Hi Everyone,
Ready for another Crockpot recipe? You know how you have those winter time favorite comfort food meals? You know the kind that warms your heart and soul? That is what today’s recipe reminds me of. It’s my Beef and Barley Soup, and oh boy is this a new family favorite! I normally make beef stew in a Crockpot but today I thought I would change it up and make a soup and add barley to it, since I actually never made beef barley soup before and my gosh it’s amazing! I was already asked if I could make it again this Fall. That’s one thing about food blogging, you tend to make a recipe only once, but this one is going in the Fall food rotation!
The soup is hearty and chock full of vegetables. It’s made with black angus premium steak tips that I got from Trader Joe’s, potatoes, carrots, celery, tomatoes, barley and seasoning. This is one filling soup!! I have to say normally I can eat two bowls of soup, but one bowl is filling enough. To make this meal even more fun and more filling, I served in mini sour dough bread bowls that I purchased from my beloved TJ’s! The bowls are just the perfect size for soup and they are only .99 cents. 🙂
Since it we had a lot of soup left over, I made it the next day for dinner and oh man does even better. I think just about anything that contains tomatoes always tastes better the next day! The flavors come together so well and I was impressed that the barley didn’t blow up in the soup. Every time I make soup with noodles, the next day the whole bowl becomes one big noodle and I just hate that!! But not barley!! It’s perfect for leaving in soup!
- 1 lbs. black angus premium steak tips, cubed
- 1 cup potatoes, peeled, diced small
- 1 cup onion, roughly chopped
- 1 cup carrots, diced about ¼" thick
- 1 cup celery stalk, diced about ¼" thick
- 1 15 oz can tomatoes, diced
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce
- 4 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp. worchestershire sauce
- ½ tsp. thyme
- ½ tsp. smoked paprika
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ cup beef barley, dried
- In a crockpot add all of your ingredients, except for the Bay leaves. Mix until combined. Place bay leaves on top.
- Cook on high for 4 - 6 hours, until meat is cooked and vegetables are tender or on low for 8 - 10 hours.
- About 30 minutes before soup is done, add barley. Cook until barley is tender.
I have to say one of my all time favorite things to make in a Crockpot is soup. Nothing like a big bowl of soup and it’s so easy to make. I also love homemade soup because it is so much healthier than the stuff at the store or restaurants, plus you can control the ingredients. I didn’t add much salt to my soup because I want to taste the flavors of the beef and vegetables, and I like to leave that to the individuals. But I will tell you I like to add a pinch of hot sauce to my soup. Any soup that is tomato based I must add just a pinch of hot sauce. My Husband thinks I am crazy, but I can’t help it! I love it!!
Well my Friends, I am out of here!! Time for me to get ready for bed! It’s way past my bedtime!
Have a great day and check out the other’s dinner Crockpot recipes. I am sure there will be one there that you won’t be able to resist making!
Have a great day!
Toodles,
Jennifer
I’ve teamed up with some of my friends to bring you a great list of slow cooker main dish recipes today! There are 17 delicious recipes to check out today. If you love slow cooker dishes then check out #crocktoberfest2013 on facebook, twitter, and instagram to find all the other recipes that will be shared this week.
Baja Chicken Soup from Around My Family Table
Crockpot Pot Roast from Eat Drink Love
Crockpot French Dip from White Lights on Wednesday
Chicken Enchilada Soup from {I Love} My Disorganized Life
Grammy’s Crock Pot Turkey Legs from Dizzy Busy & Hungry
Beef Stew from Curry & Comfort
Sweet Potato Cheddar Slow Cooker Soup from Homemaking Hacks
Crock Pot French Onion Soup from Cookie Monster Cooking
Crock Pot Green Chili Chicken from Mom Endeavors
Slow Cooker Carnitas from Foodie Tots
Italian Pork Chops with Parmesan Noodles from Pink Cake Plate
Slow Cooker 15 Bean Soup from 365 Days of Crockpot
Slow Cooker Tomato & Brown Sugar Pork Chops from Brie Brie Blooms
Slow Cooker Sesame Beef from Slender Kitchen
Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches from Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts
Pumpkin Chili from Celebrating Family
Refried Beans without Lard from Kitchen Treaty