Crock Pot Vegetable Beef Barley Soup

How often are you using your crock pot with your meal planning menu? I am definitely an advocate for crock pot cooking as my weekly meal plan usually includes one or two recipes that require slow cooking. Coming home to dinner in the crock pot, smelling wonderful and adding some quick sides to the meal sure does make life a little easier.

Soups are my absolute favorite thing to make in the colder months and this easy Vegetable Beef Barley Soup will soon be a family favorite for you too. My husband and kids all have their own favorite soups in the recipe box but this particular vegetable soup has to be my favorite because it is so easy to assemble, doesn’t take all day long to cook {2 hours} and it tastes delicious.

Crock Pot Vegetable Beef Barley  Soup Ingredients

• 8 cups of beef broth
• 1 pound browned ground beef {or your preferred cut of beef}
• 1 can of diced tomatoes {14.5 oz}
• 1/2 cup of diced onion
• 1 clove of garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp of salt
• 1 tsp of dried, crushed basil
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 cup of barley
• 1 bag of mixed frozen vegetables {16 oz}

I said this was easy and I wasn’t kidding. The ingredients are basic items most people have on hand in their pantry and freezer. The beauty of this easy crockpot recipe is it only takes two hours which means you could easily throw it together in the late afternoon on those days you got sucked into the internet and never left the couch but really told your family you forgot to lay something out for dinner. Pair this Vegetable Beef Barley Soup with a grilled cheese sandwich and you’re done.

Directions for Dummies

Put all the ingredients in the crockpot except the frozen veggies. Cook on high for one hour, add the frozen veggies and simmer for one more hour. Enjoy with fresh bread or a toasted sandwich.

For more crock pot meal ideas, visit the My Thrifty House Pinterest Board. Don’t forget to share your meal planning success with me on the My Thrifty House Facebook Page.