I’m constantly looking for new ways to incorporate healthy foods into my diet…especially for lunches that I pack to take to work! I also have a love for barley and this Beef & Barley Skillet is perfect for adding protein-packed beef, superfood veggies, and healthy whole grains into my lunches!
I know it’s been awhile. Life has been crazy and I’m not sure why! There’s so much to do with the holidays approaching, lots of commitments, and with my full-time job and multiple side gigs, things are just nuts! (Not to mention a family), but I’m here with this new recipe and I think it’s worth the wait!
Benefits of Barley
I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for foods that are good for me! Did you know barley is an excellent source of fiber? It’s also a soluble fiber. This means it can dissolve in water and when we eat it, it gives my body energy! It helps lower cholesterol, balances out gut bacteria, helps lower blood sugars, and encourages weight loss! Yes, you read that right! According to Medical News Today, barley releases hormones that actual help regulate our appetites by making us feel fuller, longer! This is because it’s absorbing our water! Nothing wrong with that!
The Recipe
This recipe came about after I enjoyed a freezer side-dish from Aldi’s. Then, I couldn’t find it the next time I returned, so I decided to develop my own!
- 1 cup uncooked barley
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 bag frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 lb ground beef
- One tablespoon Italian seasoning
- salt
- pepper
- 1 T diced red onion
- Bring the beef broth to a boil, add barley, cover and simmer until tender (following the directions on the package)
- In a hot skillet, brown the ground beef with the onion, seasoning with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning (drain the grease off).
- Cook the vegetables in the microwave according to the directions on the package.
- Once the barley is tender, add to the skillet with the ground beef.
- Add the vegetables to the beef and barley, stirring thoroughly and letting simmer for 5-10 minutes.
Cooks Notes
- I have used both quick barley and regular barley! Regular barley takes about 40 minutes to become tender while the quick barley cooks in about 10 minutes. While either works, I like the texture of regular barley! The other benefit is that it isn’t processed as much as quick barley which means it’s easier for our bodies to break down!
- Worried about this dish having too much of an Italian flavor? Don’t! I definitely don’t think it does, but the combination of herbs is great and evens out with the other flavors.
- If the barley doesn’t soak up all the beef broth, don’t worry about it! It keeps this dish from getting too dry, especially if you’re freezing and reheating it for lunches!
- Speaking of that, it freezes and reheats very well!
- I use the mixed veggies of corn, peas, carrots, & green beans, but you could virtually use any veggies you wanted!
Conclusion:
That’s it! There’s the recipe and my tips for cooking it! It’s super easy, super flavorful, and super healthy! Does it get any better than that? Looking for more barley recipes? Check out my Beef & Barley Soup! And, don’t be scared of barley! It’s really quite a delicious grain! Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think!
I’m not sure if I’ve cooked barley before. I will have to give it a try!
I actually really like barley compared to a lot of other grains!