Beef and barley soup is one of my favourites an although I usually make it with cubed beef, it’s also great with ground beef, and it takes much less time to make! The recipe starts out with ground beef, followed by onions, carrots, celery, beef broth, and barley. I like to season it with thyme, rosemary, paprika, tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and fish sauce which makes for a super tasty broth! Cubed beef require slow braising to get tender but this version only requires as much time to cook as it takes to cook the barley, which is about 25 minutes! I like to make a large batch when I make it and it keeps well in the fridge and the freezer for quick meals later!
Ground Beef and Barley Soup
A quick and easy ground beef version of beef and barley soup with a tasty broth!
ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 1 cup carrot, diced
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 2 tablespoons garlic, chopped
- 1 teaspoon thyme, chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
- 1/2 teaspoon rosemary, chopped (or 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary)
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 6 cups beef broth
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup pearl barley (rice for gluten-free)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (gluten-free for gluten-free)
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce (or soy sauce) (gluten-free for gluten-free)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped (optional)
directions
- Cook the beef in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, breaking it apart as it cooks, before setting it aside and reserving 1 tablespoon of grease in the pan to cook the veggies in.
- Add the onions, carrots, and celery, and cook until tender, about 7-10 minutes.
- Add the garlic, thyme, rosemary, paprika and tomato paste and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
- Add the broth, tomatoes, beef, barley, bay leaves, balsamic vinegar, worcestershire sauce and fish sauce, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the barley is tender, about 20-30 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves, season with salt and pepper to taste, add the parsley and enjoy!
Option: Add 1 ounce reconstituted and chopped dried mushrooms, along with the veggies.
Option: Add more veggies such as: potatoes, celery root, cabbage, bell pepper, etc.
Option: Season with steak seasoning of choice.
Option: Add parmesan cheese! (Add 1/4 cup near the end and let it melt into the broth.)
Beef and Barley Soup
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Trudi says
Kevin, you photos and recipes are all so good! I love the fact that at the end you give us several options too. Thank you for all your great ideas. You have made me a better cook.
Lou says
This looks really scrumptious! I just added pearl barley o my grocery list……I have everything else on hand! Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Sabrina says
good idea for a soup, and a nice way to use ground beef in something other thank a hamburger or taco, thank you!
ID Spud says
We tried this ground beef barley soup. I added a can of undrained mushrooms. I didn’t add any salt or pepper, at the end of during eating. It’s going into my “Tried, Liked, Make Again” folder.
Thanks!
Paula M. Clifford says
Made the beef & barley soup..it was very good.Added a little more spice.
Doris Mehlberg says
Other than bit too much smoked paprika for me, this Avery good soup.
Rosemary Jordahl says
I hope i have barley at home, this looks so good to me!
Cynthia says
Can I substitute ground turkey?
kevin says
Yes you can!
Rosemary Postlewait says
I wish I had the ingredients to mss as me it today with our dreary weather! Love your recipes.
Johanna Goldsmith says
There’s no point mentioning the gluten free ingredients… unless you also add a warning that barley contains gluten and should be substituted with brown rice. My mum made this soup when I was a child, with rice. It was my favourite dinner meal.