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Cozy Slow Cooker Beef Barley Stew: Best Easy Recipe

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This cozy slow cooker beef barley stew is a hands-off, pantry-friendly meal that delivers tender beef, earthy barley, and rich broth. Perfect for meal prep and deeply satisfying, it’s comfort food at its most honest.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 cup pearl barley, divided
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
  • 3 stalks celery, sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (plus more to taste)
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your beef and vegetables: Cut beef into 1-inch cubes if not already. Pat dry. Dice onion, slice carrots and celery, mince garlic. Place everything in the slow cooker insert.
  2. Add the broth and seasonings: Pour in 6 cups low-sodium beef broth. Add tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, bay leaves, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Stir until tomato paste dissolves.
  3. Add half the barley: Measure 1 cup pearl barley. Add 1/2 cup to the slow cooker now. Reserve remaining 1/2 cup in a small bowl for later.
  4. Cook on low for 7 hours: Cover and set slow cooker to low. Cook undisturbed for 7 hours.
  5. Add the remaining barley and peas: After 7 hours, remove lid. Stir in reserved 1/2 cup barley and 1 cup frozen peas (no need to thaw).
  6. Cook for 1 more hour: Cover and cook on low for another hour.
  7. Adjust seasoning and serve: Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

For best texture, divide the barley: add half at the beginning and half near the end. Season in layers, adjusting at the end. If you forget the barley, add it all at the end and extend cooking by 90 minutes. The stew thickens as it sits; add broth when reheating.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker beef barley stew, beef barley soup, easy stew recipe, comfort food, meal prep

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