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fall slow cooker beef and barley stew - featured image

Fall Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Stew

  • Author: Natalia
  • Total Time: 8 hours
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x

Description

A comforting, self-care meal that requires zero attention once ingredients are added to the slow cooker. Tender beef, root vegetables, and pearl barley create a creamy, savory stew perfect for chilly evenings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef stew meat (chuck roast cut into cubes)
  • 4 cups beef broth (low-sodium recommended)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 large carrots, chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed
  • 2 medium parsnips, peeled and chopped
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup pearl barley
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (plus more to taste)
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons flour for thickening beef
  • Optional: Handful of frozen peas
  • Optional: Chopped celery

Instructions

  1. Scrub and chop carrots, potatoes, parsnips, and onion into roughly 1-inch pieces. Mince the garlic.
  2. Toss the beef, carrots, potatoes, parsnips, onion, and garlic into the slow cooker.
  3. Add tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
  4. Pour in the beef broth and stir gently to combine, ensuring ingredients are submerged or well-coated.
  5. Add the pearl barley to the pot.
  6. Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours. LOW is recommended for better texture.
  7. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking to maintain heat.
  8. After cooking, check that beef is fork-tender and barley is chewy. If stew is too thin, leave lid off for 30 minutes to reduce. If too thick, add splash of broth.
  9. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.
  10. Remove bay leaves before serving. Ladle into bowls and serve with crusty bread.

Notes

Barley absorbs a lot of liquid, so add extra broth or water when reheating leftovers. For a thicker stew, toss beef in flour before adding to the pot. Sautéing onions and garlic first adds extra depth of flavor. Remove bay leaves before serving. This stew tastes better the next day as flavors meld.

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 7-8 hours
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bowl
  • Calories: 380
  • Sugar: 6
  • Sodium: 650
  • Fat: 10
  • Saturated Fat: 3
  • Carbohydrates: 45
  • Fiber: 6
  • Protein: 25

Keywords: slow cooker, beef stew, barley stew, fall recipes, comfort food, easy dinner, self-care meal, root vegetables, one pot meal

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Find it online: https://fooduvo.com/fall-slow-cooker-beef-and-barley-stew-easy-self-care-meal/