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This beef and barley stew slow cooker recipe is comfort food made easy. For those who like to set it and forget it!

If you love the combination of beef and barley (and are craving a broth!), you have to try our beef & barley soup.

Beef and barley in a bowl

Beef and barley stew is a healthy and hearty dish of stewed beef, tender barley, and veggies. Made in a slow cooker, this recipe requires minimal fuss and is perfect for meal-prepping. You’re new favorite beef stew!

If you haven’t cooked with barley much, you’re about to be hooked. Often underutilized in American cooking, it touts some major health benefits. Packed with nutrients and fiber, you can count on barley to keep you fuller for longer with minimal calories.

Note: If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can easily make this soup in a Dutch oven.

How to Make the Best Beef and Barley Stew

Making beef and barley stew in the slow cooker is a no-brainer and perfect for meal-prepping. Below, find a quick overview of the recipe before you dive in.

  • Prep the Veggies & Beef: Slice the mushrooms into fourths and dice the onions and carrots. Next, slice the beef into one-inch cubes.
  • Brown the Beef: In a deep skillet preheated with olive oil, brown the beef. Remove it from the skillet and transfer it into the slow cooker.
  • Sauté the Veggies: Sauté the carrots and onions in the beef drippings and transfer them to the slow cooker. Next, brown the mushrooms in the drippings. Pop them in the slow cooker.
  • Add the Remaining Ingredients: Add barley, bay leaves, broth concentrate, pepper and salt into the slow cooker. Fill with water. Cook on high for 2-4 hours. Serve in a big soup bowl and enjoy!

Hot Tip: In a pinch, you don’t have to brown the beef or sauté the veggies before popping them into the slow cooker if you’re in a pinch, but doing so adds such depth of flavor to the stew!

Beef browned in a pan
Browned carrot and onion in a pan
Browned mushroom in a pan
barley added to all the slow cooker

Tips for Making the Best Beef and Barley Stew

Below, find a couple of tips and tricks to help you make the best stew.

  • Cook the veggies in the beef drippings. Browning the beef pulls out a ton of flavor from the meat and creates nice drippings for you to sauté the veggies in.
  • Don’t waste your money on expensive beef. The slow cooker will work its magic and make even the toughest cuts of beef tender. Save yourself the money and get chuck or stew meat!
  • Periodically check the doneness of the stew the first time you make it. Every slow cooker is different, so some may cook the stew faster or slower than others. After 2 hours, check it for doneness and adjust the cooking time as necessary.

Instant Pot Hack: If you want to speed up the process, you could make this entire stew in an Instant Pot. Simply cook the beef and veggies on sauté mode and hit the stew setting!

Beef and Barley in a slow cooker

Serving Beef and Barley Stew

Although beef and barley stew can stand as a meal on its own, you can serve it with a handful of sides for lunch or dinner to make it a more well-rounded meal. If you’re in the mood to bake, whip up some fresh baguette or cornbread to serve it with (who doesn’t like sopping up broth with bread?!). If you’re trying to keep things light, pair it with a classic garden or caesar salad.

Storing Beef and Barley Stew

  • Refrigerator: Store leftover stew in an airtight container in the fridge. It should keep for up to a week and get more flavor as it marinates in itself, making for some awesome leftovers!
  • Freezer: To freeze leftover stew, first let it cool down completely. Transfer it to a freezer-safe plastic bag or airtight container. It should stay fresh for up to 3 months.

Reheating Tip: To reheat refrigerated soup, zap it in the microwave for a couple or minutes or pop it in a saucepan over low heat until warmed through. To reheat frozen soup, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Reheat as you would refrigerated stew.

FAQ

Should I cook the barley before adding it to the stew?

No, you do not need to cook the barley before adding it to the stew. It will cook in the slow cooker to tender perfection!

What kind of barley should I use?

You should use pearl barley for this soup. It has a neutral, cereal-like taste and adds a wonderful creaminess to stew.

How can I make my beef barley stew more flavorful?

You can make beef barley stew more flavorful by topping it with fresh herbs. Dill, parsley, chives, and basil work great!

How do I fix a bland stew?

If your stew turns out less flavorful than you hoped, add some extra salt and pepper. You could also add a tablespoon or so of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce.

What cut of beef should I use for beef barley stew?

Chuck roast is the best cut for stew. It’s typically tougher, but during the slow cooking process it turns ultra-tender. If your butcher has it, you could also use stew meat (odds and ends from lean beef cuts).

Do I have to precook the beef and veggies before adding them to the slow cooker?

You don’t have to, but browning the beef and sautéing the veggies adds such a depth of flavor to the stew.

Other Comforting Recipes

Recipe

Beef and barley in a bowl

Beef and Barley Stew (Slow-Cooker )

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Servings
15 Servings
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 2 hrs
Total Time 2 hrs 20 mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This beef and barley stew slow cooker recipe is comfort food made easy. For those who like to set it and forget it!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lb beef one inch cubes
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 carrot chopped
  • 1 1/2 cup barley
  • 1 1/2 lb mushrooms sliced
  • 1 tbsp Better Than Bouillon broth concentrate beef or chicken base
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 1 tbsp salt adjust to taste
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper adjust to taste
US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat a deep skillet over high heat. Brown the beef cubes on all sides. Remove the meat from the skillet and place it into the slow cooker.
    Beef browned in a pan
  • In the same skillet, sauté the carrots and onion and cook until they are lightly browned. Place them into the slow cooker.
    Cooked onion and carrot in a pan
  • Next, brown mushrooms in the same skillet and add to the slow cooker.
    raw mushrooms in a pan
  • Add barley, bay leaves, Better than Bouillon broth concentrate, and salt to the slow cooker. Fill the slow cooker with enough water to cover 2/3rds of the ingredients (about 2.5 cups).
    barley added to all the slow cooker
  • Depending on the size and power of your slow cooker, cook on high for 2-4 hours. Check the stew periodically to gauge doneness. Serve hot and enjoy!
    Beef and Barley in a slow cooker
Nutrition Facts
Beef and Barley Stew (Slow-Cooker )
Amount Per Serving
Calories 195 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 4g20%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 32mg11%
Sodium 503mg21%
Potassium 376mg11%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 4g16%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 12g24%
Vitamin A 686IU14%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 20mg2%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted November 3, 2021

About Author

Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.