Description
A hearty, budget-friendly weeknight stew made with chuck roast, barley, and root vegetables in a slow cooker. It is easy to prepare, freezer-friendly, and kid-approved.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds (900g) chuck roast, cubed into 1-inch pieces
- 4 cups (960ml) low-sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup (150g) hulled barley (uncooked)
- 3 large carrots, chopped into 1-inch chunks
- 2 medium potatoes (Yukon Gold preferred), cubed
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon oil (for searing, optional)
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Cube the chuck roast, chop onions, carrots, and potatoes into uniform 1-inch pieces, and mince the garlic.
- Sear the beef (Optional but recommended): Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear beef cubes in batches until browned on all sides. This adds depth of flavor.
- Layer the slow cooker: Place diced onions and garlic at the bottom. Add the seared (or raw) beef, carrots, and potatoes. Sprinkle with thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Add liquids: Whisk together beef broth, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over the ingredients in the slow cooker. Add barley and bay leaves. Stir gently.
- Cook: Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours until beef is fork-tender. If cooking on High, cook for about 4 hours.
- Finish and serve: Remove bay leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning. If adding peas or green beans, stir them in now and let residual heat warm them. Serve hot with crusty bread.
Notes
[‘Do not use instant barley as it will turn to mush.’, ‘Searing the beef is optional but highly recommended for better flavor.’, ‘If using pearl barley, it cooks faster; consider adding it in the last 2 hours if cooking on High.’, ‘To thicken, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water and stir in during the last 30 minutes.’, ‘Taste for salt at the end, as broth and tomato paste can be salty.’, ‘Leftovers freeze well for up to 3 months.’]
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl per serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 25
Keywords: slow cooker, beef stew, barley stew, budget meals, family dinner, comfort food, one pot meal, chuck roast