Also, try these other beef soup favorites - Vegetable Beef Soup, Slow Cooker Beef Stew, Hamburger Soup, and that childhood classic Beef and Tomato Macaroni Soup. You can never have too many soup recipes!

My favorite thing to end a cold day with at dinner time is a steaming bowl of soup, like this hearty beef barley soup.

Beef and Barley Soup Video

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I've been through the list of soups and made what seems like every kind out there, but that's just the great thing about soup. The possibilities are endless.

This homemade classic is one that once you try it fresh, you'll never be able to eat it canned again. But that goes for just about any other soup too, right?

There's just something about all those ingredients simmering together building up flavor, and serving it warm for sipping that creates a cozy dish like no other.

This one has a great blend of textures as well, with the tender beef and veggies, chewy barley, and the base of runny broth. It's a mouthful of goodness and a satisfying, beefy flavor!

Chicken and Barley Soup

If you are looking to add more healthy foods to your diet, this chicken barley soup recipe is a great alternative to chicken noodle soup which tastes just as good but is a healthier option. The traditional egg noodles found in most chicken noodle soups don't have much nutrition but hulled barley on the other hand is a substitute that is perfectly good for you.

I make chicken noodle soup at my house almost every week lately so it's nice to have something I can rotate it with. I will likely even find myself making this more than the traditional chicken noodle soup. I love the texture and flavor that barley adds and how filling it makes this soup. If carbs aren't a concern, you can also add diced potatoes to bulk up this soup even more.

This would also be a great recipe to have on hand next week when you have an abundance of leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. Simply swap the chicken thighs for turkey!

Try this recipe in your slow cooker to make it even easier—just slightly increase your chicken bouillon or homemade chicken stock and fresh herbs if you plan to let it stew all day. I sometimes add a bit of red pepper and garlic powder for even more punch.