Mushroom Barley Soup is an easy favorite, and a bowl full of goodness & flavor!

Perfect for meatless Monday or as a vegetarian entrée, but feel free to add beef, chicken, or turkey. If you can find wild mushrooms, use them, otherwise fresh from the market or canned mushrooms will work!

Quick and Yummy!

This is one of our all-time favorites because it’s easy to make. One pot and three easy steps are all it takes to create this wonderfully heartwarming soup that everyone will love!

Mushroom Barley Soup is easy on the wallet because it’s made without meat but is still hearty. It’s perfect for a crowd!

Ingredients & Variations

Just a few fresh veggies, some herbs, some broth and barley, and, of course, all the mushrooms!

MUSHROOMS Wild, from the supermarket, or even canned! They’ll all taste great in this soup.

BARLEY Pearl barley is used in this soup, but use any kind you have. No barley? Use rice instead!

VEGGIES Onion, celery & carrot are diced up and simmered with the mushrooms and broth. Feel free to add any extra veggies you have in your fridge or garden!

BROTH Beef broth is added to this soup, but for a vegetarian version, use mushroom broth instead (or vegetable broth)!

VARIATIONS Toss in any leftover beef or chicken you want to use up! Try adding a can of great northern beans or even corn to your soup for some extra protein and color!

ingredients to make Mushroom Barley Soup in a pot

How to Make Mushroom Barley Soup

Mushroom barley soup is hearty and healthy and comes together in no time flat!

  1. Saute the onions, carrots, and celery in butter until the onion is tender.
  2. Add remaining ingredients (per recipe below) and bring to a boil.
  3. Reduce heat to a simmer until the barley is tender.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream, croutons, and a hot basket of steaming 30-minute dinner rolls.

Add some leftover roast beef for a flavorful version of beef barley soup.

top view of spoonful of Mushroom Barley Soup in a bowl with garnish

Tips for the Perfect Soup

  • Chop the onions, carrot, and celery in uniform sizes so they cook at the same rate.
  • If using fresh mushrooms, brush any debris off of them with a paper towel. To make a fancier soup, try using different kinds of mushrooms instead of the regular button white variety. Why not try Criminis, porcini, shiitakes, or oyster mushrooms?
  • To store mushroom barley soup leftovers, place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
  • To freeze mushroom soup, ladle it into zippered bags, label with the date and they should keep about two months.

Other Delicious Soups

  • Fresh Tomato Soup – creamy & savory
  • White Bean Soup – hearty & filling
  • Cream of Mushroom Soup – flavorful
  • Crockpot Potato and Sausage Soup – set it & forget it
  • Philly Cheesesteak Soup – a family favorite
  • Chicken Tortellini Soup – comfort food
  • Sausage & Kale Soup – budget-friendly

Did your family love this Mushroom Barley Soup? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! 

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close up of a spoonful of spoonful of Mushroom Barley Soup being taken out of the pot
4.99 from 62 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Mushroom Barley Soup

Mushroom Barley Soup is hearty, healthy & full of flavor!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Author Holly Nilsson
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Ingredients  

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 carrot diced
  • 1 rib celery chopped
  • 8 ounces mushrooms sliced or 1 can mushrooms
  • 6 cups beef broth or vegetable broth
  • cup pearl barley
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme leaves

Instructions 

  • Cook onion, carrot and celery in butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until onion is tender. Add mushrooms and cook 5 minutes more.
  • Stir in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer 30-35 minutes or until barley is tender.
  • Discard bay leaf and serve.

Notes

Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. 
Freeze in labeled ziptop bags for up to 4 months. 
4.99 from 62 votes

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1.25cups | Calories: 199 | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 816mg | Potassium: 1127mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2680IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Appetizer, Dinner, Entree, Lunch, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine American
Mushroom Barley Soup in a bowl with writing
a spoon of Mushroom Barley Soup with writing
Mushroom Barley Soup in a white bowl with a title
ingredients to make Mushroom Barley Soup with a title and the finished dish in a white bowl

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. kevin says:

    lovely5 stars

  2. pam says:

    can I do this in the crock pot?

    1. Holly Nilsson says:

      I haven’t tried this recipe in the slow cooker however, I do think it would work.

  3. Erik says:

    Your site is go-to. I’m mostly vegetarian and your recipes are spot on. Thank you.5 stars

    1. Spend With Pennies SP says:

      We are happy to hear that, Erik!

  4. PK says:

    Delicious flavor due to the small addition of soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Hearty, healthy and wholesome!5 stars

    1. Spend With Pennies SN says:

      That sounds delicious, PK! Thanks for sharing.

  5. Joce says:

    I’ve been looking for this soup recipe for ages – utterly delicious. Then I got the bright idea to adapt it to a soup I used to have in a now closed Hungarian restaurant. I used cremini mushrooms and 4 cups of mushroom broth plus 2 cups of homemade vegetable stock (unsalted). To make it Hungarian, I added 1-1/2 t. smoked paprika and 1 oz of dried mushrooms, reconstituted in 1/2 c. boiling water. I finely strained and added the soaking liquid. Served with a dollop of sour cream. If memory serves this is a serious contender for what I enjoyed at that restaurant. Really recommend the mushroom broth if you can find it.5 stars

  6. Marjorie says:

    I just made this soup today on a cold rainy day. I made a few minor changes and it was delicious!! I used fresh herbs- thyme and parsley and fresh mushrooms. This was a winner and I will make it again and again. Thanks for the recipe!!5 stars

    1. Spend With Pennies CH says:

      You’re very welcome Marjorie!

  7. Nancy says:

    Very good but a little salty even with reduced sodium broth. I used chicken broth & threw in a leftover chicken breast. Very flavorful & even better the second day!4 stars

  8. Samantha says:

    Made this a few days ago, it was a huge hit! I will be making it again.5 stars

  9. John Robert says:

    looks Great I’m going to scale x 5. is serving SIZE 8 oz?
    Thanks much!

    1. Spend With Pennies AO says:

      A serving of this recipe is approximately 1.25 cups. Enjoy!