If you’re stopping by for a little recipe inspiration, we have 17 Barley Recipes to give you a hand! We have great dishes here to help you use up barley you have in your pantry.
Beans and rice may be the budget-friendly staples you’re familiar with, but there’s a wealth of other inexpensive, whole grains out there to enjoy.
Recipes using barley are a great substitute for rice, couscous, or pasta.
Barley is often considerably cheaper than quinoa, farro, and many other whole grains marketed as health foods.
Barley is a whole grain from the same grass family as wheat.
Cooked barley resembles wheat berries but has some key nutrient differences.
The cook time for cooked barley varies with the amount of heat and types of barley, but at a low simmer, you can get a tender but still al dente barley side dish in 35-38 minutes or so.
This highly versatile whole grain works well in traditional brown rice dishes as well as pasta, couscous dishes, salads, and soups. It makes a chewy grain base or side for easy dinners.
Consequently, if you’re wondering what to make with barley, there are recipes with barley that encompass an eclectic culinary profile.
Barley dinner recipes include everything from Middle Eastern barley salads to Italian barley risotto to Asian “rice” bowls and even Mexican dishes.
Barley lends itself well to numerous flavors, so no matter what you are in the mood for, you can find a barley recipe to satisfy your craving and nourish your body.
Check out our list of the 17 best barley recipes to whip up for a delicious meal.
This hearty and aromatic barley soup recipe takes the traditional chicken soup to the next level.
While egg noodles or pasta that you usually add to chicken soup often go soft and mushy, barley maintains its firm, chewy texture and lends a nice nutty flavor to accompany the leeks, tarragon, and garlic.
This Mexican barley casserole recipe is packed with flavor and spices, using cumin, chili powder, and oregano to season ground beef and barley as the base for grilled veggies, salsa, and cheese baked to bubbly perfection.
Salads aren’t just summer meals, and this warm barley salad is proof of that.
This barley salad recipe uses pearl barley, which is barley that has been stripped of its husk and bran.
Pearl barley is softer, white, and more rotund than hulled barley.
Nutty barley, meaty mushrooms, and sweet fried shallots mix wonderfully with olive oil and citrus dressing.
Tired of spending over ten dollars a day for a fancy lunch bowl that you can easily make yourself?
Try this easy lunch bowl recipe that you can assemble ahead of time and store in compact mason jars.
A great substitute for golden brown rice, this Asian Shrimp barley bowl creates a barley and vegetable stir fry with soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil as a base for the shrimp.
Barley is an ancient grain domesticated in the Middle East, so Mediterranean seasonings such as harissa and paprika along with fresh fennel, mint, and garlic meld wonderfully with this fresh, healthy pearl barley recipe.
Risotto is a decadent and labor-intensive meal with a creamy texture, a crowd-pleaser to serve at a dinner party or on a special occasion.
This Pumpkin Barley Risotto masterfully substitutes nutrient-poor arborio rice for nutty barley, adding sweet potatoes and pumpkin for a sweet and savory main dish that is sure to wow guests.
Nothing says I love you but my feet are killing me like a creamy risotto!
For cold winter nights, here’s another delicious warm salad recipe with barley and seasonal roasted vegetables.
Serve this as a tasty side anytime or a potluck dish at Thanksgiving.
This recipe is also vegan. Cook the barley in a vegetable stock for great flavor.
This simple, filling hearty chicken and barley soup recipe is the gift that keeps on giving; keep adding water or broth, and you can make this nourishing soup last for an entire week of lunches or dinners.
It’s a twist on the traditional beef-barley soup.
Add some crusty bread and a few twists of black pepper for real home-cooked comfort.
This simple yet flavorful burrito recipe uses a slow cooker to cook the beans, corn, and barley together with southwestern spices for a hefty and rich burrito filling.
Add sour cream and cheese, or stick with salsa and cilantro for a vegan option.
If you’re looking for an outdoor meal in our recipe list, this Hoisin-Honey Lime Shrimp Skewers over Warm Barley Salad would be a great choice!
Mix your hoisin, honey, sriracha, lime juice, garlic, and ginger in a bowl. Then, toss in your shrimp and chill afterward.
Prepare your wooden skewers and slide in your veggies, pineapple, and shrimps.
There you have it, delectable goodness on a stick you can enjoy with your loved ones!
This bright and colorful barley salad recipe uses Mediterranean spices to marinade the carrots and mixes pearl barley with toasted almonds, pomegranate seeds, and feta to cover all the flavor and textural bases.
One large carrot won’t be enough. Depending on their size, you may need an entire pound, but all the chopping will be worth it.
The magic to this barley salad recipe is in the dressing!
Pomegranate molasses with lemon juice, olive oil, and cinnamon complements the salad’s savory and salty ingredients.
Hareesa is a traditional savory barley stew eaten in Assyrian cuisine.
This easy Hareesa recipe has you throw all ingredients into a pressure cooker like an Instant Pot before work, and by the time you get home, you have a comforting dish full of flavor.
You’ll have enough fuel to last you till dinner with this power bowl of a healthy breakfast recipe that includes both a complementary protein of barley and beans and rich eggs.
This beautifully spiced Moroccan barley pilaf has you add barley to hot, sizzling onions, peppers, and whole spiced chicken breasts.
Then you smother it all in stewed tomatoes and broth to simmer on medium heat or bake as a one-pot wonder that’s sure to become a go-to recipe.
Instead of the typical steak and potatoes meal, try pairing steak with this warm vegetable and barley salad that rounds out a carb and protein-heavy meal without slacking on flavor.
🥣🥣 See what Slow Cooker Recipes are here to warm you up! 🥣🥣
The bottom line
Whether you’re looking for a comforting casserole, a filling soup, or you’re trying to figure out what to do with barley, these barley recipes offer several creative ways to make mealtime healthy and delicious.
🌾🌾 Learn about farro, another chewy, ancient grain 🌾🌾
17 BEST Ways For How To Cook Barley 🍽
You’ll find a few new favorite barley recipes in our list! Add this chewy grain to more meals for a hearty rice or pasta substitute!
Ingredients
- Winter Lemon And Chicken Barley Soup
- Mexican Barley Casserole
- Warm Barley Salad With Mushrooms And Shallots
- Chickpea Barley And Butternut Squash Lunch Bowls
- Asian Shrimp Barley Bowl
- Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables And Barley
- Pumpkin Barley Risotto
- Roasted Acorn Squash Barley Salad
- Chicken And Barley Soup
- Slow Cooker Black Bean And Barley Burritos
- Hoisin-Honey-Lime Shrimp Skewers over Warm Barley Salad
- Barley Salad With Roasted Carrots
- Egyptian Barley Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
- Crock Pot Hareesa Recipe
- Southwestern Barley Breakfast Bowls
- Moroccan Spiced Chicken And Barley
- Grilled Steak And Barley Salad
Instructions
- Choose one or more options from our list of 17 Barley Recipes here!
- Create your new favorite dish.
- Pat yourself on the back for making food at home for you to enjoy!
- Share and comment! Did you make any tweaks so it’s all your own?
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
