Irish Beef Stew
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Use this stove top beef stew recipe to make the most delicious and tender Irish Beef Stew. Cook beef, potatoes, and carrots in a hearty Guinness beer broth.
Make a hearty Guinness beef stew to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Most people love their corned beef and cabbage on St. Patty’s Day, but I prefer something a little more comforting like this Irish beef stew. After you’ve had your green beer its important to fill up on something nutritious and delicious.
You can easily make this dutch oven beef stew on your stove top. Simmer stew meat in a rich Guinness beer broth until it is soft and tender.
Then, mix in carrots and potatoes. Finish the beef stew off with a splash of apple cider vinegar and serve with fresh parsley.
Traditional Irish stew is made with lamb or mutton. I prefer beef so although this is not traditional, it is still a fantastic beef stew recipe.
Kitchen Tools
- Large heavy bottom pot like a dutch oven
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups and measuring spoons
- Sharp knife and cutting board
- Wooden spoon
- Liquid measuring cup
Serving Suggestions
This Irish beef stew is a hearty and complete meal. It is great on its own, but I like to serve it with fresh herbs. If you want to make it creamy you can mix in a dollop of sour cream or creme fraiche.
Although this dutch oven stew is a full meal on its own, you may want to serve a simple salad or veggies with it. I like to serve this with some fresh sourdough bread and a simple arugula salad tossed in this green dream dressing.
ingredients
You will be amazed at how easy it is to make this hearty Irish beef stew with a few simple ingredients.
- Stew beef – beef chuck roast is good
- Butter
- Guinness or other stout beer
- Salt, pepper, smoked paprika
- Potatoes
- Olive oil
- Onion
- Carrots
- Beef broth
Ingredient substitutions
There are many ways to prepare a stove top beef stew. I like using Guinness or another stout beer to add deep flavor to the stew. To keep this Irish beef stew recipe gluten free you can use red wine in place of the beer.
I like to use yellow potatoes because they have a creamy texture. Any style of potatoes will work like russet or sweet potatoes. You could even use parsnips in place of potatoes for an earthy flavor.
How to make Irish Beef Stew
Step 1: Prep ingredients and brown stew meat
To begin, dice onion and mince garlic. Heat oil over medium heat in a large heavy bottom pot like a dutch oven.
Add the stew beef to the pot along with the salt. Continue to cook, browning the meat and stirring occasionally until seared on all sides.
Then, remove meat from the pot and add butter, diced onion, and minced garlic to the pot along with the smoked paprika and black pepper.
Sauté until the onions and garlic are soft and fragrant, 3-5 minutes.
Step 2: Simmer stew in Guinness broth
Next, add the beef back into the pot along with the beef broth, 12oz beer, and tomato tomato paste. Stir to mix.
Then, allow the stew to continue cooking and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot. Cover and simmer for 2 hours stirring occasionally.
Step 3: Mix in veggies and simmer again
While the stew simmers, peel and slice carrots into rounds and quarter potatoes. When the stew has simmered for 2 hours, add the potatoes and carrots into the pot.
If your stew seems too thick you can add in 1-2 cups of water, but I enjoy a thick stew.
Simmer for an additional 30 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are soft. Take the pot off the heat and stir in 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar.
Finally, serve the stew with fresh chopped parsley.
Slow Cooker instructions
You can make this hearty beef stew in your slow cooker or crockpot instead of on the stove top. Brown the beef on the stove top until you have a good sear on it.
Then, add all ingredients except potatoes and carrots into the slow cooker. Cook on low for 3 hours. Add the potatoes and carrots into the cooker and cook on high for 1-2 hours or until the potatoes and carrots are tender.
How long will this hearty stove top beef stew keep in the fridge?
Once prepared allow the Irish beef stew to cool completely. Then, transfer the stew to air tight containers.
Store in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stove top adding more water or broth if necessary.
Check out these other hearty soup recipes
- Creamy Chicken and Brown Rice Soup
- Sweet Potato Mushroom and Wild Rice Soup
- Classic Vegetable Soup (Progresso Copycat)
- Sweet Potato and Sausage Curry Soup
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
Irish Beef Stew
Stove top Irish beef stew cooked with Guiness
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 2.5lb stew beef
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 yellow onion
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 4 cups beef broth
- 12oz Guinness beer or other stout
- 4 large carrots
- 2lb red potatoes
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Fresh parsley
- Optional: 2 cups water
Instructions
- Dice onion and mince garlic. Heat oil over medium heat in a large heavy bottom pot like a dutch oven. Add the stew beef to the pot along with the salt. Cook beef, stirring occasionally until seared on all sides.
- Remove meat from the pot and add butter, diced onion, and minced garlic to the pot along with the smoked paprika and black pepper. Sauté until the onions and garlic are soft and fragrant, 3-5 minutes.
- Add the beef back into the pot along with the beef broth, 12oz beer, and tomato tomato paste. Stir to mix. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot. Simmer for 2 hours stirring occasionally.
- While the stew simmers, peel and slice carrots into rounds and quarter potatoes. When the stew has simmered for 2 hours, add the carrots and potatoes into the pot. If your stew seems too thick you can add in 1-2 cups of water.
- Simmer for an additional 30 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are soft. Take the pot off the heat and stir in 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar. Serve the stew with fresh chopped parsley.
Louisa says
When do you add 12oz Guinness ?
Where do I find beer broth ?
Thanks for your reply 🔆
Louisa
Madeline says
oh my goodness i had 2 typos!! I’m the worst LOL its beef broth and you add the beer at the same time as the broth and the tomato paste. the recipe should be updated now.
Louisa says
Merci for your reply
Now… why the apple cider vinegar ? What’s the purpose ?
Have a great week 🔆
Madeline says
A hit of acid when finishing a soup balances and enhances flavors. You can skip it or use a different vinegar
Emily Modelevsky says
Such a great hearty dish for St. Patty’s Day! Loved how all the flavors come together perfectly.
★★★★★
Madeline says
thank you so much!!
Aysegul Ekmekci says
It was absolutely wonderful – I cooked it for my boyfriend and his parents one night, and it was a great HIT!
★★★★★
Madeline says
yay that’s the best! thanks so much!
Liz says
I have several of your recipes on my meal plan. Made the Irish Beef Stew last night and it was sooooo good! Your recipes are easy to follow with healthy ingredients and always turn out delicious and a hit with my family. Thank you!!!
★★★★★
Amy says
How much minced garlic?
Madeline says
its not one of the ingredients. Feel free to add 2-4 cloves
A says
I made the Irish beef stew but forgot to buy beer and tomato paste. I did without the beer but for tomato paste I blended up some canned diced tomatoes that were in a spicy mix this added some more spiciness which I like. currently the stew is simmering I’m excited to taste it!
Madeline says
awesome! thank you!