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Woman holding a ceramic bowl of chicken and barley soup.
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5 from 3 votes

Hearty Slow Cooker Chicken Barley Soup Recipe

If you are looking for a simple soup to make in the crockpot, this hearty slow cooker chicken barley soup recipe is warming to the soul and so cozy.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 10 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: American
Keyword: carrots, celery, chicken, chicken thigh, onion, pearl barley
Servings: 10 cups
Author: Amy Sandidge
Cost: $8

Equipment

  • 1 crockpot

Ingredients

  • 2-3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped onions
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1 cup chopped carrots
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 1 cup pearl barley
  • 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
  • 2 teaspoons salt less if your broth is salty
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 8 cups vegetable or chicken broth

Instructions

  • Start by searing the chicken thighs in olive oil. Brown on both sides over medium-high heat.
  • Move the chicken to the slow cooker and add the carrots, celery, and onions to your pan with the drippings.
  • Cook, stirring for 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the white wine. Let this cook for 1-2 minutes as the wine starts to evaporate.
  • Pour all this into the crockpot as well. Add in the remaining ingredients and cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low heat.
  • Check the seasoning and pull the chicken from the soup to shred. Add the shredded chicken back into the soup, give it a good mix and it is ready to serve.