Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Stew is flavourful, comforting and hearty, reminding me of a stew from my earlier years. Served with a crusty baguette or piece of bread, it’s a a family tradition during the cold winter months!
Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Stew
Stew typically consist of beef or a protein, potatoes, carrots, perhaps some other vegetables, cooked low and slow in broth or liquid and a few seasonings, resulting in a comforting rib sticking bowl of deliciousness.
Spinning off a recipe my mom would make in the 1970’s, I’ve created a beef stew with barley offering a healthy variation rich in vitamins, minerals and fibre. Serve with bread, pita chips and a sprinkle of green parsley to liven it up.
The Broth
Store bought or home made beef broth is what we use. Although sometimes we use leftover beef broth from our Teriyaki Beef Fondue providing a massively huge kick of flavour to this stew.
If you want to amp up the flavour of your broth you can infuse the broth with fresh ginger and garlic, plus any fresh herbs you have. Total game changer.
Slow cookers offer a prepare and dump it meal that slow cooks all day making it ready when you come home from work and want to chow down.
Here’s a few more comfort food recipes to try!
- Beef Stew with Bacon
- Slowcooker Beef Chili
- Slowcooker Carbonnade Flamande
- Simple Roast Chicken
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Sloppy Joes
- Slowcooker Beer Pulled Pork
If you made this recipe tag Wanda Baker on Instagram and hashtag it #bakersbeans or #wandabaker
Ingredients
- 1-2 lbs stew beef 1/2-1 inch cubes
- oil
- 1 small onion chopped
- 3 stalks celery chopped
- 3-4 med sized carrots chopped
- 3/4-1 cup barley
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 tsp ginger minced
- 6 cups beef broth
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium high heat add oil and sear your beef in small batches until brown on outside. Remove from pan and place in slowcooker. Continue until all beef is browned.
- Turn heat down and pour a little more oil in pan, adding onions, carrots and celery. Stir and let cook for about 5 minutes. Add in garlic and cook for about a minute. Pour in a little of your beef broth to help scrape up all the brown bits in the pan. Carefully pour contents of pan into slowcooker with beef.
- Add remaining beef broth, bay leaves, soy sauce, ginger and a pinch of salt & pepper. Give a stir and pour in your barley.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
This stew was so good, I loved the addition of ginger and soy sauce!
My stews haven’t been so great lately. But then I made this one and my wife said it was the best stew he’s ever had!
Made this for the family and it was a winner!
Can you add potatoes to this?
Well this was epic. Will make again.
Hearty and perfect for the winter season, this beef and barley stew looks amazing. I’m a fan of barley and this would be a new way for me to make it. Yum!
I love barley to, so good for you!
This looks so delicious and full of flavor! I canโt wait to make this soon!
It’s easy and tasty!
I love soup season for recipes just like this one! Excited to warm up with this for dinner tonight; looks too good to pass up, indeed!
Comforting and delicious!
I wondered if I could use barley while making a stew, and your recipe/post has all the answers. I made your recipe for lunch today. Oh, it was amazingly delicious!
Great, glad you liked it!
Can you add potatoes to this .
Yes, absolutely. I would peel a couple large ones, cut into 1 inch cubes and add in for the last 1-2 hours of cooking.
Hearty and full of flavor, my kind of comfort food. Perfect for cold days.
It’s such a tasty bowlful!
This recipe has become a staple in my house! They even request it!
Could I add 1 potato to it do you think?
Yes, most definitely!
Should I use pearl barley or pot barley?
You could use either/or!
This is true comfort food and so delish and easy to make!
Thank you, it’s a family favourite here!
Any suggestions on what to use as a thickener?
The barley helps to thicken the stew but if you want it thicker you could dredge the beef cubes in flour or cornstarch before searing!
This is definitely a recipe I’m going to make soon, but I lack a slow cooker so it will be low & slow on the stovetop or in the oven
Sounds like a great plan! I might defer to low and slow in the oven!
Can you give me an idea of how many serving this makes, please. Making it for dinner tonight.
This will easily feed 6 people depending on how much they eat. It feeds my family of 4 and we have enough for a second meal!