Slow-Cooked Beef and Vegetable Stew with Barley

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-07 · Updated 2026-04-07

A hearty, one-pot stew featuring tender beef, barley, and seasonal vegetables, slow-cooked to develop rich, deep flavors for a comforting weeknight dinner. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 500 minutes, pairs beef chuck, olive oil, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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

• 1.5 lbs beef chuck
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion
• 2 carrots
• 2 stalks celery
• 3 cloves garlic
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1 cup pearl barley
• 1 cup potatoes
• 1 cup frozen green peas
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley

Slow cookers worth buying for this → Best Slow Cookers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Season 1.5 lbs beef chuck cubes with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear beef for 3-4 minutes per side until browned, then transfer to slow cooker.
2. Step 2: Add 1 large diced onion, 2 sliced carrots, and 2 sliced celery stalks to skillet. Cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Pour mixture into slow cooker.
3. Step 3: Add 4 cups beef broth, 1 cup pearl barley, 1 cup diced potatoes, 1 tsp dried thyme, and 1 bay leaf to slow cooker. Stir to combine.
4. Step 4: Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours, until beef is tender and vegetables are cooked through.
5. Step 5: Remove bay leaf. Stir in 1 cup frozen green peas and cook on HIGH for 10 minutes until heated through.
6. Step 6: Garnish with 2 tbsp fresh parsley before serving.