Johnson's Hearty Beef and Barley Stew

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-07 · Updated 2026-04-07

A deeply flavorful slow-cooked stew with tender beef, chewy barley, and aromatic vegetables simmered to perfection for a nourishing meal. This american-inspired slow cooker ready in about 505 minutes pairs stew beef, all-purpose flour, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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

• 2 lbs stew beef
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large diced onion
• 3 carrots
• 2 celery stalks
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 cup barley
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat 2 lbs stew beef dry, then toss with 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear beef in batches for 3 minutes per side until browned, then transfer to a slow cooker.
3. Step 3: Add 1 large diced onion, 3 peeled and sliced carrots, and 2 sliced celery stalks to the slow cooker.
4. Step 4: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp dried rosemary, and 2 tbsp tomato paste.
5. Step 5: Pour 4 cups beef broth around the ingredients, then add 1 cup barley, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
6. Step 6: Cook on low for 8 hours until beef is fork-tender and barley is fully cooked.