Gold Rush-Style Beef and Potato Stew with Barley

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-07 · Updated 2026-04-07

A hearty, comforting stew honoring Alaska's Gold Rush era, featuring tender beef, root vegetables, and chewy barley simmered to perfection. This american-inspired soups ready in about 170 minutes pairs beef chuck roast, all-purpose flour, kosher salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 8, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs beef chuck roast
• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1.5 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 3 medium carrots
• 2 large potatoes
• 1 cup barley
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cut 1.5 lbs beef chuck roast into 1-inch cubes, then toss with 3 tbsp all-purpose flour, 1.5 tsp kosher salt, and 1 tsp black pepper to coat evenly.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat until shimmering, then brown the beef in batches for 4 minutes per side until deeply seared; remove and set aside.
3. Step 3: Dice 1 medium yellow onion and 3 medium carrots, then add to the pot with the beef fat; cook for 5 minutes until softened and golden.
4. Step 4: Peel and dice 2 large potatoes, then add to the pot with 1 cup barley, 4 cups beef broth, 1 tsp dried thyme, and 2 bay leaves; bring to a gentle boil.
5. Step 5: Return the browned beef to the pot, cover, and simmer on low heat for 2 hours until beef is fork-tender and barley is cooked through, skimming excess fat from the surface as needed.