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Comforting Crockpot Beef and Barley Stew Easy Homemade Recipe with Fresh Herbs

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A hearty and easy crockpot beef and barley stew with fresh herbs that delivers tender beef, chewy barley, and a bright, homey flavor perfect for cozy dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 3/4 cup pearl barley, rinsed
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 medium celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 cups low sodium beef broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 bay leaves

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef cubes dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown beef cubes in batches, about 3-4 minutes per batch, then transfer to the slow cooker.
  3. Dice onion, chop carrots and celery, and mince garlic. Sauté in the skillet for 4-5 minutes until softened and fragrant, scraping up browned bits, then transfer to the slow cooker.
  4. Rinse pearl barley under cold water and add to the slow cooker along with beef broth and tomato paste. Stir gently to combine.
  5. Add bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, and additional salt and pepper if desired.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until beef is fork-tender and barley is cooked but chewy.
  7. About 15 minutes before serving, stir in chopped parsley.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Remove bay leaves before serving.

Notes

Browning the beef before slow cooking adds depth of flavor. Add fresh parsley near the end to keep its brightness. If stew is too thick, add broth or water; if too thin, cook uncovered on high to reduce. Barley can be substituted with quinoa or pearl couscous for gluten-free options.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot beef stew, barley stew, slow cooker recipe, comforting stew, easy dinner, fresh herbs, hearty meal

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