Hearty Ground Beef, Barley & Vegetable Soup

This cozy Ground Beef, Barley & Vegetable Soup is the perfect comfort meal for a chilly day! ❤️ Tender ground beef, chewy pearl barley, carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, onions, and savory herbs simmer together in a rich tomato-beef broth. It’s hearty, filling, and packed with homemade flavor.

It’s an easy one-pot dinner that makes the kitchen smell amazing and is even better the next day!

🛒 Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• ¾ cup pearl barley, rinsed
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 6 cups beef broth
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ¾ tsp salt, or to taste
• 1 tbsp olive oil, if needed
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

🍳 Instructions

1. Brown the beef: Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease if necessary.
2. Add the vegetables: Add onion, carrots, celery, bell peppers, and garlic. Cook for 4–5 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
3. Build the soup: Stir in tomato paste, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, paprika, thyme, black pepper, and salt.
4. Add broth and barley: Pour in the beef broth and add the rinsed pearl barley. Stir everything together.
5. Simmer: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat. Cover partially and simmer for 35–45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the barley is tender.
6. Add zucchini: Stir in the diced zucchini during the final 10–15 minutes so it stays tender without becoming mushy.
7. Finish: Taste and adjust the seasoning. Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.

💡 Pro Tips

• Rinse the barley before adding it to the soup.
• For a thicker, heartier soup, add a little extra barley.
• Ground turkey can be substituted for ground beef.
• Add mushrooms, green beans, or potatoes for even more vegetables.
• The soup thickens as it sits, so add a splash of broth when reheating leftovers.

❤️ Serving Idea

Serve hot with crusty bread, garlic toast, or a simple green salad. This is the kind of old-fashioned homemade soup that makes an easy family dinner and tastes even better the following day.