• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
YouTube
TikTok

Jo Cooks

Simple - Easy - Comfort

  • All Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Appetizers
      • Lunch
      • Dinner
      • Desserts
      • Side Dishes
      • Soups
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches
      • Drinks/Cocktails
      • Sauces & Dressings
    • Method
      • Crockpot
      • Instant Pot
      • One Pot
      • Air Fryer
      • Casseroles
    • Season
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
    • Cuisine
      • Asian
      • Italian
      • Mexican
      • European
      • Indian
      • Romanian
      • Mediterranean
      • Middle Eastern
      • American
    • Ingredient
      • Chicken
      • Pork
      • Beef
      • Seafood
      • Lamb
      • Vegetarian
      • Pasta
      • Spices
    • Holiday
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Thanksgiving
      • Game Day
      • Valentine's Day
      • St. Patrick's Day
      • Cinco de Mayo
      • Mother's Day
      • Memorial Day
      • Father's Day
      • 4th Of July
      • Labor Day
      • Halloween
    • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
    • The Big Book of Jo’s Quick and Easy Meals
    • 30-Minute One-Pot Meals
  • Shop
  • About Jo
FREE recipe eBook!
Search...
All Recipes
Instant Pot
30 Minute
One Pot Meals
Soups
Dips & Dressings
Baking
Pasta
Sandwiches
Sides
Chicken Lunch Dinner One Pot
5 from 7 votes

Chicken Barley Soup

Jump to RecipeVideoPrintRate
By: Joanna Cismaru •3/21/23 13 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

pin for chicken barley soup.

This delicious simple Chicken Barley Soup is loaded with just the right balance of hearty barley and tender chicken breast that is encased in the most incredible down-home extra chickeny broth! It’s a comforting meal that is sure to warm you up as the days get colder.

freshly made chicken barley soup in a white bowl with a golden spoon in it.
Table of Contents Open
  • Easy Chicken Barley Soup Recipe
  • Why You’ll Love This Chicken Barley Soup
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
  • How To Make Chicken Barley Soup
    • Sauté The Veggies
    • Add The Chicken And Barley To Cook
    • Finish The Soup
    • Serve And Enjoy
  • What Can I Add To The Soup?
  • Can I Use Chicken Thighs Instead Of Breasts?
  • Expert Tips
  • How To Store
  • Other Delicious Soups To Try
  • Chicken Barley Soup
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Equipment
    • Video
    • Notes
    • Nutrition Information
  • Did You Make This?

Easy Chicken Barley Soup Recipe

If you have tried my Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and loved it, it’s amazing by the way, then you are going to love this Chicken Barley Soup just as much! Maybe even more if you’re trying to add some more whole grains to your diet and cut out processed wheat. It’s very similar in flavor and takes a little less time and effort to make. 

In fact, this easy recipe is just as tasty, simple, and takes about the same amount of time to make as my Instant Pot Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup. You just can’t beat that! A homemade soup made on the stove that is just as quick as an IP recipe with just as much flavor! But it’s totally possible by using whole chicken breasts with the skin, flavorful chicken broth, a bit of bouillon, and taking the time to properly sauté the veggies.

It’s an absolutely delicious recipe! So break out your big pot and get to cooking some Chicken Barley Soup as the weather cools off outside. You won’t be sorry and your family is going to love it!

closeup of a ladle in a dutch oven full of chicken barley soup.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Barley Soup

  • Simple Recipe! It’s a super easy one-pot soup that is layered in flavor that you can make in just about an hour with very little cleanup.
  • Comforting and Healthy! Made with wholesome ingredients like fresh vegetables,  chicken breast, and whole grain barley, it’s hearty and healthy. 
  • Perfect Main or Side! Chicken soup with barley is a meal in itself with some fresh bread or makes a fantastic filling side when served alongside a sandwich, wrap, or salad. 

Ingredients You’ll Need

ingredients needed to make chicken barley soup.
  • Olive Oil – I like to use olive oil for its flavor, but you can use any type of vegetable oil you like to sauté the veggies.
  • Onion – Brown onion adds fantastic flavor to the soup, but any type of onion you have on hand is fine.
  • Carrots – Adds just the right touch of veggie sweetness.
  • Celery – A classic chicken soup ingredient along with the onion and carrots.
  • Low-Sodium Chicken Broth – To control the amount of added salt I always use a low-sodium variety of broth.
  • Chicken – You will need whole chicken breasts with the skin on. They can be with or without the bone in.
  • Pearl Barley – It’s a grain that is a member of the grass family and is used instead of noodles in this chicken soup recipe. 
  • Chicken Bouillon – Helps to add even deeper chicken flavor to the soup.
  • Salt – A touch of salt is needed to develop the flavors.
  • Black Pepper – You can use regular or freshly ground black pepper to your taste.
  • Bay Leaves – An aromatic leaf used in most soup recipes.

How To Make Chicken Barley Soup

One of the main reasons that I love making soup so much is because it is so darn easy! This is a 3-step recipe that takes very little effort. And the leftovers, if any, are even better the next day.

Sauté The Veggies

process shots showing how to make chicken barley soup.

To begin, you need to sauté your mirepoix, which is your onions, carrots, and celery. So heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium-high. Then add the veggies to the pot and sauté for about 5 minutes or until they are just a tad soft. The onions should be translucent before you move on to the next step. 

Add The Chicken And Barley To Cook

process shots showing how to make chicken barley soup.

Once the veggies are sautéed, add the chicken broth to the Dutch oven along with the whole chicken breasts, barley, chicken bouillon, salt, black pepper, and bay leaves. Next, bring the mixture to a boil and then turn the heat down to medium-low. Now, cover the pot with a lid and allow the soup to simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour. The soup is done when the barley is tender and the chicken is fully cooked. If the barley is still firm you need to keep cooking!

Finish The Soup

process shots showing how to make chicken barley soup.

When the soup is finished cooking, remove the bay leaves. Then remove the chicken from the pot and shred it with 2 forks.

process shots showing how to make chicken barley soup.

Now, put the shredded chicken back into the pot to combine with the veggies and barley. Finally, taste your soup for salt and season if needed. How much salt you need will depend on the amount that was added by the chicken stock and bouillon as well as your personal preference.

Serve And Enjoy

To serve, ladle the homemade chicken barley soup into bowls and enjoy with some fresh Air Fryer No Knead Bread or Crescent Rolls. I also sometimes like to pair this soup with a hearty Chef Salad for an easy soup and salad lunch or dinner.

What Can I Add To The Soup?

Chicken barley soup is delicious as is, but feel free to doctor it up any way you like. You could easily add some spinach or kale to get some more greens into your diet. Another yummy option is mushrooms. It’s totally up to you. There are no rules when making most soups.

Can I Use Chicken Thighs Instead Of Breasts?

Yes! You’ll need to use about 4 chicken thighs in place of the breasts. But do know that using thighs will change the amount of fat and calories in the soup. 

closeup of a ladle in a dutch oven full of chicken barley soup.

Expert Tips

  1. Use pearl barley. It cooks much faster than standard barley. If you don’t use pearl barley you will need to increase the cooking time. 
  2. Season at the very end. All soups reduce as they cook. So if you add additional salt too early on in the cooking process there is a good chance you will end up with salty soup.
  3. Make it creamy. To make creamy chicken barley soup just add a little heavy cream when you add the shredded chicken back into the pot at the end and then cook it for about 3 minutes to thicken up.  

How To Store

Leftover chicken barley soup will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

To reheat, just put it in the microwave for a few minutes on medium power or reheat it in a saucepan on the stove. And for frozen soup, you can either let it thaw out first or reheat it from frozen in the microwave or on the stovetop.  

freshly made chicken barley soup in a white bowl with a golden spoon in it.

Other Delicious Soups To Try

  • Beef Barley Soup
  • Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Cream Of Mushroom Soup
  • Broccoli Cheese Soup
  • Instant Pot Cabbage Soup
  • Beef Lentil Soup
  • Stuffed Pepper Soup
  • Chicken Gnocchi Soup
  • Chicken and Corn Chowder

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

freshly made chicken barley soup in a white bowl with a golden spoon in it.
Print
5 from 7 votes

Chicken Barley Soup

Prep 10 minutes
Cook 1 hour
Total 1 hour 10 minutes
Rate Recipe
This delicious simple Chicken Barley Soup is loaded with just the right balance of hearty barley and tender chicken breast that is encased in the most incredible down-home extra chickeny broth! It’s a comforting meal that is sure to warm you up as the days get colder.
6

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion (chopped)
  • 2 large carrots (peeled and chopped)
  • 2 ribs celery (chopped)
  • 6 cups chicken broth (low sodium)
  • 2 chicken breasts (whole, w/skin and/or bone in)
  • ⅔ cup pearl barley (rinsed)
  • 1 cube chicken bouillon
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 bay leaves

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery and sauté for 5 minutes, until the vegetables soften.
    process shots showing how to make chicken barley soup.
  • Add the broth, chicken breasts, barley, chicken bouillon, salt, pepper and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover with a lid and cook for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the barley is tender.
    process shots showing how to make chicken barley soup.
  • Remove the bay leaves from the soup. Carefully remove the chicken breasts from the pot and shred with two forks.
    process shots showing how to make chicken barley soup.
  • Add the chicken back to the soup. Taste for seasoning and adjust as necessary. Ladle soup into bowls and serve.
    process shots showing how to make chicken barley soup.

Equipment

  • 6 Quart Dutch Oven

Video

Notes

  1. Use pearl barley. It cooks much faster than standard barley. If you don’t use pearl barley you will need to increase the cooking time. 
  2. Season at the very end. All soup reduces as it cooks. So if you add additional salt too early on in the cooking process there is a good chance you will end up with salty soup.
  3. Make it creamy. To make creamy chicken barley soup just add a little heavy cream when you add the shredded chicken back into the pot at the end and then cook it for about 3 minutes to thicken up.  
  4. Leftover chicken barley soup will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1servingCalories: 222kcal (11%)Carbohydrates: 25g (8%)Protein: 16g (32%)Fat: 7g (11%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 24mg (8%)Sodium: 533mg (23%)Potassium: 555mg (16%)Fiber: 5g (21%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 4089IU (82%)Vitamin C: 4mg (5%)Calcium: 38mg (4%)Iron: 1mg (6%)

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

freshly made chicken barley soup in a white bowl with a golden spoon in it.

Did You Make This?

We love seeing what you made! Tag us on Instagram at @jocooks or hashtag #jocooks so we can see your creations!

Rate Recipe
Add Your Photo!
  • 206
Home Recipes
Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More
iPad showing title of ebook 30 recipes from around the world
Subscribe

Get our FREE recipe eBook + weekly newsletter!

Loading

guest
Did you make this recipe? Rate it:




The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us keep track of the comments placed on the website. Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment.

guest
Did you make this recipe? Rate it:




The comment form collects your name, email and content to allow us keep track of the comments placed on the website. Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

13 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Laura
Laura
Posted: 1 month ago

5 stars
Yummy! My family loves this soup! I add fresh dill for some added flavor.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Laura
Posted: 1 month ago

So glad you like it!

0
Reply
Natasha
Natasha
Posted: 1 month ago

This was delicious! Added in some spices (my own preference when cooking – some cumin and paprika), but it wasn’t needed – great recipe. I also added extra pearl barley and there was enough stock to cook it nicely!

0
Reply
Jo Anne
Jo Anne
Posted: 1 month ago

5 stars
This was so good!! I love all your recipes that I have made, thank you!!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Jo Anne
Posted: 1 month ago

Glad you’re enjoying them!

0
Reply
Lisa
Lisa
Posted: 1 month ago

5 stars
This was the yummiest soup! So pretty, hearty and easy to make!

0
Reply
PQ Pops
PQ Pops
Posted: 2 months ago

5 stars
Nice change using barley. Made this a few times already and keep returning to this recipe. I added some green beans and parsnip too. You cannot go wrong. Thanks for sharing.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  PQ Pops
Posted: 2 months ago

So glad you like it!

0
Reply
Sue
Sue
Posted: 4 months ago

So delicious and easy! Would not change a thing. Can’t wait to make it again!

0
Reply
Jen McRae
Jen McRae
Posted: 5 months ago

5 stars
I made this for dinner last night and it did not dissappoint! The whole family loved it! Warm, hearty & delicious!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Jen McRae
Posted: 5 months ago

So happy to hear it! 🙂

0
Reply
Annie
Annie
Posted: 5 months ago

5 stars
I made this tonight! Easy to follow recipe. But more importantly, it was so delicious!!
Thank you for your recipes!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Annie
Posted: 5 months ago

My pleasure, so glad you like it!

0
Reply

sidebar

Headshot of Joanna Cismaru

Hey there!

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

Read More
Collage of recipe ebooks
Subscribe

Get our FREE recipe eBook + weekly newsletter!

Loading

Pasta Favorites

baked mac and cheese in a black cast iron skillet.
45 mins

Baked Mac And Cheese

freshly made crack chicken penne with a wooden spoon in a skillet.
40 mins

Crack Chicken Penne

chicken pot pie pasta in a white serving bowl with a wooden serving spoon.
50 mins

Chicken Pot Pie Pasta

freshly made one pot pasta in a dutch oven.
20 mins

One Pot Pasta

tomato spinach chicken pasta in a white bowl.
30 mins

Tomato Spinach Chicken Pasta

homemade hamburger helper lasagna from scratch in a skillet.
30 mins

One Pot Hamburger Helper Lasagna

baked feta pasta in a white bowl garnished with fresh basil.
50 mins

Baked Feta Pasta (Tik Tok Pasta)

sideview shot of chicken fajita pasta in a white bowl with a fork inside
45 mins

Chicken Fajita Pasta

side close up shot of swedish meatball pasta in a beige braised garnished with parsley
30 mins

Swedish Meatball Pasta

overhead shot of a bowl of haluski
40 mins

Haluski (Cabbage and Noodles)

A stack of cookbooks
Grab a copy!

My Cookbooks

Order Now: Amazon | Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Indie Bound | Books-A-Million

Dinner Favorites

smothered pork chops in a skillet garnished with parsley.
1 hr 15 mins

Smothered Pork Chops

a wooden spoon lifting a salisbury steak out of the skillet
30 mins

Salisbury Steak

beef lo mein in a black wok.
30 mins

Beef Lo Mein

side shot of beef and broccoli in a skillet
15 mins

Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

skillet shepherd's pie in a cast iron skillet with a portion taken out.
1 hr 25 mins

Skillet Shepherd’s Pie

a serving spoon inside a skillet with chicken broccoli rice casserole.
30 mins

One Pot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

side view shot of two italian stuffed peppers in a bowl
2 hrs 30 mins

Italian Stuffed Peppers

side view shot of a bowl with a scoop of spaghetti bolognese in it
40 mins

Spaghetti Bolognese

Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
YouTube
TikTok
Visit our Other Site: Craving Home Cooked

Explore

Recipes
Cookbooks
About Jo
Contact

Legal

Privacy Policy
Accessibility
Disclaimers
© 2023 Jo Cooks
Site Credits
Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Back to Top
wpDiscuz