St. Cloud-Inspired Hearty Beef and Barley Soup
A warming slow-cooked beef and barley soup filled with root vegetables and aromatic herbs, perfect for chilly Minnesota days. This american-inspired beef ready in about 90 minutes pairs beef chuck, cubed, salt, black pepper 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
- 1.5 lbs beef chuck, cubed
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 3 medium carrots, diced
- 2 stalks celery stalks, diced
- 3 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 6 cups beef broth
- 3/4 cup pearl barley
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme sprigs
- 2 leaves bay leaves
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Season 1.5 lbs cubed beef chuck with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Brown the beef in batches for 5-7 minutes until deeply caramelized. Remove and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same pot, add 1 large diced yellow onion, 3 diced carrots, and 2 diced celery stalks. Sauté for 6-8 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Step 3: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until aromatic.
- Step 4: Return the beef to the pot and pour in 6 cups beef broth. Stir in 3/4 cup pearl barley, 3 sprigs fresh thyme, and 2 bay leaves.
- Step 5: Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until the beef is tender and barley is cooked through.
- Step 6: Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley before serving hot.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does St. Cloud-Inspired Hearty Beef and Barley Soup take to make?
Total time is about 90 minutes (20 min prep + 70 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover St. Cloud-Inspired Hearty Beef and Barley Soup?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep beef chuck, cubed from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in St. Cloud-Inspired Hearty Beef and Barley Soup?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale St. Cloud-Inspired Hearty Beef and Barley Soup for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with St. Cloud-Inspired Hearty Beef and Barley Soup?
American beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
