Creamy Slow-Cooker Chicken and Barley Soup Recipe

This creamy slow cooker chicken barley soup swaps rice or noodles for barley to make a healthier, hearty meal. It uses whole ingredients, is easy to prepare in a crockpot, and is pure comfort food.

When cold weather arrives, a warm bowl of soup is my go-to for comfort. Not the thin, unsatisfying broths, but a thick, creamy, chunky soup that fills you up and soothes the soul. This Creamy Slow Cooker Chicken Barley Soup is exactly that: filling, flavorful, and simple to make.

Made in the slow cooker for a mostly hands-off process, this soup combines vegetables, tender chicken, and pearl barley in a rich broth finished with a milk-and-flour mixture to create a silky texture. If you prefer or don’t own a slow cooker, you can also prepare a stovetop version with similar results.

Chicken Barley Soup Ingredients Overview

This recipe uses familiar ingredients you can find at most grocery stores. It’s essentially a dump-and-go slow cooker recipe: add carrots, celery, mushrooms, diced chicken, garlic, jalapeño, dried oregano and basil, pearl barley, low-sodium chicken stock, and salt to the crockpot. Stir, cover, and let it cook low and slow.

Once the soup has finished cooking, whisk together milk and flour and stir that into the pot. That step thickens the broth and gives the soup its creamy, satisfying texture without heavy cream. Finally, stir in fresh spinach just before serving so it wilts gently without becoming bitter.

Benefits Of A Slow Cooker

A slow cooker is a great tool for busy cooks because it simplifies meal prep and delivers consistently tender results. Key advantages:

• Set-and-forget convenience: Combine ingredients, set the cooker, and go about your day without worrying about burning or constant stirring.
• Hands-off cooking: You can prepare the soup in the morning, leave for work, and return to a ready meal that may only need a quick finish.
• Tender, flavorful meat: Slow cooking breaks down connective tissue, so chicken becomes tender and the flavors deepen over time.

Whether you use a slow cooker or make a stove-top version, this creamy chicken barley soup is a comforting way to welcome cooler weather. If you prefer a stovetop approach, follow the same ingredient list and simmer gently until the barley and chicken are cooked through.

Watch Slow Cooker Chicken Barley Soup Recipe Video

Creamy Slow Cooker Chicken Barley Soup

This creamy slow cooker chicken barley soup replaces rice or noodles with barley for a wholesome, filling dish. Simple ingredients and easy crockpot prep make it ideal comfort food.

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 3 hrs

Total: 3 hrs 15 mins

Servings: 4 portions

Ingredients

• 1 cup sliced carrots, thickly sliced
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 1 cup mushrooms, quartered
• 2 chicken breasts, diced into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 jalapeño, finely chopped (optional)
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 cup pearl barley, washed and drained
• 5 cups low-sodium chicken stock
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups fresh spinach
• Salt to taste
• Fried bacon for topping (optional)

Instructions

• Add carrots, celery, mushrooms, diced chicken, garlic, jalapeño, oregano, basil, pearl barley, chicken stock, and salt to a slow cooker. Stir to combine. Cook on high for 3–4 hours or on low for 7–8 hours.
• In a small bowl, whisk the flour into the milk until smooth. When the soup is cooked, stir the milk-and-flour mixture into the pot and cook on high for another 20 minutes to thicken.
• Stir in the spinach, turn off the slow cooker, and let the soup rest for ten minutes. Serve hot, topped with fried bacon if desired.

Notes

1. Slow cooker: This recipe is written for a slow cooker, but you can simmer it on the stovetop in a large pot until the barley and chicken are tender.
2. Spinach: Add spinach at the end so it wilts quickly and keeps a bright color and fresh flavor.
3. Storage: Freeze up to a month without the spinach. Add fresh spinach after thawing and reheating to avoid bitterness.

Nutrition

Calories: 497 kcal, Carbohydrates: 63 g, Protein: 40 g, Fat: 9 g

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