View the print-ready version of this recipe.
Why This Recipe Stands Out
One of our favorite cozy stew recipes, this Irish Guinness Beef Stew isn’t just for St. Patrick’s Day (although we are definitely making it this March). We love enjoying this all year round. Here’s why:- Super Flavorful: This is one fabulously flavorful stew due to the help of some key ingredients like Guinness, fresh rosemary, and chuck roast.
- Meal Prep: The longer this stew sits, the more flavorful it gets—landing it on our list of amazing meal prep dinners.
- Healthy: This beef stew is packed with protein, carrots, celery, and potatoes making it a perfectly balanced meal.
- Customizable: This Irish stew can be made on the stovetop, in the slow cooker, or in the Instant Pot – your choice!
- Easy: This stew does take some time to cook, but it’s super easy to throw together. We love slow cooker meals like this that you can easily make in the morning and forget about till dinner.
What Is Guinness Beer?
Guinness beer is a very popular Irish beer made from roasted barley, water, hops, and ale yeast. This drink has a deep, dark color and a malty flavor with hints of chocolate and coffee. We love using Guinness beer in this stew, because it creates a really rich flavor that complements the heartiness of beef stew perfectly.Key Recipe Ingredients
- Chuck Roast—We use an affordable 3-4 lbs. of boneless chuck beef. Chuck tends to be the most flavorful and tender cut in a long braise situation, as it’s marbled throughout.
- Aromatics—Garlic, onions, carrots, celery, bay leaves, and rosemary bring loads of flavor to this dish.
- Worcestershire—It may not be traditional in beef stew, but don’t skip it; it lends such great umami flavor to the stew.
- Guinness Beer—Irish dry stout is beautifully dark and thick. There is no beer-y taste or alcohol once it’s been cooked into stew, but it provides a richness in flavor.
- Baby Potatoes—We add these towards the end of cooking to prevent them from becoming overly soft. These bite size spuds are perfect, as they hold together well in stews.
Substitutions and Variations
When it comes to soups and stews, there are endless variations you can try, and this Irish Guinness Stew is no different. Here’s some of our favorite:- The Meat: Both rump roast and beef arm roast make good substitutes for chuck roast. London broil works, too. You could also go the traditional route and make this stew with lamb.
- Vegetables: Feel free to add whatever veggies you like. We think mushrooms, cabbage, or even parsnips would go well in this stew.
- Bacon: Want to really bump up the flavor in this dish? Fry up some bacon and crumble it into the stew.
- Thickener: The low and slow process of cooking this beef stew really gives it a nice saucy consistency without the need for any thickeners. However, if you feel like it’s not thickening enough, feel free to use flour or a cornstarch slurry as desired.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
Amy Dong
