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Cozy Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Fall Stew

cozy slow cooker beef and barley fall stew - featured image
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A hearty, one-pot fall stew featuring tender beef chuck and chewy pearl barley, slow-cooked to perfection with rich aromatics and vegetables for a comforting, hands-off meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2–3 lbs beef chuck roast, cut into 1.5-inch cubes
  • 1 cup pearl barley
  • 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine (e.g., Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot)
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 medium potatoes (Yukon Gold or Russet), cubed
  • 1 large yellow onion, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper (plus more to taste)
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp oil (for searing)

Instructions

  1. Pat beef cubes dry and toss with flour, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear beef in batches until browned on all sides (2-3 minutes per side). Transfer beef to the slow cooker.
  3. In the same skillet, sauté onions, celery, and carrots for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add garlic in the last 30 seconds. Scrape up browned bits and add to the slow cooker.
  4. Pour in beef broth, red wine, and tomato paste. Stir in thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
  5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours until beef is fork-tender.
  6. Add barley and potato chunks to the slow cooker. Stir well and continue cooking on LOW for the remaining 2 hours.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. If stew is too thin, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water and stir in; cook uncovered for 30 minutes.
  8. Remove bay leaves before serving. Ladle into bowls and serve hot.

Notes

Searing the beef is optional but highly recommended for depth of flavor. Add barley in the last 2 hours to prevent it from becoming mushy. If freezing, consider undercooking the barley slightly as it softens upon thawing. For a gluten-free version, swap flour for cornstarch and use certified gluten-free barley or quinoa.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker beef stew, barley stew, fall recipes, comfort food, one pot meal, beef chuck, cozy dinner, gluten-free option

Find it online: https://bakebeam.com/cozy-slow-cooker-beef-and-barley-fall-stew-easy-1-pot-meal/