Chicken Barley Soup
A hearty and comforting chicken barley soup, perfect for a chilly day. Packed with tender chicken, wholesome barley, and fresh vegetables, this soup is both nutritious and delicious.
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 0.75 cup pearl barley
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 medium carrots, chopped
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the chicken breasts to the pot. Pour in the chicken broth, add the barley, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45-60 minutes, or until the barley is tender and the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and shred it with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the soup.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.
Notes
This soup is even better the next day as the flavors meld together. Feel free to add other vegetables like peas or corn if desired.