Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
• 2 lb Beef Stew Meat Cut into 1" pieces
• 4 Gold Potatoes Medium, cut into 1" pieces
• 4 Carrots Medium, sliced into 1/2" pieces
• 1 Onion Small, diced small
• 3 Celery Stalks, diced small
• 6 Garlic Cloves, minced
• 2 quart Beef Broth
• 1 ½ tsp Dried Thyme
• 1 Diced Tomatoes 15 oz. can
• ¾ Cup Barley Rinsed
• Salt To taste
• Black Pepper To taste

Instructions

1. 1Generously season beef with salt and pepper
2. 2Heat 1 TBS of oil in large skillet. Working in batches, sear beef all sides; transfer seared beef to slow cooker.
3. 3Return the skillet to heat, add 1 cup of beef broth. Heat to boil and scrape any brown bits from bottom of pan, add to slow cooker.
4. 4Add the potatoes, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, thyme, diced tomatoes, barley and remaining beef broth to slow cooker. Stir to combine.
5. 5Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.
6. 6Season with salt + pepper to taste!