#Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup
##Prep Time: 15 minutes
##Cook Time: 8 hours
##Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
##Servings: Approximately 6
##Introduction
A bowl of Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup is the perfect comfort food for any time of the year. It’s a hearty soup packed with tender beef, wholesome vegetables, and nutritious barley all cooked to perfection in a slow cooker.
##Why Make This Recipe
It’s a terrifically tasty and simple one-pot meal. This slow cooker soup that does not require much effort. It’s a hands-off cooking method, freeing you up to do other things while the soup simmers away. The result is robust, warming and packed full of flavour.
##How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup
###Ingredients:
– 1 pound beef stew meat, cubed
– 1 cup barley
– 4 cups beef broth
– 2 cups water
– 3 carrots, diced
– 3 celery stalks, diced
– 1 onion, chopped
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
– 1 tsp dried thyme
– 1 tsp dried oregano
– Salt and pepper to taste
– 2 tbsp olive oil
###Directions:
1. Begin by heating the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the beef and sear it until it is browned on all sides. Once it’s ready, transfer the meat to the slow cooker.
2. To the slow cooker, add the barley, beef broth, water, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, thyme, and oregano.
3. Stir all the ingredients well to combine them evenly.
4. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 8 hours, or until the beef is tender and the barley is fully cooked.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste right before you serve it.
##How to Serve Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup
Enjoy this healthy, hearty soup with a slice of crusty bread or all by itself.
##How to Store Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup
Store leftovers in an airtight container in your refrigerator. It will last for up to 5 days.
##Tips to Make Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup
Remember to allow the soup to cool down before storing it. You can also freeze it in portion sizes to make it easier to thaw and heat when needed.
##Variation
If you want to add more vegetables, some people like to add diced potatoes or even substitute beef with chicken.
##FAQs
1. **Can I substitute beef with other meat?**
Yes, you can use chicken or even turkey instead of beef.
2. **Can I make it vegetarian?**
You can skip the beef and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth to make it vegetarian.
3. **Can I add other vegetables?**
Yes, feel free to add any of your favorite vegetables to the soup to enrich its nutritional value.