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Home » Recipes » Dinner » Beef

October 30, 2022

Irish Beef Stew

Published October 30, 2022 | Julia Frey (Vikalinka)

Jump to Recipe

Stew season is here! My Irish Beef Stew recipe might use the simplest ingredients in your pantry but produces the most complex flavour and tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef. Would you like to know my secret ingredient? 

Make this beautiful dish for St. Patrick’s Day as well as our Traditional Colcannon recipe for an Irish feast. 

Irish Beef Stew in Dutch Oven

I love a stew. Not only does a good stew taste amazing and fill the house with stunning aromas, they are also forgiving to make and come together without a lot of stress.

A good stew fills us up and and warms us up from the inside out. Which means that, as the temperature drops, it is the perfect recipe for any household.

This Irish Beef Stew is rich and delicious, and packed full of the meat, potatoes and vegetables we all crave. What could be better?

Irish Beef Stew in a bowl

Why you’ll love it

Like all good stews, this recipe uses time in the best possible way. By cooking slowly, the meat tenderises and flavours come together to make a rich, wholesome stew.

But there is another secret to getting this amazing flavour. To put it simply this beef stew gets a lot of its flavour from Guinness.

Through almost no effort of your own and by simply adding a can of stout into the pot, you can end up with deep and robust beef stew that will warm you up from the inside.

As you can see from the ingredient photo above, there is absolutely nothing fancy that goes into my beef stew. So how do we avoid getting a bland, flavourless stew?

There are a few tricks that will prevent that from happening. I usually talk a lot of about quality ingredients but this time it’s all about slow cooking and using a couple of cooking techniques properly.

Bowl with meat and potatoes in a bowl with spoon

The Ingredients

Beef, onions, carrots, celery and potatoes are the most common players when it comes to making an Irish stew. All affordable and staple ingredients in most homes.

Apart from beef, of course. Beef is always on the pricey side.

What is so great about stews is that you can successfully use cheaper beef cuts and have stellar results as opposed to Beef Stroganoff where steak is necessary.

I recommend using stewing beef available in supermarkets or beef shoulder. I personally often find it is cheaper buying a beef shoulder roast and cutting it up in bite-sized chunks at home.

If you want to go a more authentic route, use lamb for a traditional Irish stew.

Ingredients for the recipe

What makes cheaper and tougher beef turn into tender and luscious little bites is longer cooking time. Beef Stews are at their best when cooked low and slow. This recipe is no exception.

You can cook your beef stew in a Dutch oven as I’ve done here or you can use your slow cooker or a pressure cooker such as Instant Pot.

Slow Cooker Method

Follow the recipe up to step 4, then add carrots and potatoes and cook in a slow cooker on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.

Pressure Cooker Method

Follow the recipe up to step 4, then add carrots and potatoes and cook in a pressure cooker in Manual Mode for 45 minutes.

Whatever method you choose, you will have the same rich and flavourful beef stew if you take the time to follow the initial steps of browning the beef and cooking the onions until soft and translucent.

Irish Beef Stew process photos

As I mentioned earlier beef stews are extremely easy and forgiving recipes. They are based around slow cooking but there are a few other things that contribute to that success. Look below for some top tips on getting the best results from this recipe.

Irish Beef Stew with Guinness process images

Recipe Top Tips

  • Browning the beef until you see beautiful golden crust on it as shown in photo 1 in the collage above. This step is single handedly responsible for the depth and richness of the stew.
  • Taking the time to cook the onions. I see this step often being overlooked. It literally hurts me to see so many cooking videos on Facebook where onions are briefly stirred, then liquids added.
  • Onions have to be cooked for at least 10 minutes to get the full benefit of that beautiful ingredient in dishes. They need time to release their natural sugars and change the texture from crispy to soft and luscious. They also need to be cooked over low heat to prevent them from burning and turning bitter.
  • Deglazing the pan/pot aka scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon when adding the liquid. This simple but necessary step helps imparting more flavour into the dish.
Irish Beef Stew in a bowl

More cold weather comfort food recipes

  • Beef in Truffled Cream Sauce
  • Russian Sweet and Sour Beef Stew Solyanka
  • Beef Goulash
  • Pork Loin Steaks in Creamy Shallot and Mushroom Sauce

If you make any of these recipes, I would love to see your photos! Simply tag @vikalinka in your Instagram snaps!

Irish Beef Stew in a bowl

Irish Beef Stew

Julia Frey of Vikalinka
This Irish Beef Stew might use very simple ingredients but produces the most complex flavour and tender, melt in your mouth beef. 
5 from 7 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time 2 hrs 40 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Irish
Servings 4 -6
Calories 481 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt and pepper
  • 1.5 lbs stewing beef
  • 1 onion medium
  • 3-4 sprigs thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 2 cup water or beef stock, divided
  • 440ml/1 can Guinness or other stout
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 4 carrots medium
  • 4 waxy potatoes such as red potatoes medium

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 160C/300F
  • Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven/cast iron casserole pot and brown the beef chunks seasoned with salt and pepper over medium heat until golden. Do this in batches to avoid overcrowding. 
  • Move the browned beef to one side of the pot and lower the heat, then add chopped onions and thyme, cook over low heat for 8-10 minutes until tender. Then add minced garlic and cook briefly for 30 seconds. 
  • Add the flour and stir the beef, so it’s coated, then add the water or beef stock if using and scrape the bottom of the pot with a spatula to release the brown bits at the bottom. Add the Guinness, one or two bay leaves, turn the heat up and bring to a boil. Then cover with a lid and put in the preheated oven for 1 hour. 
  • After one hour take out of the oven and add carrots and potatoes cut into large chunks to the pot, stir and add 1 cup of water, cover with a lid and continue cooking the stew in the oven for 1.5 hours. 
    Take the lid off for the last 10 minutes of cooking. 
  • Serve with bread and sprinkled with some fresh parsley for more flavour. 

Notes

Ingredient Recommendations
  • I recommend using stewing beef or beef shoulder roast cut into chunks for this Irish Beef Stew
  • Use waxy potatoes such as red-skinned potatoes, which hold shape and not fall apart in stews and soups. 
Gluten Free Substitutes
Substitute flour with cornstarch dissolved in water to thicken the stew.
Cooking Methods 
Apart from the Dutch Oven Cooking Method I provide in the recipe card, this Irish Beef Stew could be cooked in a slow cooker or a pressure cooker. 
You can also cook this stew on a stovetop over low heat but make sure to stir it once in a while to prevent it from burning from the bottom.
Irish Beef Stew Slow Cooker Method
Follow the recipe up to step 4, then add carrots and potatoes and cook in a slow cooker on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours. 
Irish Beef Stew Pressure Cooker Method
Follow the recipe up to step 4, then add carrots and potatoes and cook in a pressure cooker in Manual Mode for 45 minutes. 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 481kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 23gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 134mgPotassium: 1082mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 6825IUVitamin C: 15.6mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 3.6mg
Keyword Irish beef stew
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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About Julia Frey (Vikalinka)

Julia Frey is a London based recipe developer and photographer. Julia founded Vikalinka in 2012 with the main mission to provide her readers with delicious and accessible everyday recipes, which could be enjoyed by everyone.
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Maggie says

    at

    Can hard Root Beer be substituted for the Guiness? Will I taste root beer flavor?

    Reply
    • Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says

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      Hi Maggie, I wouldn’t recommend using root beer in this stew. It has a very distinct taste and is also sweet, which won’t work for this recipe. You can use any stout (dark beer.)

      Reply
  2. Debbie Gonzalez says

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    My husband and I plan to make this for a large group of about 50-60 people for a boat cruise-in for St Paddy’s Day. Our plan is to prep and bag all the ingredients and cook at event, using a large “electric roaster”. I assume this is the same as a slow cooker? Any suggestions to add? We will brown meat and onions in roaster on high as I do believe it gets pretty hot. We are making a trial run of recipe tomorrow for our kids in dutch oven.

    Reply
    • Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says

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      Hi Debbie, I am not familiar with an electric roaster but it sounds like it’s more like an electric oven rather than a slow cooker. In any case I am sure you can adjust the temperature to suit the recipe. I am glad you are doing a trial run. I am sure it will give you an idea of what the recipe is like and what to watch out for. Let me know how it goes and enjoy your event. Sounds like a lot of fun!

      Reply
  3. Erica says

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    I am planning on making this tomorrow but have a silly question. Do you leave the thyme sprigs whole and use as you do the bay leaf and remove before serving? Or do you choose up the fresh thyme and add to the stew?

    Reply
    • Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says

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      Hi Erica, I usually take the leaves off the sprig before I add them to dishes, so no need to discard anything, but whenever I do throw in a whole sprig I remove it before serving. (You will notice that the leaves will fall off it during cooking.)

      Reply
  4. Kathleen Robb says

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    My beef stew recipe is like yours, except for the Guinness, which I will definitely try. I do brown the beef in bacon fat however and I love that. On vacation now, but am saving your recipe to try when I get home. Thanks for posting!

    Reply
    • Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says

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      I hope you love it, Kathleen!

      Reply
  5. Kathy says

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    5 stars
    Made this tonight and threw in some shrooms because I love them! Just when it came out of the oven, ( Dutch oven method), son-in-law came in and had to taste the gravy and the shrooms. He loved them. They were going out to dinner , so now he wants this next time they come to dinner. Great flavor from such basic ingredients….thanks to the Guinness!

    Reply
    • Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says

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      Guinness is absolutely amazing in this stew! So glad you loved it, Kathy!

      Reply
      • Elaine Radu says

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        5 stars
        Hi Julia: Absolutely amazing recipe(s). I agree. Guinness should be in every chef’s larder….(I would brush my teeth with Guinness, but it would be sacrilege to watch it swirl down the drain.). However, for a robust flavour, in addition to Guinness I always include one cup of dry, Red Wine, and allow the stew to cook for the prescribed time. Lick the platter clean….

        Reply
        • Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says

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          So pleased you loved it and thank you for a great tip, Elaine!!

          Reply
  6. Sarah Barnard says

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    5 stars
    I made this tonight for some friends and they loved it! The meat was so tender after cooking 8 hours in the slow cooker. The Guinness gave it great flavour! I will definitely be making this again.

    Reply
    • Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says

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      Great stuff, Sarah!! Thank you for your lovely review.

      Reply
  7. Alanna says

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    5 stars
    This is hands down the most delicious stew I have EVER cooked! My goodness, and my house smelled amazing while it was cooking away in the oven. Honestly, I don’t normally find stew super exciting but this one will stay on my special list of top recipes now!
    Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says

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      I am so happy to hear that, Alanna!!

      Reply
  8. Sharon says

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    Do I still put the stew in the oven for the first hour if I’m making it in the crockpot?

    Reply
    • vikalinka says

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      Hi Sharon, you don’t need to put it in the oven if using a slow cooker.

      Reply
  9. Teresa says

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    DO you need to add beer because I’m giving some to my kids too

    Reply
    • vikalinka says

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      Guinness gives this stew a very unique and delicious flavour. You can definitely substitute with beef stock but it won’t taste the same I am afraid

      Reply
  10. Shea says

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    I realized this is an older post and you may not still be monitoring for comments.

    What would you recommend to do for someone who has a texture issue with onions for this recipe? They love the flavor but cannot eat them without getting sick. Would onion powder be acceptable? If so, how much and when would you add it?

    Thank you,
    Shea

    Reply
    • vikalinka says

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      You can certainly try onion powder, Shea. I would use about 1 tsp in the same step when regular onions are added in the recipe.

      Reply
  11. Brooke says

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    5 stars
    Delicious! I made it with 2 cups of beef broth and no Guinness and it was still yummy. Perfect instruction – it cooked perfectly. Thank you!

    Reply
    • vikalinka says

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      Good stuff! I am happy to hear the stew flavour holds up even without the Guinness! Thank you for sharing, Brooke.

      Reply
  12. Dianne says

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    I like barley in my stew…can it be added to a crockpot way of cooking or will it just lump up

    Reply
    • vikalinka says

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      Yes, it can, Diane! In fact I have done it with one of my recipe for Italian Beef Ragu.

      Reply
  13. jeri says

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    Older cooks swear that stew needs either TURNIP OR RUTTABAGA to ensure good flavor. I’ve used boyh and can testify that it does indeed improve flavor.

    Reply
    • vikalinka says

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      Hi Jeri, this recipe is easily customisable, so you can add any vegetables you love. I personally don’t care for turnip or rutabaga. There were indeed much more popular with older cooks than they are now as they are very hardy, so were easy to grow in any climate. 🙂

      Reply
  14. Deb says

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    Can you tell me how many onions you recommend in this recipe? TY!

    Reply
    • vikalinka says

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      One medium onion, Deb! I hope you like it.

      Reply
  15. Colleen says

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    Can you taste the beer? I’m not a fan of even the smell of beer, but would make it as long as I couldn’t taste (or smell) it..haha!

    Reply
    • vikalinka says

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      Hi Colleen, I just asked my son this question and he was genuinely surprised there was beer in that stew, so my guess is it doesn’t taste or smell of beer but it does enrich the flavour in such an incredible way. I would highly recommend trying it!

      Reply
  16. JAQUELINE says

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    Thanks for all your delicious recipes! Any suggestions to replace the beer since I’m gluten free.

    Reply
    • vikalinka says

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      Hi Jaqueline, you can use red wine instead of beer, it will bring the depth of flavour that comes from Guinness although slightly different taste notes. My second choice is beef stock but I am not as fond of that one. 🙂

      Reply
      • Jaqueline says

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        5 stars
        Thanks. I will look for a gluten free beer then. I made your French Chicken recipe and loved it. I’m excited to make more of your recipes . Thank you!

        Reply
        • vikalinka says

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          That is so great! Yes, gluten free beer might be a good option but red wine will also work quite well in this stew if you can’t find dark gluten free beer.

          Reply

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Julia from Vikalinka

Julia Frey is a London based recipe developer and photographer. Julia founded Vikalinka in 2012 with the main mission to provide her readers with delicious and accessible everyday recipes, which could be enjoyed by everyone.

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