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Cozy Crockpot Beef and Barley Stew

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A hearty, comforting beef and barley stew made in the crockpot with fall-apart tender beef, plump barley, and a rich, velvety broth. Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 cup pearl barley, rinsed
  • 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the beef cubes dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, sear the beef cubes for 2-3 minutes per side until a deep brown crust forms. Transfer to the crockpot.
  2. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet. Add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  3. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Slowly pour in about 1 cup of beef broth, stirring constantly to deglaze the pan. Let simmer for 1-2 minutes, then pour the mixture into the crockpot over the beef.
  4. Add sliced carrots, rinsed barley, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, and bay leaves to the crockpot. Pour in remaining 3 cups of beef broth. Stir gently.
  5. Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until beef is fork-tender and barley is cooked through.
  6. Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. For a thicker broth, mash a few barley grains against the side of the pot. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Don’t skip searing the beef—it builds deep flavor. For a thicker stew, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and stir in during the last 30 minutes. Let stew rest 10-15 minutes after cooking for flavors to meld.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef and barley stew, crockpot stew, slow cooker beef stew, cozy stew, easy beef stew

Find it online: https://noshbelle.com/cozy-crockpot-beef-and-barley-stew-easy/