Hearty Sausage, White Bean, and Barley Stew

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-12 · Updated 2026-06-12

A filling stew packed with savory sausage, tender white beans, and chewy barley simmered in a flavorful broth for a nutritious high-protein meal. This American-inspired high-protein recipe, ready in about 65 minutes, pairs Italian sausage links, cooked white beans, pearl barley for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 6, 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

• 4 (about 1 lb), casings removed Italian sausage links
• 2 cups cooked white beans
• 3/4 cup pearl barley
• 1 medium, diced carrot
• 2, diced celery stalk
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 4 Italian sausage links (removed from casings) and crumble while cooking for 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove sausage and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, add 1 diced medium carrot, 2 diced celery stalks, and 1 diced medium yellow onion. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
3. Step 3: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tsp dried thyme, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Stir in 3/4 cup pearl barley, 2 cups cooked white beans, cooked sausage, 6 cups chicken broth, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Bring to a boil.
5. Step 5: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 40-45 minutes until barley is tender and stew has thickened.
6. Step 6: Remove bay leaf, adjust seasoning if needed, and serve warm as a hearty high-protein dinner.