Beef Barley Soup Recipe
A rich and hearty beef barley soup packed with tender beef, nutty barley, and flavorful vegetables. Slow-simmered with fresh herbs, red wine, and Worcestershire sauce for deep, comforting flavors. Perfect for chilly nights and even better as leftovers!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef chuck roast cut into cubes
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 4 medium carrots sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¾ cup dry red wine optional but recommended
- 6 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 cup pearl barley
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
- Salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients – Cube the beef, dice the onion, celery, and carrots, mince the garlic, and chop the parsley. Trim excess fat from the beef if desired.
- Sear the Beef – Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Pat the beef dry, season with salt and pepper, and sear on all sides until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Cook the Vegetables – Add the onion, celery, and carrots to the same pot and sauté for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
- Deglaze with Wine – Pour in the red wine and increase heat to high. Let it reduce by half (~2 minutes) while scraping up browned bits.
- Simmer the Soup – Return the beef to the pot, add beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer for 45 minutes, partially covered.
- Add the Barley & Finish Cooking – Stir in the pearl barley and continue simmering for another 45-60 minutes, until the beef and barley are tender. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Final Touches – If the soup is too thick, add more broth. If too thin, simmer longer. Stir in fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Searing the beef first adds rich, deep flavors to the soup.
- If skipping the wine, use extra beef broth for deglazing.
- Barley takes time to cook—let it fully absorb the flavors before serving.
- Soup thickens as it sits. Add more broth or water to adjust consistency if needed.