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French Onion Beef and Barley Soup

by Kristen

This French Onion Beef and Barley soup combines savory flavors and hearty textures—it’s the perfect soup fusion! 

I have combined two love soups into the perfect comforting soup recipe!  Beef barley soup has been a favorite of mine for years. I have added French onion flavors to create the most delicious and hearty soup!  This easy recipe is perfect for any weeknight but rich enough to serve at a holiday gathering.

I have added instructions for both the stovetop and the Instant Pot.   You can also adapt this recipe for your slow cooker.

Nutritional benefits of Barley

Barley is rich in fiber and has a low glycemic index.  It is also filled with vitamins.  This soup is filled with protein and is a great recipe for anyone watching their nutrition.

Ingredients

One tablespoon of butter or olive oil

1 lb beef stew meat, cut into 1/2 inch chunks.

Salt and black pepper, to taste

1/2 cup diced carrots

1/2 cup diced celery

Two cloves of garlic, minced

One can (10.5 oz) Campbell’s French Onion Soup

6 cups beef broth

1/2 cup pearl barley, rinsed

One bay leaf

1/2 teaspoon dried or fresh thyme

Grated Gruyère or Swiss cheese

Optional Ingredients: red wine, mushrooms, and additional vegetables such as green beans, potatoes, or corn would taste delicious in this soup!

Garnishes: heavy cream, grated cheese, fresh parsley, and toasted bread.

Recipe note: To elevate this soup, I recommend using a higher-quality cut of meat. You can use steak, cut-up chuck roast, or beef chuck.

Equipment

Large pot or Dutch Oven

Wooden Spoon

Instant Pot

Soup Bowls and Spoons

Instructions

Stovetop Directions

  1. Sear the Beef: Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large pot. Season beef stew meat with salt and pepper, then add to the pot. Sear until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes.
  2. Add the Vegetables: In the same pot, add carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté for about 3-4 minutes until slightly softened.
  3. Add Broth and Soup: Pour Campbell’s French Onion Soup and beef broth into the can, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  4. Add Barley and Seasonings: Stir in the barley, bay leaf, and thyme. Return the beef to the pot and bring the soup to a boil.
  5. Simmer: Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for about 45-50 minutes, or until the beef and barley are tender. Stir occasionally and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.  You may want to add more water before serving; the barley will absorb lots of water, and there is a chance it will look more like a barley stew.

Serve: Ladle soup into bowls, garnishing with fresh parsley. For an extra touch, top with crusty bread or croutons and sprinkle with grated Gruyère or Swiss cheese.

Instant Pot Directions

1. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode and add the butter.  Season the beef with salt and pepper, then add it to the pot, browning it on all sides.

2. Add garlic, celery, and carrots and saute until translucent.

3. Turn off Sauté mode. Add the can of French onion soup, peas, beef broth, barley,  thyme, and bay leaf. Stir everything together.

4. Close the lid and set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook for 20 minutes. Once finished, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quickly release any remaining pressure.

5. Open the lid, discard the bay leaf, and taste for seasoning. Serve hot, and if you’d like, top with toasted baguette slices and melted Gruyère or Swiss cheese

Storage: You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.  You can also store this soup in the freezer.

French Onion Beef and Barley Soup

This French Onion Beef and Barley soup combines savory flavors and hearty textures—it's the perfect soup fusion! 

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 pound stew beef
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup diced carrots
  • 1/2 cup diced celery
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 can Campbell’s French Onion Soup
  • 6 cups beef broth
  • 1/2 cup pearl barley
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

Instructions

Stovetop Instructions

  1. Sear the Beef: Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large pot. Season beef stew meat with salt and pepper, then add to the pot. Sear until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes.

  2. Add the Vegetables: In the same pot, add carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté for about 3-4 minutes until slightly softened.

  3. Add Broth and Soup: Pour Campbell’s French Onion Soup and beef broth into the can, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.

  4. Add Barley and Seasonings: Stir in the barley, bay leaf, and thyme. Return the beef to the pot and bring the soup to a boil.

  5. Simmer: Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for about 45-50 minutes, or until the beef and barley are tender. Stir occasionally and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.  You may want to add more water before serving; the barley will absorb lots of water, and there is a chance it will look more like a barley stew.

Instant Pot Instructions

  1. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode and add the butter.  Season the beef with salt and pepper, then add it to the pot, browning it on all sides.

  2. Add garlic, celery, and carrots and saute until translucent.

  3. Turn off Sauté mode. Add the can of French onion soup, peas, beef broth, barley,  thyme, and bay leaf. Stir everything together.

  4. Close the lid and set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook for 20 minutes. Once finished, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quickly release any remaining pressure.

  5. Open the lid, discard the bay leaf, and taste for seasoning. Serve hot, and if you’d like, top with toasted baguette slices and melted Gruyère or Swiss cheese

If you like this recipe, you should also try:

Instant Pot Stew Meat Gyros

Classic Beef and Barley Soup

Instant Pot French Onion Noodles 

French Style Chicken Noodle Soup 

This recipe is a quick, flavorful way to enjoy French onion beef and barley soup with a bit of help from canned soup. It’s super rich, tastes satisfying, and is perfect for a chilly day or a fancier gathering.  Your family will go crazy over it!

 

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