Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 h 30 min
Total time: 5 h 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon Butter (Unsalted); 1 tablespoon Olive oil; 1 cup Onion (Finely chopped); 2 cloves Garlic (Finely minced); 1 cup Carrots (Peeled, Diced); ½ cup Celery (Sliced); 5-6 cups Chicken broth (Low sodium; Always start with 5 cups and add more, if necessary); 1 Tomato (Medium size, Finely chopped; Can also be replaced with ¼ cup tomato sauce or leftover marinara sauce); 1.5 teaspoon Italian seasoning; Salt (To taste); Pepper (To taste); 1 Bay leaf; ⅔ cups Pearl barley; ⅓ cup Corn (Frozen); ⅓ cup Peas (Frozen); 2 cups Rotisserie chicken (Diced or Shredded); 1-2 tablespoon Parsley (Fresh, Roughly chopped, For garnish)

This hearty, nourishing slow cooker chicken barley soup combines tender chunks of rotisserie chicken with wholesome pearl barley and a colorful medley of vegetables. Simmered to perfection with aromatic Italian seasonings, this soup delivers comforting flavors while requiring minimal hands-on preparation.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Set-and-forget convenience – Just add your ingredients to the slow cooker and let it work its magic while you go about your day
Budget-friendly – Uses simple, affordable ingredients and stretches a small amount of chicken into a satisfying meal
Nutrient-dense – Packed with vegetables, lean protein, and fiber-rich barley for a complete, balanced meal
Freezer-friendly – Make a big batch and freeze portions for quick future meals
Customizable – Easy to adapt based on what vegetables you have on hand
Perfect for meal prep – Tastes even better the next day as flavors meld together
Family-approved comfort food – Hearty enough to satisfy hungry appetites while still being nutritious

Ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

Butter and olive oil create the flavor foundation for this soup. The combination gives you the rich taste of butter with the higher smoke point of oil for sautéing vegetables without burning.

Onion and garlic form the aromatic base that infuses the entire soup with depth. They release their sweet, savory compounds slowly during cooking, building complexity in the broth.

Carrots add natural sweetness and a pop of color while providing excellent nutrition. They hold their shape well during slow cooking, becoming tender without falling apart.

Celery contributes a subtle earthy note and pleasant texture to the soup. Its mild flavor works harmoniously with the other ingredients, and it adds a wonderful aromatic quality.

Chicken broth serves as the flavorful liquid base. Using low-sodium broth allows you to control the salt level, and the slow simmer with vegetables creates an even richer flavor.

Tomato brings a touch of acidity that balances the richness of the soup. It adds depth to the broth while contributing subtle sweetness and color.

Italian seasoning provides a balanced blend of herbs that complements the vegetables and chicken perfectly. This single ingredient adds multiple flavor dimensions without requiring separate herbs.

Pearl barley is the hearty grain that makes this soup so satisfying. It slowly absorbs the flavorful broth as it cooks, becoming tender while maintaining a pleasant chewiness.

Frozen corn and peas add sweet, fresh flavor, vibrant color, and additional nutrition. Added near the end, they maintain their texture and bright color.

Rotisserie chicken provides convenient, pre-cooked protein with wonderful flavor. Using a store-bought rotisserie chicken saves time while adding rich, roasted flavor to the soup.

Parsley brightens the finished soup with its fresh, slightly peppery flavor and vibrant green color. It’s the perfect finishing touch that makes the soup look as good as it tastes.

Directions

Heat butter and oil in a nonstick pot over medium-high heat.
Add onion, garlic, carrots, celery and saute for about 4-5 minutes until garlic is fragrant.
- Tip 1: Use a multifunctional slow cooker that allows you to saute the veggies in the slow cooker. This way, you won’t have to make another pot or pan dirty.
- Tip 2: If you are short on time, don’t saute the vegetables and just add everything in the crockpot and continue with the rest of the steps.
Add these sauteed vegetables in a crockpot (6 quart or larger).
Also, add broth, tomato, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, bay leaf, barley and mix everything until combined.
Cover and cook on Low heat for 5 hours or until vegetables are tender and barley is cooked through.
Mix in corn, peas and rotisserie chicken. If the soup is looking too thick, add more broth.
Cover and continue cooking on Low heat for 30 minutes.
Discard bay leaf.
Garnish with fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Servings and Timing

This slow cooker chicken barley soup yields approximately 6 generous servings, making it perfect for family dinners or meal prep. Each serving contains about 294 calories.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours 40 minutes

The relatively short prep time and hands-off cooking make this an ideal recipe for busy weekdays. You can prepare everything in the morning, set your slow cooker, and return to a delicious, ready-to-eat dinner in the evening.

Variations

Turkey Barley Soup: Substitute leftover roasted turkey for the chicken, especially great after Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Beef Barley Soup: Replace chicken with browned stew beef and chicken broth with beef broth for a richer, more robust flavor profile.

Vegetarian Version: Omit the chicken and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Add extra vegetables or even white beans for additional protein.

Mushroom Lover’s: Add 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms when sautéing the vegetables for an earthy, umami flavor boost.

Spicy Variation: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a diced jalapeño for a soup with subtle heat.

Lemon Herb: Finish the soup with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and additional herbs like dill or thyme for a brighter flavor profile.

Grain Alternatives: Substitute farro, quinoa, or rice if you don’t have barley available (note that cooking times may vary).

Storage/Reheating

Refrigeration: Store leftover soup in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Note that the barley will continue to absorb liquid as it sits, making the soup thicker over time.

Freezing: This soup freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. Portion into freezer-safe containers, leaving about an inch of headspace to allow for expansion. For best results, cool the soup completely before freezing.

Thawing: Thaw frozen soup overnight in the refrigerator for best results, or use the defrost setting on your microwave if you’re short on time.

Reheating: Reheat soup on the stovetop over medium-low heat until warmed through, or microwave in 1-2 minute intervals, stirring between each. Add additional chicken broth or water when reheating, as the barley will have absorbed much of the liquid, especially if stored overnight.

Refreshing: When reheating, add a fresh garnish of herbs or a squeeze of lemon to brighten the flavors of stored soup.

FAQs

Can I use uncooked chicken instead of rotisserie chicken?

Yes, you can use 1 pound of raw, boneless chicken breasts or thighs. Add them with the broth and vegetables at the beginning of cooking time. Remove them after about 4 hours, shred or dice, then return to the soup for the remaining cooking time.

Is pearl barley the same as regular barley?

No, pearl barley has had the outer bran layer removed, allowing it to cook faster than hulled barley. If using hulled barley, you’ll need to increase the cooking time by about 1-2 hours or pre-cook it partially.

Can I make this soup on the stovetop instead?

Absolutely! Follow the same steps but simmer covered on low heat for about 45-60 minutes, or until the barley is tender, stirring occasionally. Add the chicken, corn, and peas in the last 10 minutes.

Why is my soup too thick after refrigeration?

Barley continues to absorb liquid as it sits. This is normal and expected. Simply add more broth or water when reheating to achieve your desired consistency.

Can I use quick-cooking barley instead of pearl barley?

Yes, but add it during the last 30-45 minutes of cooking instead of at the beginning, as it cooks much faster than regular pearl barley.

Is this soup gluten-free?

No, barley contains gluten. For a gluten-free version, substitute rice or quinoa for the barley and ensure your broth is gluten-free.

Can I add other vegetables to this soup?

Definitely! This soup is very versatile. Sweet potatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, or green beans make excellent additions. Add harder vegetables at the beginning and more delicate ones in the last 30-60 minutes.

How can I make this soup more flavorful?

Try adding a Parmesan rind during cooking, using homemade stock instead of store-bought, or increasing the herbs. A splash of a squeeze of lemon juice at the end can also brighten the flavors.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, as long as your slow cooker is large enough (8 quarts or larger). The cooking time remains the same, but ensure all ingredients are evenly incorporated.

How do I know when the barley is fully cooked?

Properly cooked pearl barley should be tender but still slightly chewy with a pasta-like al dente texture. It will approximately triple in volume when fully cooked.

Conclusion

This Slow Cooker Chicken Barley Soup epitomizes comfort food that nourishes both body and soul. By combining the convenience of a slow cooker with wholesome ingredients, you get a meal that’s not only delicious but also requires minimal effort. The tender chunks of chicken, hearty barley, and colorful vegetables create a satisfying texture variety in every spoonful.

What makes this recipe truly special is its flexibility—it welcomes substitutions based on what you have available and can be adapted to suit various dietary preferences. Whether you’re serving a family dinner on a chilly evening, meal prepping for a busy week ahead, or simply craving something warming and nutritious, this soup delivers on all fronts.

The slow cooking process allows the flavors to develop and meld together beautifully, creating a soup that tastes like it took hours of active preparation rather than just minutes. Make this recipe part of your regular rotation for an easy, economical, and wholesome meal solution that everyone will love.

Slow Cooker Chicken Barley Soup