Cajun Chicken Barley Vegetable Soup

5 from 1 vote

Cajun Chicken Barley Vegetable Soup

Delicious, healthy and easy Cajun chicken barley vegetable soup that's packed with vegetables and protein for weeknights and great for meal prepping and freezing in portions for later.

Prep Time15

Cook Time45

Total Time1

Course: Soups

Cuisine: American

Servings: to 10 servings

Calories: 425kcal

Author: Jami Boys

Equipment

6-qt. soup pot

Ingredients

1 tablespoon oil
1 large onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup mild hot peppers, frozen, diced, optional
2 stalks celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced fine
1 pound chicken thighs or breasts, cubed*
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning store bought or homemade**
1 14-ounce canned diced tomatoes
1 cup corn kernels, frozen or fresh
2 medium carrots, grated
6 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup barley, pearled or hulled***
1 pound smoked sausage, sliced
6 cups spinach, chopped
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Instructions

Heat oil in a large, 6-quart stock pot over medium heat. Add the onions, peppers, celery and garlic - cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
Add the cubed chicken and Cajun seasoning. Toss with the vegetables, stirring occasionally until chicken is cooked through, 5-7 minutes.
Stir in tomatoes, corn, carrot, chicken broth, barley and sliced sausage. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low and cook, covered, 25 to 30 minutes for pearled barley (35-45 minutes for hulled) or until the barley is tender.
Add spinach and cook another 3-5 minutes, uncovered, until the spinach is wilted.
Season to taste with salt and serve.

Notes

->To make more like a true gumbo, add chopped or sliced okra at the same time as the onions, peppers, and celery.

*You can also use cooked chicken - add the cooked chicken at the end, warming through along with the spinach.

**Homemade Cajun Seasoning (makes about 1/2 cup):

2 tablespoon paprika
2 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon cayenne
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon sea salt
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon black pepper

-Mix all in a bowl and store in an airtight container.

***Cooking difference between pearled and hulled barley: cook 25-30 minutes after boiling for pearled, 35-45 minutes for hulled barley.

Nutrition