Chicken Barley Soup with Sweet Potato

I got this recipe from my mother; it's a hearty soup, perfect for a crisp fall day. The sweet potato and barley combine for a unique chicken soup that is always a crowd-pleaser! (Also a great way to use chicken leftovers.)

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Calories: 240 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• ½ cup diced celery
• 2 ½ quarts chicken stock
• 3 cups sliced carrots
• 1 Spanish onion, diced
• 3 cups diced cooked chicken breast
• 2 parsnips, diced (Optional)
• 1 ¼ cups barley
• 4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• ½ cup chopped fresh dill (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat olive oil in a large heavy stockpot over medium heat; cook and stir onion, celery, and garlic in hot oil until onion is slightly tender, about 8 minutes.

Step 2

Stir chicken stock, chicken, carrots, parsnips, and barley into onion mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until barley is slightly tender, about 30 minutes.

Step 3

Stir sweet potatoes into soup and simmer until sweet potatoes and barley are tender, about 30 minutes; season with dill, salt, and pepper.