Slow-Cooker Bean, Kale & Barley Soup

(12)

Beans and kale are packed into each bite of this hearty slow-cooker soup. Barley provides a chewy texture, while dried mushrooms lend earthiness and depth. Finishing with acidic lemon juice brightens the flavors.

Active Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
8 hrs 35 mins
Servings:
6
  • This hearty soup is packed with flavor and texture, and it's easy to prepare in a slow cooker.
  • Each serving is rich in fiber and plant-based protein, thanks to the dried bean soup mix.
  • You can swap the pearl barley with hulled, but you need to soak it overnight in water before using.

Our Slow-Cooker Bean, Kale & Barley Soup is a set-it-and-forget-it meal that is hearty and healthy, just what you need in a loaded soup. The bean mix ensures you get different types of fiber-rich beans, peas and lentils—this also provides varying colors and textures. Onions and carrots add a delicious base flavor, while the potato is essential for thickening the soup without adding gluten or cornstarch. Barley adds a lovely chewiness and holds up well to slow cooking. The biggest depth of flavor comes from the dried mushrooms, Parmesan rind and the acidity from the white wine—so many flavors coming together for a comforting bowl of soup. Keep reading for our expert tips on food safety, smart ingredient substitutions and more!

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • If you don't have fresh oregano, substitute it with 1 teaspoon of dried oregano.
  • We decided to use curly kale in this recipe because its slightly bitter flavor complements the beans. Additionally, when cooked, curly kale holds its shape better than some other varieties.
  • The rich umami flavor of shiitake mushrooms works wonderfully in bean soups. If you buy them dried, they can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place, like a cupboard, for 9 to 12 months.
  • This recipe calls for ¼ cup of white wine. You can use any white wine you have on hand; however, if you're purchasing wine specifically for cooking, a crisp, dry white is a safe choice as it won't overpower the dish.
A person stirring kale beans and barley soup in a slow cooker

Photographer: Kelsey Hansen, Food Stylist: Shannon Goforth, Prop Stylist: Kristen Schooley

Nutrition Notes

  • Dried bean soup mix is a mix of up to 15 types of beans, peas and lentils that is known for its high fiber content and impressive amount of plant-based protein per serving. You most likely won't find a blend without red kidney beans and cannellini beans, but these two types of beans need to be cooked at a higher temperature to reduce the amount of a specific lectin—most slow cookers do not heat food to more than 212°F. The high levels of this lectin cause temporary gastrointestinal distress. If your dried bean soup mix contains red kidney beans and cannellini beans, pick them out before starting this recipe.
  • This recipe calls for pearl barley, which isn't technically a whole grain because the bran and hull are removed. However, pearl barley still has a type of fiber called beta-glucans—yes, the same type found in oats. This type of fiber helps remove bad cholesterol from the body, which is important for improving heart health.
  • Kale is an extremely nutritious leafy green. It has calcium, magnesium and potassium—all nutrients for optimal heart health. Kale also has high levels of vitamin K, which is essential for healthy blood clotting, but also important to note if you are on blood thinning medication.
  • This soup recipe is not low-carb, but the carbs that are in it are super healthy and offer a wealth of nutrients. You'll get more than your daily need for vitamins K and A and a nice boost of vitamin C, iron, folate, calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc. This soup is also high in protein and fiber, two nutrients that will help keep you full longer.
Ingredients for making soup including kale mixed beans carrots barley broth and herbs arranged on a kitchen counter

Photographer: Kelsey Hansen, Food Stylist: Shannon Goforth, Prop Stylist: Kristen Schooley

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • cups dried bean soup mix (see Note)

  • ½ cup dried shiitake mushrooms

  • 3 cups water

  • 8 cups vegetable broth

  • 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion

  • 1 cup finely chopped carrot

  • ¾ cup finely chopped scrubbed Yukon Gold potato

  • ½ cup pearl barley, rinsed

  • ¼ cup white wine

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh garlic

  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper

  • ¾ teaspoon crushed red pepper

  • ½ teaspoon salt plus ⅛ teaspoon

  • 1 (4 inch) Parmesan rind

  • 4 cups finely chopped curly kale

  • ½ cup chopped fresh herbs, such as flat-leaf parsley or chives, plus whole parsley leaves for garnish

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions

  1. If your 1¼ cups dried bean soup mix contains any red kidney beans and cannellini beans, remove them for another use (see Note). Combine the bean soup mix, ½ cup mushrooms and 3 cups water in a large bowl; soak for 4 hours or up to 8 hours. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl; reserve 2 cups of the soaking water. Set aside the soaked beans. Remove and discard the mushroom stems; finely chop the mushrooms and set aside.

    A hand pouring water into a slow cooker with dried ingredients for a soup

    Photographer: Kelsey Hansen, Food Stylist: Shannon Goforth, Prop Stylist: Kristen Schooley

  2. Combine 8 cups broth, 1 cup onion, 1 cup carrot, ¾ cup potato, ½ cup barley, ¼ cup wine, 2 tablespoons garlic, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon oregano, 1 teaspoon pepper, ¾ teaspoon crushed red pepper, ½ teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon salt, 4-inch Parmesan rind and the reserved 2 cups soaking water, beans and chopped mushrooms in an 8-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook until the beans and potatoes are tender, 4 hours on High or 8 hours on Low.

    Slow cooker with ingredients being prepared broth is being poured in

    Photographer: Kelsey Hansen, Food Stylist: Shannon Goforth, Prop Stylist: Kristen Schooley

  3. Stir in 4 cups kale; cover and cook until the kale is tender, 10 to 15 minutes on High or 20 to 30 minutes on Low. Remove and discard the Parmesan rind. Stir in ½ cup herbs and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Divide the soup among 6 bowls; garnish with parsley leaves, if desired.

    Bowl with bean kale and barley soup next to a spoon

    Photographer: Kelsey Hansen, Food Stylist: Shannon Goforth, Prop Stylist: Kristen Schooley

Equipment

8-quart slow cooker

Note

Look for packages of dried bean soup mix, a combination of different varieties of dried beans, lentils and peas, with other dried beans at your grocery store. Pick out any red kidney beans and cannellini beans before starting this recipe. Dried red kidney beans and cannellini beans contain a toxic level of lectins and need to be boiled for at least 30 minutes to make them safe to consume—most slow cookers don't get that hot. Read more about how to cook red kidney beans and cannellini beans safely in a slow cooker.

To make ahead

Soak the dried bean soup mix and mushrooms (Step 1) in 3 cups of water in a large bowl for 4 or 8 hours. For best results, refrain from soaking for more than 8 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is this recipe gluten-free?

    Because this recipe contains barley, it is not gluten-free. However, you could omit the barley or replace it with a gluten-free grain, such as rice or quinoa. Please note that this recipe has not been tested using other grains. Another option: You could add a cup of cooked rice or quinoa to the soup at the end of the cooking time just long enough to heat it through.

  • What type of dried bean soup mix should I get?

    When shopping for a dried bean soup mix, look for a combination of dried beans, lentils and peas, but try to avoid those with red kidney beans and cannellini beans. (See the Note about gastrointestinal distress associated with red kidney beans and cannellini beans.)

  • I don't have a Parmesan rind, is there a substitute?

    Parmesan rind is the outer layer that forms on the cheese as it ages. Instead of throwing the Parmesan rind away after grating the cheese, save it for soups and stews to infuse them with a rich and savory umami flavor. Although it's completely edible, Parmesan rind is typically discarded after cooking. If you don't have Parmesan rind on hand, feel free to omit it. You can sprinkle a bit of grated Parmesan cheese on the soup before serving (note that this will alter the nutritional profile of the recipe a bit).

  • Should I soak barley before adding it to soup?

    No, you don't need to soak pearl barley beforehand. Pearl barley is barley with its outer hull and bran removed. Pearl barley cooks quicker than hulled barley, which still has its bran. If you have hulled barley, soak it in water overnight before using.

  • How should I store Slow-Cooker Bean, Kale & Barley Soup?

    If you plan to use the soup within 3 to 4 days, store the cooled soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To keep it for up to 6 months, freeze it. Transfer the soup to a freezer-safe container, ensuring not to fill the container, as the ingredients will expand. You can thaw the soup overnight in the refrigerator or heat it directly from frozen on the stovetop.

EatingWell.com, December 2022

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

304 Calories
2g Fat
61g Carbs
15g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Serving Size 1 1/2 cups
Calories 304
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 61g 22%
Dietary Fiber 7g 25%
Total Sugars 4g
Added Sugars 0g 0%
Protein 15g 30%
Total Fat 2g 3%
Vitamin A 6831IU 137%
Vitamin C 30mg 33%
Vitamin D 4IU 1%
Vitamin E 1mg 4%
Folate 41mcg 10%
Vitamin K 161mcg 134%
Sodium 451mg 20%
Calcium 111mg 9%
Iron 5mg 28%
Magnesium 33mg 8%
Potassium 321mg 7%
Zinc 1mg 9%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.,
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
Jan Valdez,

Jan Valdez has years of experience working in test kitchens, primarily in research and development and product development. Her experience in the Good Housekeeping test kitchen in New York City launched a career in professional test kitchens.

and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.