Hearty Homemade Beef and Barley Soup

Hearty Homemade Beef and Barley Soup

This soul-warming beef and barley soup combines tender chunks of beef with chewy barley and a medley of vegetables in a rich, savory broth. Perfect for chilly days, this one-pot wonder delivers maximum comfort with minimal effort and makes your kitchen smell absolutely amazing.

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Soup

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 40

Servings:

Calories: 285kcal

Equipment

Chopping Board

Chef's Knife

Stockpot

Ingredients

3 lb cooked lean beef chopped into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons oil
1 onion chopped
3 stalks celery chopped
4 cups water
4 beef bouillon cubes
1/2 cup barley
1 28 ounce can stewed tomatoes
1 16 ounce package frozen mixed vegetables
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Chop the cooked beef into bite-size pieces and set aside.
In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat and sauté onions and celery until softened. Remove and set aside.
In the same pot, add water, beef bouillon cubes, sugar, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, stewed tomatoes, bay leaf, chopped beef, and barley.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Add the sautéed vegetables and frozen mixed vegetables to the pot.
Cook until thoroughly heated and vegetables are tender.
Remove bay leaf and season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.

Notes

Use leftover roast beef or pot roast for the cooked beef to save time and add extra flavor

Pearl barley works best for this recipe as it cooks faster than hulled barley

Chop stewed tomatoes for smaller, more uniform pieces if preferred

This soup freezes well for up to 3 months - cool completely before freezing

For richer flavor, use beef stock instead of water and bouillon cubes

Add fresh herbs like thyme or parsley just before serving for extra freshness

The soup will thicken as it cools due to the barley, so add extra broth when reheating if needed

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