29 Reviews of Best-ever Beef Barley Soup

From: Kim D.

On Jan 20, 2005

This was great! Since I'm normally starving and can't wait long for dinner after I get home from work, I decided to put this in the crockpot before leaving for work. I followed the ingrdients exactly, expect that I reduced the amount of water to 3 cups (to make it thicker like a stew). First I browned the meat in a skillet until lightly brown on all sides. I then put all the ingredients in the crockpot. This cooked on "low" for about 9 hours and was so tender! I will definitley make this again. Thanks Janice for a delicious recipe!

From: TommyGato

On Aug 3, 2004

I haven't tried a tomato based beef barley soup before and this one was really good. I also left out the green peppers but added about 3/4c of frozen corn. Also, I cubed leftover steak and roast instead of using ground beef. This "soup" comes out very thick, like a stew, and can scorch if you don't watch it. I added more water as it simmered and still had a nice thick soup. Thanks for posting this, I think it lives up to its name.

From: Actionjojo

On Jan 25, 2005

I agree with everyone so far, this soup is fantastic! I didn't add peppers just because I'm not a big fan and I also increased the amount of barley from 1/2 to 1 cup just cuz I like my soups thick. Thanks!

From: Crystal Bletsas

On Dec 6, 2004

This was absolutely fabulous. I sauted the meat then put it in the crockpot with all the other ingredients and left it for 4 or 5 hours and the flavor was amazing. I was able to feed my family and put some in the freezer for a rainy day. Great recipe!

From: Katie Freund

On Oct 12, 2004

This was really good. They only adjustment I made was to use a 28 oz can of tomatoes. The recipe made a good sized amount but it had all disappeared by the next day!

From: ~*~Gold Medal Flower~*~

On Sep 16, 2003

Okay, maybe I shouldn't be reviewing my Mom's recipes! But, since she got it from, I decided there were no rules! This really is a great, easy soup, my 14 year olds favorite, and I hope you all try it. I follow the directions, except, I omit the green peppers. Green peppers are taboo in my household! Sometimes I substitute a handfull of frozen peas, which gives the soup a kick of color. I serve this soup with a loaf of crusty bread and a tossed salad. And, on a personal note, thanks Mom, you're a great cook too!

From: melsmom

On Sep 21, 2003

This soup is great. The only change I made to it was to use vegetable base instead of the beef cubes as that was what I had. I also omitted the salt. Very Yummy.

From: Sheri in Georgia

On Nov 27, 2005

Wow - this soup was great!! We loved it and will definitely be making again and again. I used venison sausage instead of the beef, and I also added one can of whole kernel corn, one can of lima beans, and 3 medium potatoes (diced). We like extra veggies and thicker soup - a personal preference. I also used quick cooking barley because that was the only kind I had. The recipe makes a lot but that was fine with us. We had two meals for four people and froze the rest for one more meal. Thanks for a great recipe!

From: SarahinWI

On Oct 23, 2005

The taste of this was quite good. I prefer a thicker soup so I added a full cup of barley and cut the water to 4 cups. I also added 1/2 pound of sliced mushrooms and 1 T. worcestershire sauce. I think I will continue my search for a good beef barley soup recipe though as dh and I both prefer the beef broth base rather than the tomato base.

From: rochsann

On Oct 18, 2005

My family loved this soup! It is very kid-friendly as it has a mild taste. To enjoy this soup, I really think one has to like a tomato base, which I do. I used three cups canned beef broth with 3 cups water, btw. It's a healthful and tasty soup that we will make often. Thanks a lot, NoSpringChicken, for sharing your soup recipes!