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Cozy Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Stew Recipe (Easy + Hearty)

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This cozy slow cooker beef and barley stew is the definition of comfort food. It’s warm, hearty, and deeply satisfying—the kind of meal that makes a cold day feel a little bit brighter. The best part? It’s almost impossible to mess up.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
  • 3 celery stalks, sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup pearl barley, rinsed
  • 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup frozen peas (optional, added in the last 30 minutes)
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (optional)
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients. Cut the beef chuck into 1.5-inch cubes. Dice the onion, slice the carrots and celery, and mince the garlic. Rinse the barley in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water until the water runs clear.
  2. Layer the ingredients in the slow cooker. Start with the onions, carrots, and celery on the bottom. Place the beef cubes on top of the vegetables. Sprinkle the rinsed barley evenly over everything.
  3. Add the flavorings. Drop in the minced garlic, bay leaves, dried thyme, and smoked paprika. Dollop the tomato paste on top.
  4. Pour in the liquids. Slowly pour the beef broth and water around the edges of the slow cooker. The liquid should come about halfway up the ingredients.
  5. Season and stir gently. Add a generous pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Give everything a gentle stir with your wooden spoon to distribute the tomato paste and seasonings.
  6. Cook low and slow. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours. The stew is ready when the beef is fork-tender and the barley is plump and chewy.
  7. Finish and serve. About 30 minutes before serving, remove the bay leaves. If you’re using frozen peas, stir them in now and let them heat through. Taste the stew and adjust the seasoning.
  8. Let it rest. Let the stew sit for 10 minutes before serving. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Don’t skip rinsing the barley. Resist the urge to add more liquid. Cut the beef into uniform pieces. Season in layers. Let the stew rest overnight for best flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker, beef stew, barley stew, comfort food, hearty stew, easy dinner, winter recipe

Find it online: https://evabake.com/cozy-slow-cooker-beef-and-barley-stew-recipe-easy-plus-hearty/