Chicken and barley soup

Name: Chicken and barley soup
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4 portions

A gentle, filling soup with chicken, pearl barley and root vegetables — easy on low-energy days.

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 45 min
Total: 60 min
Portions: 4

Easy
Trying to conceive
Preparing for pregnancy
High-protein
Fibre-rich
Freezer-friendly
Budget-friendly

Make this recipe

Portions

Ingredient quantities update automatically. Cooking times may need a little adjustment when you change the batch size.

Ingredients

For 4 portions. Tick items as you go — nothing is changed for anyone else.

Amounts are converted from the metric original and rounded to measures you can use at home. Cups are US cups (240 ml) and oven temperatures include Fahrenheit.

This recipe contains foods that can contribute to a varied and balanced diet during pregnancy.

Method

Step 1. Heat the oil in a large pot and soften the onion, carrot and celery.
Step 2. Add the chicken and cook until sealed on all sides.
Step 3. Add the barley and broth and bring to a boil.
Step 4. Simmer for 35–40 minutes until the barley is tender and the chicken is cooked through with no pink remaining.
Step 5. Cool leftovers quickly, then refrigerate or freeze.

Allergens for your selection

Contains: Cereals containing gluten
Contains: Celery

Ingredient brands and substitutions can change allergen content. Always check the labels on the products you buy.

Food safety

Cook meat, poultry and fish to the safe minimum internal temperatures published by the USDA.
Use pasteurized milk, cheese and juice only.
Refrigerate leftovers within two hours and reheat once until steaming hot throughout.
Alcohol is not used in this recipe.

Allergens

Contains: Cereals containing gluten
Contains: Celery

Ingredient brands and substitutions can change allergen content. Always check the labels on the products you buy.

Supplements and drinks

The CDC recommends that all women of reproductive age get 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day, starting before conception and continuing through early pregnancy, to help prevent neural tube defects. Folate-rich foods do not replace that supplement. Some people are advised to take a higher dose — ask your doctor.
The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements recommends 15 micrograms (600 IU) of vitamin D daily for most adults. Ask your doctor whether you need a supplement, as requirements vary with diet, sunlight exposure and health conditions.
The CDC advises avoiding alcohol when trying to conceive and throughout pregnancy — there is no known safe amount. ACOG advises limiting caffeine to less than 200 mg a day in pregnancy. Recipes here contain no alcohol.

Sources

MyPlate — nutrition during pregnancy — US Department of Agriculture, reviewed 31 August 2026
Safe minimum internal temperatures — USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, reviewed 31 August 2026

Important information

Antega's Trying to Conceive Recipes are provided for general information and meal inspiration for anyone hoping to conceive, including partners. They are not a personalized diet plan, they are not fertility treatment, and no food or recipe can be said to improve fertility or guarantee conception. They do not replace advice from your doctor, OB-GYN, fertility specialist, registered dietitian or another qualified healthcare professional. Speak to a healthcare professional before making significant dietary changes, particularly if you have allergies, diabetes, PCOS, endometriosis, celiac disease, a thyroid condition, another medical condition or specific dietary requirements.

If you have PCOS, endometriosis, diabetes, celiac disease, a thyroid condition or another medical condition, ask your doctor or a registered dietitian how these meal ideas fit your own care plan.