Pop's Beef Barley Vegetable Soup

Old-fashioned beef vegetable soup with barley, just like grandpa used to make! Easy one-pot prep: put everything in a pot and let it simmer. (Plus Pop's pro-tip for picky eaters!)

Jump to:

• The Story Behind This Vintage Soup
• Pop's Trick for Picky Eaters
• Why You Will Love this Vegetable Soup Recipe
• Ingredients You'll Need
• How to Make Beef Barley Vegetable Soup
• Storage & Reheating
• What to Serve with Beef Barley Vegetable Soup
• Tips & Variations
• Old-fashioned Beef Vegetable Soup

The Story Behind This Vintage Soup

When I was a little girl, my parents and I spent most Sunday evenings at my grandpa's house. The four of us - Dad, Mom, Pop and I - would eat dinner and then settle in to watch Lawrence Welk and The Wonderful World of Disney together before Dad drove Mom and me home.

On cold winter nights, dinner was (more often than not) a piping bowl of Pop's homemade beef vegetable soup, served with as many Saltines as I could eat.

Pop was my maternal grandfather and I was his only granddaughter, so we had a pretty special relationship. Anyway, back then I was not much of a vegetable lover (I still have no love for cooked peas), and until I was about four, I would not eat more than a few token bites of Pop's soup, subsisting Sunday nights almost entirely on crackers and milk. But Pop had a trick up his sleeve...

Pop's Trick for Picky Eaters

Campbell's Alphabet Soup. Pop pulled a genius move and started adding a can of Alphabet Soup to his own soup recipe, and those mushy little pasta letters changed everything.

I loved to hunt for the letters to spell my name, or the dog's name, or anything, really. I'd collect letters on my spoon, read them to everyone, and then gobble them up in one bite. Spell a word, eat a bite. Spell another word, eat another bite. In the process, I completely forgot to be picky about what surrounded them, and before I knew it, I was eating Pop's soup like it was going out of style.

To this day, I still include a handful of alphabet pasta, or that silly little can of soup, and every overcooked letter on my spoon reminds me of my sweet Poppy.

Why You Will Love this Vegetable Soup Recipe

This one-pot vegetable soup recipe is easy, reliable, and flexible. If you don't have all the ingredients, just use the vegetables you like and have on hand.

It's also an extremely budget-friendly meal. The recipe, as written, makes about 5 quarts of soup; enough for a large family, with plenty leftovers to freeze for future meals.

Our barley beef vegetable soup recipe adheres closely to Pop's original, which explains the inclusion of a turnip. Pop insisted that any respectable vegetable soup should include a turnip, and though I'm not usually much of a turnip fan, it does seem to add something extra, so I always include it. On that note, any of the vegetables suggested in the recipe can be omitted, different ones can be added, and amounts adjusted to suit your personal tastes. 

You can even make this soup vegetarian; just leave out the soup bone and use some good vegetable stock instead.

Like most soups, Pop's beef vegetable soup is better the day after - so plan for leftovers, and don't forget the Saltines on the side!

Ingredients You'll Need

• Soup bone: We like to use a beef shank for this recipe, but you can use any beef soup bone. (Knuckle bones work particularly well.) You can also substitute beef soup base for the beef stock.
• Vegetables: We usually use a combination of carrots, celery, peas, turnips, corn, cabbage, and potatoes, but this can vary with the season. The suggested vegetables can be omitted, different ones can be added, and amounts adjusted to suit your personal tastes. 
• Barley: This recipe could easily be titled Beef Barley Vegetable Soup instead. The barley gives the soup a nice texture and a good bite.
• Canned tomatoes: During tomato season, fresh tomatoes can be substituted.
• Alphabet pasta: As mentioned, the alphabet pasta (or a can of Campbell's Alphabet Soup) is totally optional, but it's also kind of fun.

We find dry alphabet pasta in the Hispanic section of our grocery store.

How to Make Beef Barley Vegetable Soup

Heat a large Dutch oven or stock pot over medium-high heat.

Brown the Beef Shank

You can skip this step if your soup bone is already cooked, or if you are using soup bones with no discernible meat of them.

Add enough olive oil to your soup pot to barely cover the bottom. Season the beef shank with a little kosher salt salt brown it on both sides.

Cover the browned soup bone with 2 quarts of water, and add 2 bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, and then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2 hours.

Remove the beef bone and bay leaves from the beef stock. Set the beef bone aside to cool.

When the beef bone is cool, remove any meat from it. Discard the bone (or give it to your dog!). Cover and refrigerate the meat while the soup simmers.

Simmer the Soup

Add all remaining ingredients to the soup stock (except the optional Campbell's Soup or alphabet pasta) and simmer for 2 more hours.

When the soup almost done simmering, add the meat and the alphabet pasta (or Campbell's soup). Continue to simmer until the pasta is done; about 8 minutes.

Taste the soup and season with additional salt, pepper, and hot sauce as desired.

Vegetable soup is always better the next day when the flavors have had a chance to blend.

Storage & Reheating

This soup keeps beautifully, and honestly, it might taste even better the next day.

Let it cool to room temperature before transferring it to airtight containers. Refrigerate for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. If you're freezing a full batch, it's helpful to portion it into meal-sized containers for easier thawing.

To reheat, warm gently on the stovetop over medium heat until hot, adding a splash of broth or water if it's thicker than you like. If you've included barley, it will continue to absorb liquid as it sits - just loosen it up as needed.

Frozen soup can be thawed overnight in the refrigerator, or reheated straight from frozen over low heat.

What to Serve with Beef Barley Vegetable Soup

Pop always served his soup with a sleeve of Saltines, but when you want to round things out a little more, there are plenty of easy options:

• Homemade Bread or Rolls: A slice of crusty sourdough, warm cornbread, or a soft dinner roll is perfect for soaking up the broth.
• Simple Green Salad: A crisp salad with vinaigrette adds a bright contrast to the hearty soup.
• Grilled Cheese or Melt: Try a classic grilled cheese or roast beef and Swiss sandwich for a more filling meal.
• Pickles or Relish Tray: A nod to the old-school Sunday suppers - something tangy on the side balances all that cozy richness.

Whether you keep it simple with crackers or add a few sides, this soup has that comforting, from-the-kitchen warmth that makes even an ordinary dinner feel special.

Tips & Variations

Make it ahead: This soup actually improves with time. Make it a day in advance and refrigerate overnight - the flavors deepen beautifully. When reheating, add a little extra broth or water if needed.

Vegetarian option: To make a meatless version, skip the soup bone and use a rich vegetable stock instead. Add a handful of barley, lentils, or your favorite plant-based protein for body and texture.

Use what you have: This recipe was born in a farmhouse kitchen, not a test kitchen - so it's endlessly adaptable. If you don't have every vegetable listed, use what's in your crisper drawer.

Boost the flavor: A splash of Worcestershire sauce or a spoonful of tomato paste adds depth, while a sprinkle of fresh parsley or thyme at the end brightens everything up.

Freezer-friendly: The soup freezes well, but if you plan to store it long-term, consider cooking the barley separately and adding it after thawing to keep the texture just right.

Slow-cook it: It's easy to cook this soup recipe in a slow cooker. Cook on Low for 6-7 hours, or High for 2-4 hours (time depends both on which vegetables you use, and how hot your slow cooker runs).

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Originally published January 5, 2015. Post has been updated with new content, images, and recipe instructions to improve reader experience.