Slow-Cooked Beef Stew with Root Vegetables and Barley

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-27 · Updated 2026-04-27

A comforting slow-cooked beef stew enriched with hearty root vegetables and chewy barley for a satisfying and nutritious meal. This American-inspired gluten-free recipe, ready in about 440 minutes, pairs beef chuck, cubed, pearled barley, carrots 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 rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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, cubed
• 1/2 cup pearled barley
• 2 large, peeled and chopped carrots
• 2 medium, peeled and chopped parsnips
• 1 large, diced yellow onion
• 4, minced garlic cloves
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp, chopped fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 1/2 tsp, divided salt
• 1 tsp, divided black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season 1.5 lbs cubed beef chuck with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Brown beef in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until deeply colored. Transfer to slow cooker.
2. Step 2: In the same skillet, add 1 large diced yellow onion and 4 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
3. Step 3: Add 2 tbsp tomato paste to the skillet, stirring for 1 minute until it darkens slightly. Pour in 4 cups beef broth, scraping up browned bits from the pan. Transfer mixture to slow cooker.
4. Step 4: Add 1/2 cup pearled barley, 2 chopped large carrots, 2 chopped medium parsnips, 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme, 1 bay leaf, and remaining 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
5. Step 5: Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until beef is tender and barley is cooked through. Remove bay leaf before serving.