Mushroom Barley Soup (made in the Slow Cooker)

Name: Mushroom Barley Soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 300 min
Total time: 315 min
Ingredients: 3 ribs celery (sliced into half moons); 1 large onion (finely diced); 4 cloves garlic (chopped); 1 teaspoon dried thyme; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth, (recipe note #1)); 4 cups mushroom broth (or beef broth, (recipe note #1)); 3 carrots (sliced); 1 1/2 pounds mushrooms (sliced); 1 cup pearl barley; kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

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This Mushroom Barley Soup recipe is not one of those bait-and-switch recipes where you have a bunch of cooking to do ahead of time. Just pile all the ingredients into your slow cooker and, in about 6 hours, you’ll have a delicious, comforting soup and a kitchen that smells amazing.

Mushroom Barley Soup served in a light gray ceramic bowl.

There’s nothing more comforting than hearty stews and soups when it’s chilly outside. Brimming with mushrooms and earthy, satisfying barley in a richly flavored broth, this soup is the perfect example.

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Ingredients You Need to Make Mushroom Barley Soup
The magic of umami.
FAQ
More Delicious Soup Recipes
How to Make Mushroom Barley Soup
Mushroom Barley Soup
💬 Comments

Ingredients You Need to Make Mushroom Barley Soup

Mushroom Barley Soup Ingredients on a white marble board.

Celery: Look for firm, bright green celery stalks. Pro Tip! Be sure to check out the top where the stalks have been trimmed. Avoid those with hollow ribs that are a sign of dried out celery.
Onion: yellow onion or white onion
Garlic: fresh cloves are best
Dried Thyme: or twice the amount of fresh thyme
Dried Oregano: or twice the amount of fresh oregano
Chicken Broth: or vegetable broth, (recipe note #1)
Mushroom Broth or Beef Broth: (recipe note #1)
Carrots: with or without the peel
Mushrooms: white button mushrooms, cremini mushrooms or another variety you love or a combination!
Pearl Barley: You'll want pearl barley (also called pearled barley) for this recipe. More on the different types of barley in the FAQ below.
Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

The magic of umami.

This soup is meatless, but that doesn’t mean it's not packed with umami flavors. With a blend of chicken or vegetable broth, fresh mushrooms (is there a 'meatier' vegetable?) and mushroom or beef broth along with tender barley for a silky mouthfeel, you get a rich, complex soup without adding meat. And it's easy to make this soup vegetarian / vegan by using only mushroom broth or a blend of mushroom broth and vegetable broth.

Serve a steaming bowl with a side of crusty bread and I promise, you'll never miss the meat.

Mushroom Barley Soup served in a light gray ceramic bowl photographed from above.

FAQ

Is there a difference between barley and pearl barley?

The two most common varieties of barley are pearl barley and hulled barley or barley groats. Hulled barley is the whole grain version where only the toughest outer hull is removed. This type of barley is more nutritious and has more protein and fiber, but it takes longer to cook.

Pearl barley is still nutritious and a good source of fiber, but less so than barley groats because the hull and bran have been removed. The polished grain cooks faster, and is the most common type of barley.

Do you have to cook barley before putting it in soup?

You don’t need to cook the barley before making this soup. The slow cooker simmers it to tender perfection, soaking up all of the other delicious flavors, during the lengthy, but hands-off cooking time.

Do I need to soak pearl barley before cooking?

No, pearl barley has had the hull removed, has been steamed to remove the bran and softens nicely as it cooks without presoaking.

If you use hulled barley / barley groats then an overnight soak would help them cook faster and be more digestible, particularly if you add a splash of vinegar or lemon juice (see my How to Cook Farro post for more on this). And you’d want to add them to this soup in the first step as they take longer to cook than the pearled version.

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How to Make Mushroom Barley Soup

Add all ingredients to a slow cooker; stir to combine and cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 6-7 hours. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

soup ingredients in slow cooker ready to add liquid.