Barley Soup with Vegetables
I love soup for so many reasons! Not only is it easy to make and super filling, but it reheats and freezes well too. This Barley Vegetable Soup recipe is also super healthy and loaded with wholesome ingredients. It can be a one-pot recipe for the stovetop or even made in a slow cooker.
This barley vegetable soup is so good because it combines the hearty, nutty flavor of barley with the fresh, vibrant tastes of assorted vegetables, creating a nutritious and satisfying meal. If you love vegetable soup like I do, be sure to try our creamy vegan potato soup and vegan broccoli cheese soup.
My sister–a former veggie-hater–came up with this delicious old-fashioned vegetable barley soup. She has obviously recovered from her veggie-hating days and is now a healthy, plant-based eater who is off all of her medications.
What is barley?
Barley is a widely used whole grain that has a nutty flavor and slightly chewy consistency and can be used in recipes like soups, stews, salads, and more. It’s packed with fiber and other nutrients and has many heart-healthy benefits like lowering cholesterol and improving digestion.
Most grocery stores carry barley in their dry goods area close to the dry beans and rice section. Some stores may have it in different forms such as hulled barley, pearl, grits, and even flour and flakes.
Reasons you will love this soup
- Nutrient-Packed and Wholesome – This vegetable barley soup is loaded with fiber-rich barley and a variety of vegetables, providing a nourishing, plant-based meal that’s perfect for any time of day.
- Completely Oil-Free – Made without any added oils, this soup is a heart-healthy option that keeps your meals light yet flavorful, making it great for those looking to reduce their fat intake.
- Easy and Satisfying – This hearty, one-pot soup is easy to prepare and incredibly satisfying, offering a comforting and filling meal without the hassle.
- Perfect for Meal Prep – This plant-based vegetable barley soup stores well and is ideal for meal prep, making it a convenient, nutritious option for busy days or weekly meal planning.
Gluten-free substitutions
Be aware that barley is not gluten-free, but other gluten-free grains such as brown rice, millet, or buckwheat groats can be substituted for it in this soup.
Tips & Suggestions
- Save money- The recipe calls for using either vegetable broth or water. Using vegetable broth really adds a lot more flavor in my opinion. Another less expensive option is to mix it up and use 3 cups veggie broth plus 3 cups water.
- Potatoes- For the potatoes, I usually leave the peelings on mine, but they can be peeled before adding to the soup if preferred.
- Time savers- If you’re in a hurry, all of the vegetables can be added at the same time. Covering the pot during cooking can reduce the cooking time by 5-10 minutes.
Which vegetables to use
This vegan soup is so versatile that any vegetables you have on hand will make great additions. The vegetables used can be fresh or frozen. Either way, this soup is delicious! These are some of our favorites.
- Broccoli and cauliflower
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Carrots
- Celery
- Spinach or cabbage
- Zucchini and squash
STEP #1: Begin by washing and dicing up your vegetables of choice into bite-size chunks.
You’ll also want to rinse off the barley under warm water.
STEP #2: In a large stockpot, add the veggie broth (or water), uncooked barley, onions, cauliflower, and potatoes. Allow these to come to a boil and cook for approximately 10 minutes.
STEP #3: Next, add all other ingredients (except the spinach). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook for approximately 30 minutes. I wait until this point to add the carrots and celery (and broccoli if using) because these are the veggies that I like to keep a little firmer texture. It’s simply a preference thing, so you could add all the veggies in the first step if desired.
I like to use Tony’s Creole Seasoning in this soup. It adds such a great spicy flavor. Be forewarned that it has a slight punch. If you do not like your soup a little spicy, begin with 2 tablespoons, or less. Taste and add to your preference.
STEP #4: Once the cooking time is up–whether you’re using the stovetop or slower cooker methods–add the spinach leaves and allow them to wilt, for approximately 3-5 minutes.
These should not be added until the end because they really don’t need to cook, only wilt.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Slow cooker instructions
- If using a crockpot, I simply add all of the ingredients (except the spinach) to my pot–vegetables and seasoning–and stir them up well.
- There are a couple of choices for settings. For slower cooking, set to LOW for 5-6 hours. If you would like to speed up the cooking time, set it to HIGH for approximately 3 hours.
- Remove from heat and enjoy! I love to serve this soup with crusty sourdough bread or my vegan cornbread recipe.
Instant Pot instructions
- Set to Manual high pressure for 15 minutes.
- Once it has finished cooking allow for a slow release for 10 minutes then carefully turn the Vent to release pressure.
*Originally published December 2015.
Frequently Asked Questions
To make this gluten-free, grains such as brown rice, millet, or buckwheat groats can be substituted for barley.
Yes, you can use quick-cooking barley to save time. It will cook faster than traditional pearl or hulled barley, but may have a softer texture. Adjust cooking time accordingly and add it towards the end of cooking.
To enhance the flavor, consider adding herbs like rosemary, thyme, or bay leaves. You can also include a splash of soy sauce, nutritional yeast, or lemon juice for a deeper and more savory taste. Sautéing the vegetables with garlic before adding them to the soup also boosts flavor.
Yes, barley vegetable soup can be frozen. However, barley may absorb some liquid and become softer after freezing, so you may need to add more broth when reheating to achieve the desired consistency.
If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it by rating it and leaving a comment. We love to hear from you!
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Barley Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
- 6 cups vegetable broth or water
- 1/2 cup uncooked barley
- 2 cups potatoes diced
- 1 cup broccoli or cauliflower or both, in bite size
- 1 cup onion diced
- 2 stalks celery approx 1/2 cup, diced
- 1 cup carrots diced
- 2 15 oz cans fire roasted tomatoes or roast your own fresh tomatoes
- 8 oz tomato juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2-3 tablespoons Creole Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- large handful fresh spinach leaves
Instructions
- What I really love about this recipe is that it can be made completely from start to finish in one pot or even a slow cooker. Begin by washing and dicing up your vegetables of choice into bite-size chunks. You'll also want to rinse off the barley under warm water.
- In a large stockpot, add the veggie broth (or water), uncooked barley, onions, cauliflower, and potatoes. Allow these to come to a boil and cook for approximately 10 minutes.
- Next, add all other ingredients(except the spinach). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook for approximately 30 minutes. I wait until this point to add the carrots and celery (and broccoli if using) because these are the veggies that I like to keep a little firmer texture. It's simply a preference thing, so you could add all the veggies in the first step if desired.
- I like to use Tony’s Creole Seasoning in this soup. It adds such a great spicy flavor. Be forewarned that it has a slight punch. If you do not like your soup a little spicy, begin with 2 Tbsp, or less. Taste and add to your preference.
- Once the cooking time is up–whether you're using the stovetop or slower cooker methods--add the spinach leaves and allow them to wilt, for approximately 3-5 minutes. These should not be added until the end because they really don't need to cook, only wilt.
- Remove from heat and enjoy! I love to serve this soup with crusty sourdough bread or my cornbread recipe.
Crockpot Instructions & Settings
- If using a crockpot, I simply add all of the ingredients (except the spinach) to my pot–vegetables and seasoning–and stir them up well.
- There are a couple of choices for settings. For slower cooking, set it to LOW for 5-6 hours. If you want to speed up the cooking time, set it to HIGH for approximately 3 hours.
Instant Pot Instructions
- Set to Manual high pressure for 15 minutes. Once it has finished cooking allow for a slow release for 10 minutes then carefully turn the Vent to release pressure.
Video
Notes
- Save money- The recipe calls for using either vegetable broth or water. Using vegetable broth really adds a lot more flavor in my opinion. Another less expensive option is to mix it up and use 3 cups veggie broth plus 3 cups water.
- Potatoes- For the potatoes, I usually leave the peelings on mine, but they can be peeled before adding to the soup if preferred.
- Time savers- If you’re in a hurry, all of the vegetables can be added at the same time. Covering the pot during cooking can reduce the cooking time by 5-10 minutes.
- Storage- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days.
- Freezing- Barley vegetable soup can be frozen. However, barley may absorb some liquid and become softer after freezing, so you may need to add more broth when reheating to achieve the desired consistency
Nutrition
Disclaimer
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
About the Chef
Drenda-Michell Brennan lived in Japan in the 1980s and 90s where she enjoyed spending much of her time visiting the kitchens of family and friends, watching and learning to prepare traditional Japanese cuisine. She is the mother of three Japanese-American grown children and grandmother (HuneyGram) to nine grandchildren. Read More…
Terri you do a great job photographing your recipes. I love vegetable barley soup so when your email came I knew I was going to be in visual-sensory heaven.
The work you do is so beyond my ability to organize that I cannot begin to imagine your daily routines.
We are having a beautiful fall here in the eastern Midwest, a perfect time to make a batch of this soup to have on hand. Oh and, heck yeah, crusty sourdough bread is a must!
Frank- Thank you for the kind words. I hope you will enjoy the soup recipe. Crusty sourdough bread with it is perfect!
Can hulled barley be used instead of pearl barley?
Barbara, yes you can use hulled barley for this recipe. The cook time will just need to be increased. In step #3, instead of cooking for 30 minutes, I would suggest increasing that to 45 minutes.
Made this for lunch and had a cup for an evening snack. So good. The first time I have tried the Creole seasoning.
Awesome! I’m so glad that you liked it. This soup was the first time I ever used Creole seasoning too, and now I use it fairly frequently.
Question, you state that it serves 6. IS that 1 cup, 1 1/2 cup or 2 cups portion?
Thank you, I enjoy your recipes.
Hi Elizabeth– The serving size should be about 2 cups each. So glad that you’re enjoying the recipes. 🙂
This looks delicious. Which brand of tomato juice do you use? Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Beverly- Pomi has a tomato juice that is delicious.
@Terri Edwards, Thank you for your reply! Can’t wait to make this now 🙂
The soup looks great. Is there anything else I can use for the spices other than Tony’s creole seasoning?
Anita, Tony’s creole can be left out completely. If you want to add a little more flavor, any combination of some of these will help–paprika, dried oregano, ground black pepper, dried basil, salt, cayenne pepper, granulated onion, dried thyme, and granulated garlic.
I love this soup. Make it often.
I made this tonight. So good and easy thanks for the recipe!
You’re SO welcome, Janet. Glad you liked it!