Slow-Cooked Beef & Barley Comfort Soup

Introduction:
Warm, rich, and full of nourishing ingredients, this slow-cooker beef and barley soup is the ultimate comfort dish. With tender chunks of chuck roast, hearty vegetables, and nutty barley, it simmers into a deliciously filling meal perfect for chilly days or effortless weeknight dinners.

Ingredients:
1 lb (450 g) boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into small cubes

1 ½ cups carrots, thinly sliced

1 ½ cups celery, thinly sliced

⅔ cup onion, chopped

10–12 mushrooms, sliced

¾ cup pearl barley (uncooked)

4 cups beef broth (low sodium recommended)

1 tbsp tomato paste

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 bay leaf

½ tsp dried thyme

½ tsp black pepper

Salt to taste

1 tbsp olive oil (for browning beef, optional)

How to Make: