South-Central Idaho Beef and Barley Stew

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-18 · Updated 2026-06-18

A comforting stew combining tender beef chunks with hearty barley and root vegetables, inspired by the rustic flavors of South-Central Idaho. This American-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 100 minutes, pairs beef chuck stew meat, pearl barley, carrots for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 4, 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 lb, cut into 1-inch cubes beef chuck stew meat
• 1/2 cup pearl barley
• 2 medium, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch rounds carrots
• 2, diced celery stalks
• 1 large, diced yellow onion
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup water

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb beef chuck stew meat cubes, seasoning with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Brown the beef on all sides for about 5-7 minutes, then remove and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, add 1 large diced yellow onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 diced celery stalks, and 2 sliced carrots. Sauté over medium heat for 5 minutes until vegetables soften and are fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes to deepen flavor.
4. Step 4: Return the beef to the pot. Add 4 cups beef broth, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup pearl barley, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Stir well.
5. Step 5: Bring the stew to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer gently for 1 hour 15 minutes until the beef is tender and barley is cooked through.
6. Step 6: Remove the bay leaf, adjust seasoning if needed, and serve hot with crusty bread.