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Cozy Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Stew

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A hearty, hands-off slow cooker stew with tender beef, chewy barley, and a rich, naturally thickened broth. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy Sundays.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1.5-inch chunks
  • 1 cup pearl barley, rinsed
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
  • 2 stalks celery, sliced
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
  • 1 cup frozen peas (optional, added in last 15 minutes)
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional, stirred in before serving)

Instructions

  1. Prep the vegetables first. Dice the onion, slice the carrots into 1/2-inch rounds, slice the celery, and mince the garlic. Set them aside in a bowl.
  2. Cut the beef into 1.5-inch chunks. Trim off any large pieces of hard fat, but leave some of the smaller bits. Pat the beef dry with paper towels.
  3. Rinse the barley under cold water in a fine-mesh strainer until the water runs clear.
  4. Layer the ingredients in the slow cooker. Start with the onions, carrots, and celery on the bottom. Place the beef chunks on top. Sprinkle the rinsed barley evenly over everything. Add the minced garlic, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
  5. Pour in the beef broth and water gently over the top. Do not stir yet.
  6. Cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours. Low and slow is recommended.
  7. Remove the bay leaves and discard them.
  8. Stir gently. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. If adding frozen peas, stir them in now and let the residual heat warm them through for about 5 minutes.
  9. Optional: stir in 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar just before serving.
  10. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.

Notes

For deeper flavor, brown the beef in a hot skillet with oil before adding to the slow cooker. If stew is too thick after cooking, stir in extra broth or water. If too thin, leave lid off for 15-20 minutes on high. This stew tastes even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker beef and barley stew, beef barley stew, easy stew recipe, cozy stew, slow cooker stew, beef stew with barley

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