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Cozy Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Stew – Easy Hearty Dinner

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This hearty slow cooker beef and barley stew is the ultimate comfort food. With tender beef, chewy barley, and a rich, savory broth, it’s a set-it-and-forget-it meal that delivers deep flavor with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
  • 1 cup pearled barley
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 3 stalks celery, sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine (optional, or extra broth)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 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 and season generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon 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 slow cooker.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet. Add onion, carrots, and celery; cook for about 5 minutes until onions are translucent. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Pour the red wine (or extra broth) into the skillet and scrape up browned bits from the bottom. Let bubble and reduce by half.
  5. Pour the vegetable mixture over the beef in the slow cooker. Add beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, and bay leaves. Stir to combine.
  6. Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until beef is tender.
  7. During the last 45-60 minutes of cooking, stir in the pearled barley and cook on HIGH until tender.
  8. Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Do not add barley at the beginning; it will become mushy. For a gluten-free version, substitute barley with brown rice or quinoa. The stew thickens as it sits; add a splash of broth when reheating if needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker beef stew, beef and barley stew, hearty stew, comfort food, easy dinner, winter recipe, freezer-friendly

Find it online: https://perkypan.com/cozy-slow-cooker-beef-and-barley-stew-easy-hearty-dinner/