Beef Irish Stew

Hearty and delicious, this Beef Irish Stew is a family favorite. Slow simmering on the stove makes the beef incredibly tender and the addition of Guinness and red wine add to the complexity of the sauce. This beef stew is a perfect cool-weather meal and suitable for any Irish holiday. 

Beef Irish Stew Recipe

This beef stew is quite frankly one of my family’s favorite winter meals. The taste is complex, thanks to the additions of red wine and Guinness stout beer. It’s quite possibly one of the best beef stews I’ve ever tasted.  And just because the recipe is Irish in origin, doesn’t mean I wait for St. Patrick’s Day to serve it. As soon as the weather turns frigid, this beef stew can be found simmering on my stove.

If you’re thinking of making this stew recipe for St. Patrick’s Day, I highly suggest serving it alongside this delicious colcannon recipe and finishing off your meal with the perfect St. Patrick’s Day dessert. I promise this is the perfect meal to celebrate the leprechauns.

Looking For More St. Patrick’s Day Recipes? Try these:

• Guinness Braised Brisket
• Whiskey Glazed Corned Beef
• The Reuben Dip
• Bailey’s Irish Cream Cake

What Is Traditional Irish Stew?

Traditional Irish stew is made with lamb (or mutton) and root vegetables, potatoes, onions and parsley. The recipe often varies from place to place and includes what people have on hand. Here in North America it is more traditional to serve this stew with beef and if I’m being honest, I think it tastes way better then when it’s made with lamb.

Now I’m no Dubliner, but beef stew made with Guinness and red wine are the perfect combinations to bring a little Irish luck into my life. However, these two additions are also not really traditional, but they make for the BEST tasting stew.

What Ingredients Are In Irish Stew?

• cubed beef – you want them to be at least 1″ pieces so they don’t break down into mush during the long cooking process.
• potatoes are traditional in Irish Stew, but I love adding parsnips. They add the perfect amount of sweetness to this savory stew along with carrots.
• red wine, Guinness stout beer and beef broth make the perfect background canvas for this flavorful stew
• tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce bump up the flavor profile
• herbs like dried thyme and fresh parsley
• fats – olive oil and butter round out all the flavors

How Do You Make Beef Irish Stew ~ Tips and Tricks

• It takes time to make a delicious Beef Irish Stew, but most of that time is spent simmering on the stove so you do not have to actively babysit the pot. It’s the perfect meal for a lazy afternoon.
• Brown your meat! There is so much flavor in meat and the key to tapping into it is browning your cubed meat well, on all sides. The brown bits left behind are also packed with flavor.
• After you add in your red wine, make sure to scrape the bottom of the pan and release all the brown bits that accumulated during the meat browning process.
• Cooking with alcohol drives flavor into the meat. This is why we cook with alcohol. You could use all beef stock for the liquid, but it will not compare in flavor.
• Simmer on low for 2-3 hours to let the meat get tender…then add the sauteed veggies for 30-40 minutes to finish up cooking.
• Season with salt and pepper at the end to what you prefer and fish with fresh parsley for the perfect herby flvaor.

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What Kitchen Items Do I Need to Make Beef Irish Stew?

• A large, heavy pot for the stew
• This large pot works perfectly to cook the veggies

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Print Recipe 5 from 33 votes Beef Irish Stew Hearty and delicious, this Beef Irish Stew is a family favorite. Slow simmering on the stove makes the beef incredibly tender and the addition of Guinness and red wine add to the complexity of the sauce. This beef stew is a perfect cool-weather meal and suitable for any Irish holiday. Prep Time30 minutes mins Cook Time3 hours hrs 45 minutes mins Total Time4 hours hrs 15 minutes mins Course: Main Course Cuisine: Irish Keyword: Beef Irish Stew Servings: 8 people Calories: 486kcal Author: Cathy Ingredients 2 tbsps olive oil 1-3/4 lbs lbs stew beef, cut into 1" pieces 7 large garlic cloves, finely chopped or crushed 1 cup red wine 1 cup Guinness stout beer 6 cups beef stock or broth 3 tbsps tomato paste 1-1/2 tbsps granulated sugar 2 tbsps Worcestershire sauce 1 tbsp dried thyme 4 bay leaves 2 tbsps butter 1-1/2 lbs russet potatoes, peeled, cut to 1/2" pieces 1 lb parsnips, peeled, cut to 1/2" pieces 2 cups carrots, 1/2" pieces 1 large yellow onion, chopped 1 tbsp cornstarch salt and pepper fresh parsley, chopped Instructions Heat olive oil in a heavy, large pot over medium-high heat. Add beef stew meat. Sauté until brown on all sides, about 5 to 7 minutes; add garlic and sauté another minute. To the same pot, add beef stock, red wine, Guinness beer, tomato paste, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme and bay leaves. Stir to combine. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to very low, cover and simmer for 2-1/2 hours. Stir occasionally. In another large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add potatoes, parsnips, onion and carrots, sautéing until golden, about 15 minutes. Set mixture aside until the stew has simmered 2-1/2 hours. Add potato mixture to beef stew and simmer uncovered until vegetables and beef are tender, about 30 to 40 minutes. In a small bowl, mix together cornstarch with 1 Tablespoon cold water until combined; add slowly to the stew, nc vvstirring for at least one minute until thickened. Discard bay leaves and remove any fat that may have accumulated on top. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer individual portions to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve. Notes This stew can be easily prepared in advance and kept refrigerated for up to three days. Nutrition Nutrition Facts Beef Irish Stew Amount Per Serving Calories 486 Calories from Fat 104 % Daily Value* Fat 11.6g18% Saturated Fat 3.9g24% Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4g Monounsaturated Fat 2.5g Cholesterol 48.1mg16% Sodium 200.6mg9% Potassium 996mg28% Carbohydrates 41.1g14% Fiber 6.4g27% Sugar 8.9g10% Protein 26.2g52% Vitamin A 271.6IU5% Vitamin C 56.8mg69% Calcium 21.1mg2% Iron 20.9mg116% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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