optional), add everything to the crock pot, and cook until tender—about 8 hours on LOW.
🥣 Ingredients
- Beef — well-trimmed chuck roast or stew meat, cut into bite-size cubes
- Vegetables — carrots, celery, and potato; other vegetables may be added
- Barley — pearl barley preferred; hulled also works
- Aromatics — onion and garlic
- Pantry — beef broth, tomato paste, vegetable oil, salt, and black pepper
👨🍳 Quick Overview: How to Make Crock Pot Beef Barley Soup
1. Prep the beef — Use stew meat or trim a chuck roast into bite-size cubes.
2. Optional browning — Dust with flour and sear in hot oil for about 5 minutes. Add crushed garlic in the last minute.
3. Chop vegetables — Dice celery, potato, carrots, and onion; add to the crock pot.
4. Add the rest — Stir in tomato paste, salt, pepper, rinsed barley, and beef broth.
5. Cook — Cook on LOW for about 8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until the beef and vegetables are tender.
📌 This is just the overview. See the recipe card or step-by-step photos below for full instructions.
🔄 Options & Variations
- Barley Texture: Add the barley at the start for a softer result, or halfway through for a firmer bite.
- Vegetables: Carrots, celery, and potatoes form the base, but frozen corn, green beans, or peas can join in. (Add peas in the last hour so they stay bright.)
- Optional Seasoning: A splash of Worcestershire or a pinch of thyme or basil adds extra depth.
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↕️ Scaling: For Two or Family Size
This recipe makes about 7–8 cups, or four large servings, and fits comfortably in a 3–4 quart crock pot.
- Half recipe: About 4 cups (2 servings) and fits a 2-quart mini crock pot.
- Full recipe: About 7–8 cups (4 large servings) and fits a 3–4 quart crock pot.
- Double recipe: Use a 6-quart or larger crock pot.
- Cooking time: About the same when scaling up or down.
Scaling the ingredients: In the recipe card, change the number of servings. Use the amounts in the ingredients list—the instructions do not adjust automatically.
♨️ Stovetop Option
- Brown the beef: Dust the beef with flour and brown in a little oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot, then remove.
- Sauté the vegetables: Add a little more oil if needed and sauté until softened, about 8–10 minutes.
- Combine: Return the beef, stir in tomato paste, seasonings, barley, and broth.
- Simmer: Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook 45–60 minutes until the beef, barley, and carrots are tender.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Serve with a salad and crusty bread, biscuits, or cornbread. Some favorites:
❄️ Leftovers & Reheating
- Refrigerate: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: Freeze for up to 3 months. Portion into freezer-safe containers to make reheating easier.
- Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop over medium heat, or use the microwave. Add a splash of broth or water if it’s too thick.
❓ FAQs
Use ½ cup of pearl barley for the full recipe. Add it at the beginning for softer barley or halfway through cooking for a firmer texture.
Yes. Rinse the barley briefly under running water before adding it to remove dust or debris from processing.
No. Add the uncooked barley directly to the soup. It cooks along with the other ingredients and helps thicken the broth.
•Hulled barley: Only the outer husk removed; considered whole grain, chewier, and more nutritious.
•Pearl barley: Bran layer removed and polished, softer and less nutritious, but most common.
•Quick/instant barley: Partially cooked and dried (like minute rice). Ready in 10–15 minutes, but not recommended for this recipe.
😊 Related Crock Pot Soup Recipes
📖The Recipe Card
Crock Pot Beef Barley Soup
Ingredients
- 1 pound chuck roast or stew meat - cubed
- 1–2 cloves garlic - crushed or minced
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 ribs celery
- 2 medium carrots
- 1 medium onion
- 1 potato - medium
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon salt - to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup uncooked barley - rinsed
- 4–5 cups low-sodium beef broth
- flour—for optional dusting beef to brown
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep the beef — Use stew meat or trim a chuck roast into bite-size cubes.
- Optional browning — Dust with flour, then brown in 1 tablespoon oil for about 5 minutes. Add 1–2 cloves crushed garlic during the last minute.
- Dice 2 ribs of celery, 1 medium potato, 2 carrots, and 1 medium onion. Add to a 3–4-quart or larger crock pot.
- Add 3 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, and ½ cup uncooked rinsed barley. Finally, add 4–5 cups of beef broth.
- Cook on LOW for about 8 hours or HIGH for 4–5 hours, until the beef and vegetables are tender.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips:
You can skip browning and add everything to the crock pot — it will still be excellent. Use pearl (softer) or hulled (chewier, more nutritious) barley. Skip quick/instant. Rinse the barley under running water before cooking to remove dust or debris. Add a can of diced tomatoes, but then use 4 cups of broth. For firmer barley, add it halfway through cooking. Fits a 3–4 quart crock pot. Half recipe = 2-quart mini. Double recipe = 6–8 quarts. Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.Your Own Private Notes
To adjust the recipe size:
You can adjust the number of servings above; however, only the amount in the ingredient list is adjusted, not the instructions.
Nutrition Estimate (may vary)
Originally Published December 3, 2016. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Jo Ann Thomas says
This is the best beef barley soup with veggies. Love it! I love all your recipes especially the ones in crock pot for this time of year. Thank you so much for all the work you put in and sharing these recipes. Just a wonderful site. Tks again. Jo Ann
Josephine Roma says
Dr Dan,
I have made this numerous times since I found the recipe in 2019. It is an all-time favorite for every occasion. I made it for an ill family member who wasn't able to cook for herself, and stored it in her freezer in single serve portions; for pot luck work luncheons; family get togethers; and for just the two of us-my husband and me, for dinner and then freeze leftovers for a second meal or lunches. Everyone always wants the recipe, so I just give them the link. Always a 5 star meal. Thanks so much for this website. The https://www.101cookingfortwo.com/crock-pot-ham-bone-bean-soup/ is another family favorite!!!
Katherine A Dietz says
Why do you not use flour to dredge the beef? Would you suggest using red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar to clean out pan and help tenderize the beef?
Thanks
Katherine
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Katherine,
You definitely can dredge with flour to get some browning before adding to the crock pot. You can also skip the entire skillet step and just dump and go—it will still come out very nice.
If the pan needs to be degassed, then your suggestions are fine or even just some booth or water will do. The wine and vinegar will change the taste and is more of a personal choice.
Dan
SeafoamJade says
This looks amazing, but I have a question: I have all the ingredients on hand except for the stew meat. But, I do have a pound of 90% lean hamburger meat. Can I use that instead of stew meat? Also, could I substitute a 15 oz. can of crushed tomatoes in place of the diced tomatoes? (I can't eat seeds.) If not, would tomato sauce or puree be a good substitute for diced tomatoes? TIA!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Jade,
Welcome to the blog.
About the burger, yes it would work but obviously will be a different soup. Ground meat needs to be browned and drained before adding to a crock pot or you get clumps of meat—unpleasant .
The tomatoes (other than the tomato paste) is optional to change the taste some. So crushed or sauce is fine if you want that option.
Dan
Judy says
Back to get my favorite cold weather soup! This soup is always delicious and easy to make!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
👍
Rosetta R Morrisris says
The crock pot beef and barley soup was delicious. My husband even liked it. I added some of my frozen tomatoes from my garden. I think some okra would also be good in it. I will be making this recipe again. Had trouble finding barley but now that I have it I will be adding it to other soups. Keep up the good work. Really enjoy your recipes
Anita Chaplick says
If you cooked this on a stove top versus a crock pot, how long should you cook it?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Anita,
Welcome to the blog.
Please see the answer I just gave Elisabeth a few minutes ago.
Dan
Elisabeth Wasslen says
I don't have a crock pot but it sure sounds delicious to me. I do have a question though. If I cook it on the stove top, how long will it take? Thank you so much.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Elisabeth,
Cook the meat as directed in a large pot (like a Dutch oven), remove from pot, add about 1 tablespoon of oil, and all the veggies, cook until softening (about 10-15 minutes). Add everything back to the large pot, bring to a boil then turn down to simmer and cover. It will probably take about an hour but check at 45 minutes. The meat, barley, and carrots should be tender before stopping. It could take a bit longer. I haven't done stovetop for years and going on memory but this seems right.
Dan
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Cindy,
Welcome to the blog.
Yes, ground beef works fine. Same weight and, of course, it should be pre-browned enough to break it apart and drain well.
Dan
Randy Moisan says
Came out delicious. I used baby carrots and added a little more barley came out nice and thick the way I like it.