13 Best Barley Recipes That Are Easy to Make

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Barley is a healthy whole grain that is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It’s a popular ingredient to add to soups, stews and salads. We’ve collected 13 of the best barley recipes for you to make at home.

Barley is a healthy whole grain that is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It’s a popular ingredient to add to soups, stews and salads. We’ve collected 13 of the best barley recipes for you to make at home.
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Barley’s Health Benefits

Barley is a good source of fiber, potassium, and B vitamins. It’s naturally low in cholesterol, can help with weight loss, and may reduce the risk of heart disease.  

Pearled barley is the most common type of barley. The outer husk and the bran layer have been removed, giving it a smooth and pearl-like appearance. It cooks faster than hulled barley but isn’t as nutritious. 

Is Barley Gluten-Free?

No. Barley contains about 5-8% gluten and shouldn’t be consumed by people who are sensitive to, or can’t tolerate gluten due to health reasons.

Best Barley Recipes

Beef Barley Soup

Beef barley soup is a hearty meal in a bowl! It’s full of tender chunks of beef, barley, and veggies. Serve it with thick slices of crusty bread for a satisfying meal.

Chicken Barley Soup

Use a rotisserie chicken for this chicken barley soup, or cook some bone-in chicken breasts instead. This soup uses basic ingredients and is ready to enjoy in about an hour.

Mushroom Barley Soup

Serve this hearty vegan-friendly soup to your family for next week’s Meatless Monday! It’s full of healthy veggies and they won’t even miss the meat.

Lentil Barley Burgers

There are a lot of ingredients in this recipe and the result is delicious and flavorful veggie burgers. The lentils and barley add texture, and the burgers are perfectly seasoned. Serve them on buns with your favorite toppings! 

Vegetable Barley Soup

Enjoy this thick and hearty vegetable barley soup when the weather outside is cold! It’s made with basic ingredients and the chickpeas add a boost of fiber and protein. 

Egyptian Barley Salad with Pomegranate and Feta

You’ll love the flavors and textures of this Egyptian barley salad. It’s beautifully studded with raisins and pomegranate seeds, and takes just 15 minutes to make! 

Healthy Barley Soup

Treat yourself to a warm bowl of this hearty and healthy barley soup for lunch. It uses basic ingredients you likely have on hand, and takes just 30 minutes to make! 

Quick Barley Bread

There’s no yeast in this quick bread, but it bakes up beautifully! Give it a try if you’re new to bread-baking, or if you enjoy the flavor and texture of rustic bread.

Barley Salad with Roasted Carrots

This barley salad with roasted carrots would be delicious served with grilled meat. Make a plan to serve it the next time you’re having a barbeque! 

Vegan Barley Asparagus Risotto with Peas

If you love risotto, give this vegan asparagus risotto a try! It’s made with pearl barley instead of rice, and is ready to enjoy in about 45 minutes.  

Vegan Roasted Garlic Mushroom and Barley Stew

The mushrooms in this barley stew have a meaty texture and the barley makes it extra hearty. Enjoy it with toasted rolls slathered in butter!  

Barley Spinach and Mushrooms

This healthy barley spinach and mushrooms recipe is hearty enough to enjoy on its own, or you can serve it alongside chicken, pork, beef, or fish! 

Summer Barley Salad with Corn and Blueberries

You’ll love the colors and textures of this flavorful barley salad. The blueberries add a punch of color and sweetness and it’s super easy to make.

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Barley is a healthy whole grain that is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It’s a popular ingredient to add to soups, stews and salads. We’ve collected 13 of the best barley recipes for you to make at home.

Best Barley Recipes (Easy Barley Soup and More)

By: Izzy
Barley soup is a hearty meal in a bowl! It’s full of tender chunks of beef, barley, and veggies. Serve it with thick slices of crusty bread for a satisfying meal.
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup pearl barley
  • 2 lbs chuck roast, cut into cubes
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 2 cups chopped onions
  • 3 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 32 oz beef broth
  • 1 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp minced fresh rosemary
  • 2 tsp minced fresh thyme
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 3 Tbsp minced fresh parsley

Instructions 

  • Heat 1 Tbsp of olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Pat the beef dry with paper towels and add 1/2 or 1/3 of the beef so the pot is not overcrowded. Season with salt and pepper. Sear the beef for about 3 minutes or until it’s golden brown on the bottom. Flip to the other side and cook for another minute.
  • Transfer the seared beef to a plate along with the juices and repeat with the remaining beef, adding another tablespoon of olive oil to the pot as needed. Transfer the last of the seared beef to the plate.
  • Add another tablespoon of oil to the pot. Add the carrots, celery, and onion and saute for about 3 minutes.
  • Add the tomato paste and garlic and saute for 1 minute.
  • Pour in the broth, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, and thyme. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Return the beef to the pot.
  • Bring the mixture to a simmer and reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour, until the beef is fairly tender.
  • Add the barley. Cover and simmer for another 45 minutes to an hour until the beef is tender and the veggies are cooked through.
  • Stir in the parsley and enjoy!

Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.

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About Izzy

I'm Izzy, a food lover and photographer. Here you’ll find a collection of simple recipes that are perfect for busy people. My blog aims to help you make and enjoy delicious and healthy food at home.

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