Looking for an easy dinner recipe? I’ve got the answer with this recipe for Jazzed Up Costco Vegetable & Barley Soup! Add in protein and a bit of dairy to make a hearty, perfect for winter soup! A side of fresh bread is all you need on the side.
What to do with Costco Leftovers?
If you are a shopper of bulk club stores, you can probably relate to needing to use up leftover food, but feeling not excited about eating the same thing again for another dinner.
I found myself in that exact spot when faced with a second container of Chopped Vegetable and Barley Soup that was purchased from Costco.
Adding already cooked protein to vegetable barley soup
Wanting to bulk up this soup to be more filling, I took a peek around my fridge and found some easy and fast additions of already cooked grilled chicken strips and cooked ham. A quick dice of both, using about a cup each, added lots of protein and volume. Sausage, spicy or normal would also be a great choice.
Adding in the dairy of your choice
An addition that I opted for was a bit of cream cheese, about 2 ounces, that needed to be used up. Half and half, cream or even a spoonful of sour cream or Greek yogurt would also be great options.
If you go the cream cheese route, since it is solid, I would recommend to let it come to room temp or to warm it up in the microwave. Just be sure to cover it, as it can get a bit explodey in the microwave!
All the extra little mix-ins to use up stuff from your fridge!
Some additional add ins that would be great are:
- clean out the veggie drawer and add diced vegetables, such as tomatoes, bell peppers & corn
- spinach
- Parmesan cheese
- splash of lemon juice to brighten up the flavors (fresh or from a bottle are both fine)
- If you like things spicy, add in cayenne pepper, hot sauce or red pepper flakes to your liking
How to prepare this quick Jazzed Up Vegetable & Barley Soup!
To a soup pot, add a 32 oz. container of vegetable & barley soup, 1-2 cups cubed protein of your choice, along with any additional chopped veggies to use up from the fridge. Put the heat up to medium-high and add any remaining ingredients, such as cream cheese or cream, Parmesan cheese or lemon juice. Heat until bubbling and hot. Serve with a side of fresh bread and butter.
Looking for more soup recipes?
- Creamy White Chicken Chili – cheesy & creamy chili goodness
- Italian Minestrone Soup – a long time readers favorite recipe!
- Chicken, Spinach & Bean Soup – more vegetable and chicken goodness for warmth in a cup
Jazzed Up Costco Vegetable Barley Soup
Ingredients
- 32 ounce container Cedarlane Organic Vegetable & Barley Soup (Costco sells these in packs of 2)
- 1 cup grilled chicken cubed
- 1 cup ham steak cubed
- 2 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice fresh or bottled
Optional Add Ins:
- Any chopped vegetables or spinach from the fridge
- cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes or hot sauce
- Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- To a soup pot, add a 32 oz. container of vegetable & barley soup, 1-2 cups cubed protein of your choice, along with any additional chopped veggies to use up from the fridge.
- Put the heat up to medium-high and add any remaining ingredients, such as cream cheese or cream, Parmesan cheese or lemon juice. Heat until bubbling and hot.
- Serve with a side of fresh bread and butter.
Nutrition
Add fresh baked bread on the side!
- The Best Boston Brown Bread – My favorite bread recipe, hands down!
- Sharp White Cheddar No-Knead Bread – flavorful cheddar cheese adds something extra
- Artisan No-Knead Bread – the classic base recipe that goes with everything
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