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One-Pot Hearty Beef and Barley Stew

Name: One-Pot Hearty Beef and Barley Stew
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 105 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Rustic American
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 ½ pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes; 1 large onion, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced; 2 celery stalks, sliced; 1 cup pearl barley, rinsed; 6 cups beef broth; 1 cup water; 2 teaspoons tomato paste; 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 teaspoon dried rosemary; 2 bay leaves; Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

By PanPotPlates Editorial TeamPublished Apr 23, 2026 | Updated Oct 17, 2026

Rustic American 120 mins onepotheartycomfortfoodfamilydinnereasybudget-friendlyleftovers

One-Pot Hearty Beef and Barley Stew is a practical PanPotPlates recipe built for dependable weeknight cooking. Estimated timing (not kitchen-tested): preparation 15 minutes; cooking 105 minutes; additional elapsed time 0 minutes; total about 120 minutes. Assumes two cooking batches; allow more time if your pan, oven or basket needs additional batches. Times are planning estimates based on the instructions. Follow the stated doneness and temperature checks, and extend cooking or cooling as needed.

Prep 15 min

Cook 105 min

Total 120 min

Servings 6

Difficulty easy

Cuisine Rustic American

Ingredients

Servings 6

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 ½ pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 large onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
2 celery stalks, sliced
1 cup pearl barley, rinsed
6 cups beef broth
1 cup water
2 teaspoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
2 bay leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

Ingredients for One-Pot Hearty Beef and Barley Stew

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
Add beef stew meat in batches, searing on all sides until browned. Remove and set aside.
Reduce heat to medium. In the same pot, add diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in minced garlic and tomato paste, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
Return browned beef to the pot. Add pearl barley, beef broth, water, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover.
Simmer gently for 1 to 1 ¼ hours, stirring occasionally, until beef is tender and barley is cooked through.
Remove bay leaves. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Ladle stew into bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot.

One-Pot Hearty Beef and Barley Stew cooking in the recommended pan or pot

Tips

Pan Or Pot Required

For making this One-Pot Hearty Beef and Barley Stew , using a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven is essential.

Cookware Size Guidance

To prepare this hearty beef and barley stew serving six people, select a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven with a capacity between 6 and 7 quarts (5.7 to 6.6 liters).

Cookware Swap Guidance

This One-Pot Hearty Beef and Barley Stew is designed for a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven to maximize flavor and texture through slow simmering.

Leftovers Quality

Reheat gently and add a splash of liquid when needed to keep the texture moist and tender.

Timing note

The 60-75 minute simmer follows batch searing, vegetable cooking and bringing the pot to a boil. Allow additional time as needed; a tested total is not available.

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One-Pot Hearty Beef and Barley Stew

Recipe Details

Ingredients

Instructions