Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup for Easy Holiday Entertaining

by Dorothy Reinhold on December 21, 2014


Print This Post Print This Post Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup | Crock-Pot Beef Barley Soup Recipe | ShockinglyDelicious.com

Try as we might to remain calm and serene during this holiday season, sometimes the self-generated stress of it all gets the better of us.

So let’s not let dinner present any more pressure to our already blow-a-gasket days. Grab your slow cooker out of the recesses of your cabinet and put it to work while you go about your shopping, decorating, gingerbread-making, carol-singing, ice-skating wonderful life.

Personally, I plan to watch some favorite holiday movies with my family instead of doing my chores or shopping (which I sort of hate). Who’s with me? Here’s what I like, and I don’t care what professional film critics say. I like what I like.

1. Jim Carrey as The GrinchRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
2. A Charlie Brown Christmas
3. Elf
4. The Polar Express
5. Love Actually
6. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
7. The Family Man

Now that you have lost all respect for me in the cinema department, I hope to regain your respect in the kitchen with this uber-easy, hearty, warming soup. It cooks all day in the slow cooker, so you can just put in all the ingredients before work or at the beginning of your day, and forget it.

Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup ingredients on ShockinglyDelicious.comOr, how about this? Put everything in there after dinner and cook it overnight. Wake up and simply put it in the refrigerator before you leave for the day, to be reheated when you get home. Either way, dinner is ready.

Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup | ShockinglyDelicious.comThis soup is chock-full of stewing beef (a satisfying cost-conscious cut you’ll often find on sale), vegetables, barley and greens. Ladle into bowls for serving and fling on some freshly grated Parmesan. Mmmmm…it has more umami than you are entitled to.

If you serve it with crusty bread and a glass of wine for the adults, you’ll be declared an angel.

Can you handle the pressure of that?

Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup

Rating: 51

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 hours

Total Time: 5 hours, 15 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

Hearty, warming, healthy Beef Barley Soup is done easily in the slow cooker, allowing lots of holiday shopping/playing while dinner is cooking.

Ingredients

  • 1 to 1 1/4 pounds lean stew beef, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 onion, chopped (yellow or red)
  • 2 ribs celery, chopped
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup red wine (I used Gallo Cabernet Sauvignon)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
  • 3/4 cup pearled barley
  • 2-4 bay leaves
  • 6 cups beef broth (fat-free, lower-salt version preferred)
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 1 (10-ounce) package fresh mixed greens (such as collards, turnips and mustard greens)
  • Garnish: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. In slow cooker, combine all ingredients except greens and cheese. Cover and cook on high for 5 hours (or low for 10 hours).
  2. When adding greens, add hearty greens 20-25 minutes before the end of the cooking time (hearty greens = kale, collards, mustard, turnips). If adding tender greens, add them 10-15 minutes before the end time (tender greens = spinach, beet greens, chard).
  3. Taste and add salt and pepper, if needed, or a couple of squirts of hot sauce!
  4. Serve and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. (Remember the Parmesan will add additional salt, so take care not to over salt the soup during the cooking stage.)
  5. Serves 6.

Notes

Note about slow cookers: Many cooks have found that newer models seem to cook hotter than older models, so if you have a new cooker, watch the time and perhaps check it earlier or cook it on low until you are confident of the performance of your cooker. This recipe was developed on an older version cooker.

Recipe source: Dorothy Reinhold | Shockingly Delicious

https://www.shockinglydelicious.com/slow-cooker-beef-barley-soup/

The Beef Checkoff Logo on ShockinglyDelicious.comThis week our Sunday Supper cooks are celebrating Easy Holiday Entertaining with beef, sponsored by The Beef Checkoff. For more meal ideas, see our 20 delicious recipes below, and follow our beef Pinterest board. Join me in following The Beef Checkoff on social media: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest. I don’t know about you, but I enjoy being at the top of the food chain.   🙂

Now let’s hit the kitchen. Sunday Supper will be here before you know it!

Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup note on ShockinglyDelicious.com

I like to leave myself a note about what time I think it will be done.

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by The Beef Checkoff. All opinions are my own.

{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }

Family Foodie December 22, 2014 at 8:54 am

What a fantastic recipe. Excited to try this one!

Reply

Barb @ A Life in Balance December 22, 2014 at 3:34 am

This sounds delicious! I love seeing your recipes in the Sharing group on FB! This is perfect for this time of year.

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 22, 2014 at 8:55 pm

Barb,
Thank you! I have enjoyed discovering your blog, as well!

Reply

Amy Kim (@kimchi_mom) December 21, 2014 at 9:03 pm

I love the hearty chunks of beef and vegetables in this soup! I haven’t had barley soup in ages…I think it’s time to make some this week! Thanks for the inspiration and happy holidays!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 9:10 pm

Thanks Amy, and right back atcha!

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DB, Foodie Stuntman | Crazy Foodie Stunts December 21, 2014 at 7:46 pm

No loss of respect over your movie preferences here, but I’d argue that Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Either way, your soup looks delicious!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 9:10 pm

DB,
You have GOT to be kidding! Die Hard?

Reply

Kelly @ Nosh and Nourish December 21, 2014 at 2:48 pm

I’ve never used barley before… this looks like the perfect way to start!! I love soup this time of year.

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 9:12 pm

Kelly,
Barley is a chewy grain, great for soups, grain salads, stews, even a breakfast grain!

Reply

Alida December 21, 2014 at 1:31 pm

What a wonderful soup! I also love your little note….I do the same thing!! 🙂

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 1:46 pm

Alida,
Without a note, I might leave it in there for 2 days!

Reply

Michele @ Flavor Mosaic December 21, 2014 at 1:17 pm

This Beef and Barley Soup looks wonderful.

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 1:47 pm

Michele,
Thank you so much!

Reply

Cindys Recipes and Writings December 21, 2014 at 12:57 pm

One of my all time favorite soups!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 1:47 pm

Thanks Cindy…it’s hard to beat beef and barley.

Reply

BobbisKozyKtchn December 21, 2014 at 11:09 am

What a perfect bowl of winter comfort!!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 1:52 pm

Bobbi,
It does take the chill off the day.

Reply

Lizthechef December 21, 2014 at 8:41 am

I should use my slow cooker for soup! This looks delicious, Dorothy –

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 1:52 pm

Liz,
You should!

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Liz December 21, 2014 at 7:56 am

Thank you Dorothy for the lovely soup recipe. Happy Holidays to you and your family.

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 1:53 pm

Liz,
You’re welcome, and happiest holidays to YOU!

Reply

Constance J Smith December 21, 2014 at 7:45 am

What a nice, hearty soup!!! Definitely what you want on the first day of Winter!!!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 1:53 pm

Constance,
I plumb forgot it was the first day of winter!

Reply

Marye December 21, 2014 at 7:11 am

slow cooker soups are the best! I love the ease. this is on my must try list. thanks

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 1:54 pm

Marye,
GREAT! Let me know how you like it!

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Marion@Life Tastes Good December 21, 2014 at 6:46 am

I bet this smells wonderful when cooking! Such a hearty and comforting bowl. I love that you added the greens! yummm!! and I’m with you on the shopping! I avoid it as much as I can 🙂

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 1:55 pm

Marion,
You and I can be in the NO SHOPPING CLUB together!

Reply

Jennifer Miller December 21, 2014 at 6:27 am

I LOVE beef and barley soup and I LOVE the fact that you made it in the crockpot even more! YUMMY!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 6:35 am

Jennifer,
The Crock-Pot is my friend. Truly.

Reply

Nichole December 21, 2014 at 6:22 am

I am allllll about easy, tasty, and stress-free! I love your movie picks. Love, Actually is one of my faves!

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Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 6:35 am

Nichole,
“Love Actually” was on last night. Found it while channel flipping and had to watch, yet again.

Reply

Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere December 21, 2014 at 5:43 am

What great flavors! Perfect for a cold winter evening!

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Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 6:14 am

Thanks Sarah! It really does hit the spot.

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Liz December 21, 2014 at 5:25 am

Perfect comfort food for the holidays. We tend to watch a Hitchcock movie on Christmas Eve—wonder what that says about my family??? 🙂

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 21, 2014 at 6:15 am

Liz,
Hitchcock…ooooh, that’s a new one!

Reply

Renee December 21, 2014 at 4:03 am

I can definitely handle the pressure of that – low and slow is a great way to go!

Reply

Dorothy Reinhold December 22, 2014 at 8:54 pm

Betsy/Desserts,
So happy to have your continuing respect, esp. over important movie choices!

Reply

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