Beef Barley Soup (One Pot)

Quick and easy beef barley soup recipe, made with simple ingredients in one pot on stovetop. A weeknight meal loaded with Italian seasoning, vegetables, tender beef.

This one pot soup comes together quickly but still tastes so rich and flavorful. Even kids approve! It also freezes well and is a great weekly meal plan option. It's just as amazing as my Vegetable Beef Soup (One Pot) This classic, old fashioned, traditional meal is a cross between a stew and a soup and has rich Italian flavors. It's cozy, hearty and the perfect weeknight meal, especially during chilly Winters.

Jump to:

• How to make easy one pot beef barley soup recipe on stovetop?
• Can you cook barley in soup?
• What spices go well in beef soup?
• How long does pearl barley take to cook in soup?
• What sides to serve with soup?
• Tips and variations
• More one pot soup recipes
• Recipe

How to make easy one pot beef barley soup recipe on stovetop?

1. Saute meat in butter and oil.
2. Add onions, garlic, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and saute until fragrant.
3. Mix in tomatoes.
4. Cover and cook.
5. Uncover and add potatoes, celery, carrots, barley.
6. Cover and cook again.
7. Uncover and add corn and peas.
8. Cover and cook.
9. Uncover and cook until liquid is reduced soup thickens.
10. Garnish with parsley and you are done.

Can you cook barley in soup?

Yes, absolutely. Add it in the final 30-40 minutes of cooking.

What spices go well in beef soup?

Italian seasoning is the classic choice buy other seasoning blends of your choice can be used (Indian, Cajun e.t.c.) for a different flavor profile.

How long does pearl barley take to cook in soup?

It takes about 30-40 minutes for it to become tender, when cooked on medium high heat.

What sides to serve with soup?

• Homemade biscuits
• Dinner rolls
• Breadsticks
• Crackers
• Salad
• Roasted vegetables
• Garlic bread
• Cornbread
• Grilled cheese sandwiches

Tips and variations

• Adjust the amount of seasonings and veggies, based on your preference.
• Use small cubes of meat because it will cook faster and become very tender.
• Use low sodium broth to prevent soup from becoming too salty.
• Instead of barley, you can add small uncooked pasta (e.g. Ditalini or shells or macaroni).
• Add sliced mushrooms in the final 20-30 minutes to make beef barley mushroom soup.
• If you have never worked with barley, it's actually very similar to brown rice, in terms of size and texture.  I highly recommend using pearl barley since it works the best in this soup.
• Also, barley has a tendency to absorb a lot of liquid, which can make the soup very thick. To prevent this, you can mix in additional broth at the end OR you can cook barley separately and simply mix that into the soup at the end (in the final 5-10 minutes).
• The best and affordable meat options would be chuck cubes, stew meat or even flank steak. You can also make this soup with ground beef. Just remember to drain fat, after browning. You can also use leftover beef like pot roast or steak or roast beef. Just mix it in the soup in the last 30 minutes. It can be cubed or shredded.
• If you are planning on freezing this soup, don't add potatoes because they taste weird when they thaw.
• To make Slow cooker version, add all in the ingredients in a slow cooker. Mix and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours. Garnish with chopped parsley and enjoy.

More one pot soup recipes

• Easy Vegetable Soup (One Pot)
• One Pot Lasagna Soup
• Pasta Fagioli/ Pasta E Fagioli (One Pot)

Recipe