Simple is good, especially when you can put all the ingredients for a comforting chicken soup in a slow cooker, shred the chicken, and transfer the soup to glass containers — you can even pack some for lunch. Pearled barley is rich in beta-glucans, a special kind of starch that helps reduce cholesterol, and barley has been shown to provide a feeling of fullness.
Active time: 20 minutes Total time: 5 hours, 20 minutes
Slow Cooker Chicken and Barley Soup
Ingredients
- 4 cups (960g) low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 large carrot, chopped
- ¼ cup (50g) pearled barley, dry
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 lb (450g) chicken breast, raw
- ¼ cup (15g) Italian parsley, chopped
- ½ lemon, juiced
Directions
Place the stock, onion, carrot, barley, rosemary and bay leaf in a large slow cooker, stir to combine. Place the chicken breast on top and cover the pot tightly. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5 hours, or until the chicken is easily shredded and reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Uncover, then use tongs to place the chicken on a plate. Let cool slightly, then use two forks to shred the meat. Return the chicken to the pot and add the parsley and juice form ½ a lemon, stir and serve.
Serves: 4 | Serving Size: 1 1/2 cup
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 250; Total Fat: 5g; Saturated Fat: 1g; Monounsaturated Fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 83mg; Sodium: 139mg; Carbohydrate: 20g; Dietary Fiber: 3g; Sugar: 3g; Protein: 32g
Publisher: Source link
