Slow Cooker Chicken Barley Soup

🤍 Recipe Highlights

I have summarised everything that you will come to know and love (LOVE ❤) about the crockpot chicken barley soup in the points below:

• Simple ingredients: we use very simple ingredients for this easy recipe. With a total of only 9 ingredients we combine them for a nourishing and soul satisfying meal that packs a flavor punch!
• Dump and go: I actually prefer the term 'set and forget' regarding slow cooker recipes to 'dump and go' however, they both articulate the easy nature of throwing everything into the slow cooker and letting it do its thing. In 6-8 hours dinner will be done! 😉👌
• Family favorite: everyone of all ages will enjoy this soup. There is nothing 'too hot' or 'too spicy' in the flavors or ingredients so everyone can grab a spoon and dive right in.
• Comfort food: whilst it is not cheesy, garlicky, pasta filled comfort food. There is indeed a comfort to be experienced when slurping away at a bowl of this soup with satisfaction in every sip! All of the veggies make it the perfect comfort food.
• Taste and texture: from the tender shredded chicken to the array of vegetables providing colour and nourishment, swallowed in chicken broth and chewy texture of the barley there is a lot going on in this dish. It ticks all of the taste, texture and flavorsome boxes at the same time.

🥗 Ingredients

The photo below is to show you everything you need to make the slow cooker chicken barley soup recipe. Please refer to the printable recipe card for specific ingredient measurements as well as detailed instructions.

As you can see this hearty chicken barley soup recipe calls for:

• Salt and pepper: we use salt and a little bit of black pepper to season the chicken thighs before we add them to the slow cooker.
• Dried thyme: we use dried thyme as our herb for flavor in the soup.
• Barley: barley is a great alternative to using pasta and rice in soups. It is dense, chewy and delightful. We don't use much in the recipe but you will find that this is enough when combined with all of the other ingredients in the soup.
• Celery: we want to use 3-4 stalks of celery and simply cut the leaves off and give the base a trim.
• Carrot: we want to use 2 large carrots in the soup. We only need to trim the base and top, peel them and then finely dice.
• Onion: we need 1 large onion which we peel and then dice.
• Mushrooms: these get added towards the end stage of the cooking process to avoid them softening too much. White mushrooms or button mushrooms, simply chopped are perfect
• Chicken stock: in Australia we call this chicken stock, but it also commonly known as chicken broth around the world. I prefer to use the premade liquid version for the recipe as opposed to chicken stock cubes with water (less ingredients and can simply open the lid and pour it in).
• Chicken thighs: we use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the recipe. No need to brown or prep other than to season with a little salt and pepper before we add them to the crockpot.

Tasty Tip: I like to provide you with a number of substitutions and variations giving you an array of options when making my recipes. If in doubt of any of the above ingredients, or wanting alternatives, read this section below before jumping into the instructions on how to make the recipe which are coming next 😉👌.

😉 Substitutions and Variations

Here are my sub ins and outs that you might be thinking about as you read the post and I will tell you if I think they will work or why they won't:

• Garlic: if you want to add garlic to the soup you can. 2-3 fresh garlic cloves finely minced will do the trick.
• Leftover chicken: if you want to use leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken in place of cooking the chicken, you can. Remove any skin and shred. Then add this when adding the barley and mushrooms at the end of the cook time. It will only need to heat through, not 'cook'.
• Dried herbs: in place of the dried thyme, you can use dried parsley, oregano or Italian seasoning if you wish too.
• Fresh herbs: or you can use fresh herbs such as fresh thyme leaves in the soup and for garnishing the finished dish.
• Extra veggies: for additional vegetables, you can add some sliced green beans or chopped potatoes (with skin still on). Or add extra carrot, additional root vegetables or your favorite soup vegetable.
• Liquid stock: you can use vegetable broth in place of the chicken stock if you want to.
• Chicken breast: if you want to use chicken breasts in place of the chicken thighs you can. In which case I would slice them in halve lengthways and season each side.
• Bay leaves: if you want to use bay leaves, you can add 2 and then remove them once the soup is cooked.

🍳 Instructions

Here are the step by step instructions to make the recipe. We start by preparing the vegetables. You will need a knife, vegetable peeler and cutting board for these initial steps.

• Peel and slice the onion (Photo 1)
• Peel and slice the carrots (Photo 2)
• Chop the celery (Photo 3)
• Season the chicken (Photo 4)

👩‍🍳 How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Barley Soup

To make the slow cooker chicken barley soup, start by preparing your vegetables. To do this peel and slice the onion, then peel and slice the carrots, followed by chopping the celery into pieces and seasoning both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.

• Add the onions to the slow cooker (Photo 5)
• Followed by the diced carrot (Photo 6)
• Then add the chopped celery (Photo 7)
• Add the chicken thighs (Photo 8)

Next, start to add the ingredients to the slow cooker insert (bowl). Sprinkle in the onions, then add the diced carrot, chopped celery ribs and then place the seasoned chicken thighs on top of the vegetables. You can see these steps in the photos above.

• Pour in the stock and add the dried thyme then cook (Photo 9)
• Slice the mushrooms (Photo 10)
• Add the barley (Photo 11)
• Then add the sliced mushrooms (Photo 12)

When ready pour the chicken stock into the slow cooker and sprinkle the dried thyme across the top of the dish.

Now set the temperature to high and let the soup cook for 4 hours (or low for 8 hours).

In the final hour (ie after after 3 hours or 7 hours of cook time), use a pair of tongs to remove the chicken thighs and then use a knife and chopping board to slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces like you see in the photo below.

Next add the dried barley and sliced mushrooms to the soup.

Once done add the sliced chicken back to the slow cooker, stir to gently re combine it and then put the lid back on for a final 1-2 hours.

• Slice chicken and add back to slow cooker (Photo 13)

Once the total cooking time of 4 hours is up, you can change the setting to warm, grab some bowls, forks and spoons, then when ready call everyone to the table as 'dinner is ready!'.

🍽 Serving Suggestions

When it comes to serving your soup some fresh parsley chopped and added to the bowls will add some pops of colour. A sprinkling of cracked pepper will ensure the dish is well seasoned.

Some torn fresh crusty bread can be added to sop up some of the soup or toasted rye will a little butter will do the trick also.

You are unlikely to need or want anything else to go with the soup. It's kind of an all in one jam packed with flavor comforting bowl of yum that works as it is so simple, yet it tastes so very good!

On some level I would be suprised if you can fit more that this in 😂 but I won't stop you if you try too.

Hence the Tortilla Garlic Bread, Turkish Garlic Bread, Garlic Pizza Bread or the Ciabatta Garlic Bread might be on your mind and if you want or need some encouragement, go for it 😉👌.

👍 How to Guide

How to Store

Store leftovers of the soup in sealed, airtight containers. They can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days and need to be reheated before being consumed.

How to Freeze

Allow the dish to fully cool. Once it has, portion into containers, seal and then stack in the freezer.

How to Reheat

For refrigerated leftovers, transfer them into a bowl and cover with cling wrap. Then reheat on high in the microwave in 1 minute increments (stirring after each minute) until the soup is warmed through.

For frozen portions, allow them to fully thaw. Then transfer them into a bowl and follow the above method to reheat the soup in the microwave.

💡 Tasty Tips

Here are my top tips and tricks that I want to share with you so that you master the recipe from the get go:

• There is no need to grease or spray the slow cooker bowl with oil as a starting point.
• We don't brown the chicken on the stove top separately as it is an unnecessary step (and would involve an extra pan with more washing up).
• You will find that when you are removing the chicken from the slow cooker (using tongs) some of the other ingredients will come out amongst them ie carrot, onion etc. That is fine. Simply lay what you take out onto the chopping board and slice with the knife then add back in.
• Regarding the point above, some of the chicken may break apart during this time also. So use a wooden spoon to find the pieces to roughly resemble the quantity you added to the pan.
• For the total cook time...after you have added the barley and mushrooms, let them cook for at least 1 hour. Then remove the lid and taste the soup. You can either stop there and keep the soup on the warm setting or cook (low heat) for an additional hour) then turn the soup to warm till you are ready to serve it.
• If you love slow cooker recipes you might also like to try the Braised Steak And Onions, Roast Pork With Crackling, Mushroom Soup, Chicken Spaghetti , Pumpkin Soup, Slow Cooker Lamb Ribs or the Lamb Stew😉👌.
• Or if it is soup that gets your mouth watering try the Dumpling Noodle Soup, Leek And Potato Soup, Chicken Corn Noodle Soup, Slow Cooker Chicken And Corn Soup or the Mexican Beef Soup 😄👍.

🤓 Frequently Asked Questions

😍 More Easy Dinner Recipes

Make dinner the thing that you look forward to the most each day by having some simple recipes to turn to that deliver. Here are some more ideas to keep your meals inspired, fuss free and effortless:

• More chicken recipes: Baked Chicken Drumsticks And Rice, Chicken And Rice Tray Bake, French Onion Chicken.
• Lamb recipes: Satay Lamb, Greek Leg Of Lamb, Greek Lamb Shanks
• Seafood dinner ideas: Tuna Fried Rice, Fettuccine Alfredo With Tuna, Tuna And Rice Casserole.
• Pasta and noodles recipes: Scallop Linguine, Fettuccine Alfredo With Scallops, Pork Mince Noodles, Soy Sauce Noodles, Ham Fettuccine Alfredo.
• Slow Cooker Recipes: Slow Cooker Beef Massaman Curry, Slow Cooker Curried Sausages, Slow Cooker Bacon Cheese Bread.
• Pork recipes: Pork Leg Roast, Thai Minced Pork, Roast Pork Shoulder, Air Fryer Pork Roast, Slow Cooker Stuffed Pork Tenderloin.

It is time to get our slow cooker soup on my friend! You can also find all of my chicken recipes or dinner recipes in the one spot!

Adrianne

PIN and save this recipe for later! 

Hunger still got you? You can SUBSCRIBE to receive the latest recipes, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook.