Slow-Cooker Beef Barley Soup

More About This Recipe

• This slow cooker beef-barley soup is the perfect meal to fill you up and warm you up on a chilly winter day. I don't get to make warm comforting soups very often because it's pretty much hot year round here in Florida. But every once in a while we'll get a chilly spell in the 50's and everyone throws on their layered clothes and starts their fireplaces (if they actually have one). We recently had a cold front come in and I jumped on the chance to make something warm and cozy for my family to eat. You won't believe how easy this Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Soup is. The ingredients are simple and hearty but the flavor is robust. The longest part of the whole process is browning the beef, and that only takes about 7 minutes. You could even use leftover beef from another meal. The base of our soup is beef broth with the addition of some diced tomatoes. If you like a little bit of a kick you could add some Muir Glen fire roasted tomatoes -- but since my kids were eating, I kept it on the mild side. Whenever I make slow cooker meals, I think it's important to add some fresh ingredients along with whatever pantry staples you may be using. Mushrooms are a perfect way to add some bulk to your soup, and they soak up all of the spices and flavor as they cook all day. You probably wouldn't usually think to add barley to soup, but as a grain it adds a great texture, not to mention healthiness to the soup. You'll love this easy warm soup that can be prepared in minutes and cooked in your slow cooker all day.