Beef & Guinness Stew Recipe

There is literally nothing cozier than a hearty bowl of beef stew filled with tender meat and root vegetables. It’s like a hug in a bowl on a chilly day.

In this Guinness stew recipe, a rich beefy gravy-like broth is flavored with Guinness and filled with chunks of tender beef or lamb and veggies.

It’s a hearty meal, pure comfort food, that is welcome all year long! Serve it with Irish Soda Bread for dunking!

Guinness Beef Stew is a Hearty Favorite

This one-pot Irish beef stew recipe is easy to make.
It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any time of year.
The addition of Guinness beer to the broth adds a rich flavor.
This recipe can be made with either beef or lamb and allows you to customize the veggies to your liking, such as parsnips, sweet potatoes, or mushrooms.
Overall, this savory Irish stew is a delicious and satisfying comfort food that’s sure to impress.

ingredients to make Guiness Stew with labels

Ingredients in Guinness Stew

Meat – For this Guinness stew recipe, we recommend using well-marbled pieces of boneless beef chuck (or cut cubes from a chuck roast). Beef stew meat is another good option but may need a bit of extra time.

For lamb, choose cuts that are intended for slow cooking, such as shoulder. Trim away any excess fat before browning.

Vegetables – Carrots and potatoes are classic ingredients found in many Irish recipes! Stretch the meal even further with additional vegetables or even frozen mixed vegetables.

Broth – While the broth is similar to a traditional beef stew recipe, the addition of Guinness beer adds a unique and delicious flavor. Be sure to scrape up any brown bits in the pan, as they add lots of flavor.

cooking beef to make Guiness Stew — Brown the beef or lamb

adding beef to pot to make Beef & Guinness Stew Recipe — Brown the beef or lamb

How to Make Beef Guinness Stew

Stew is a favorite, and a dark rich beer adds a unique and delicious flavor to this version!

Brown chuck or lamb in seasoned flour per recipe directions below. Set aside.
Add Guinness beer to the pan, scraping up the little bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the beef and broth ingredients. Simmer until tender.
Add the vegetables once the meat is tender and simmer. Thicken the broth and enjoy!

Tips for Perfection

Brown the meat in small batches so it browns. If you overcrowd the pan, the meat will simmer instead of brown.
The beer adds flavor to the broth and you will be able to taste the beer in the final stew.
Cook the meat on a low and gentle simmer to make it nice and tender.
Use baby potatoes or thin-skinned Yukon gold potatoes, they require no peeling and hold their shape nicely.
If desired, thawed frozen peas can be stirred in before serving, they do not need to be simmered.
We like to thicken the stew with a cornstarch slurry before serving. Mix equal parts cornstarch and water or broth and whisk it a bit at a time into the boiling stew until it thickens to your liking.

What to Serve with Guinness Stew

Serve Guinness beef stew with an equally Irish side of Colcannon (Cabbage and Potatoes), some homemade Irish Soda Bread, and some homemade Honey Butter.

Any crusty bread or homemade bread would be great for dipping and sopping up any broth in the bottom of the bowl.

Leftovers

Keep leftover stew in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Reheat on the stovetop.
Freeze portions in freezer bags or in a sealed container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat on the stove.
Frozen stew may need to be thickened slightly with cornstarch slurry.

So Many Savory Stews

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Guinness Beef Stew Recipe

This Irish-inspired stew is loaded with tender pieces of beef and veggies in a rich beer-based tomato broth.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes

In a large bowl or freezer bag, combine flour, salt, & pepper. Add the beef and toss to coat.
In a large Dutch oven or pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Shake off any excess flour from the beef and brown in small batches. Remove and set aside in a bowl.
Add the onions to the pot, adding more oil as needed, and cook until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Remove and add to the beef cubes.
Pour the Guinness into the pot while scraping up any brown bits in the pan with a spatula. Stir in broth, tomato paste, and the beef and onions.
Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer covered for 45 minutes.
Add in the potatoes, carrots, celery, bay leaf, rosemary, and thyme. Simmer for an additional 45 minutes or until the beef and vegetables are tender. Remove and discard the bay leaf.
Mix the cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Slowly add the slurry to the boiling stew to reach desired consistency (you may not need all of the slurry).

Brown the meat in small batches so it browns. If you overcrowd the pan, the meat will simmer instead of brown.
The beer adds flavor to the broth, and you will be able to taste the beer in the final stew.
Cook the meat on a low and gentle simmer to make it nice and tender.
Use baby potatoes or thin-skinned Yukon gold potatoes; they require no peeling and hold their shape nicely. Vegetables can be changed based on what you have on hand. Mushrooms, parsnips, cloves of minced garlic, or sweet potatoes are great additions.
If desired, thawed frozen peas can be stirred in before serving, they do not need to be simmered.
We like to thicken the stew with a cornstarch slurry before serving. Mix equal parts cornstarch and water or broth and whisk it a bit at a time into the boiling stew until it thickens to your liking.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Beef, Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, Irish

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