Weeknight Chicken Barley Soup Recipes

CHICKEN BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• In a large stockpot, cook chicken in water until tender. Cool broth and skim off fat. Set chicken aside until cool enough to handle. Remove meat from bones; discard bones and cut meat into cubes. Return meat to pan along with remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 1 hour or until vegetables and barley are tender. Discard bay leaf.

CHICKEN BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a large heavy pot or dutch oven on medium heat. Add the oil, carrots, onion, celery and garlic to the pot and stir.
• Add chicken, broth, parsley, and bay leaves and bring to a boil. When boiling, reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer covered over low heat until the chicken and vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.
• Remove the chicken, shred or cut the meat, discard the bones and return the chicken to the pot along with the barley, adjust the salt if needed and add fresh ground pepper. Simmer an additional 30 minutes, or until the barley is cooked.
• Discard the bay leaves and serve. Makes about 9 cups.

CHICKEN AND BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery and leek and cook, stirring occasionally, until the leek softens, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the cabbage, paprika,
• 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and stir to coat. Increase the heat to medium high and cook, stirring often, until the cabbage is wilted and the vegetables start browning, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add 2 cups water, the chicken broth and chopped chicken to the pot; bring to a simmer. Add the barley, cover and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes; season with salt and pepper.
• Divide the soup among bowls. Top with the sour cream, dill and more paprika.

WEEKNIGHT CHICKEN BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Remove all the meat from the rotisserie chicken and cut into bite sized pieces. Discard bones and skin, or save them for another use. Measure out 1 pound of the chicken to use in the soup (it will be about half of a large rotisserie chicken). Pack the remaining chicken in an airtight container or bag to refrigerate or freeze for another use.
• Heat the olive oil in a dutch oven or large saucepan over medium high heat. Add the carrots, celery, onion, and salt and cook, stirring occasionally until softened and just starting to brown. Stir in the garlic, pepper, and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Slowly pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Bring to a boil. Add the barley and the bay leaf then reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 15-30 minutes until the barley is soft (see note)
• Stir in the rotisserie chicken and cook until the chicken is cooked through. Add additional salt and/or pepper to taste if needed.

CHICKEN BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high. Add carrots, celery, and onion. Cook until just tender, about 8 minutes. Add chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until chicken is opaque at edges, about 2 minutes.
• Add broth and thyme and bring to a boil. Stir in barley. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until barley is tender and chicken is cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Add spinach and cook until wilted, 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

CHICKEN WITH BARLEY SOUP

Steps:

• Combine water, chicken thighs, and bay leaves in a large stock pot; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, place a cover on the pot, and cook at a simmer until the chicken is tender, about 30 minutes.
• Remove chicken to a cutting board to cool. Remove and discard bones, skin, and fat from chicken. Cut remaining meat into bite-sized pieces.
• Cool broth until the fat congeals on the surface. Skim and discard fat.
• Return soup to heat; add carrots, celery, onion, pearl barley, bay leaves, chicken bouillon, poultry seasoning, sage, salt, and black pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce heat to low, place cover on the pot, and simmer until the barley is cooked and the vegetables are tender, 60 to 90 minutes. Stir lemon juice into the soup just before serving.