Irish Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

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A hearty and flavorful Irish Beef Stew, loaded with tender chunks of beef and vegetables, simmered in a Stout beer and red wine spiked broth. This healthy stew is the ultimate comfort food!

Searching for St. Patrick’s Day recipes? Try this beautifully green Chocolate Chip Mint Smoothie, or this Lightened Up Shepherd’s Pie.

*Today I’m partnering withSharp Home USA~ Sharp creates quality home appliances that make life easier!

What is Irish Stew?

I can’t get over how amazing this stew made my house smell last week!

On a snowy day, we were settled in at home, so I decided pulling out some stew meat was a good idea. Years ago, I used to order the Guinness stew at an Irish pub, so I used the memory of that flavorful broth to put this beef stew recipe together.

A traditional Irish stew is made with lamb. The meat is simmered in a broth, and modern versions include red wine and stout beer. Root vegetables, like potatoes, carrots, and parsnips are added.

Irish stew is sometimes thickened with mashed potatoes, rather than a roux. This can be made with a cornstarch slurry to keep it gluten free.

I don’t thicken this stew (I find the tomato paste makes it the perfect consistency!). If you prefer a thicker stew base, read the notes in the recipe card! You can also serve this stew on mashed potatoes (when I do that, I don’t add potatoes into the stew).

The whole family will love this stew! And I love one pot meal

Ingredients in Irish Beef Stew

• Avocado Oil (or olive oil)
• Grass-fed Good Beef Stew Meat (I like to use NY Strip steaks here for more tender beef. Chop up a chuck roast to prepare your own stew meat.)
• Onions
• Garlic
• Red Wine
• Stout Beer (you can omit or buy a gluten free beer to keep this totally gluten free. Guinness beer is a popular option for Irish stew! Any dark beer will lend good flavor to this stew.)
• Beef Broth
• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Parsnips (optional)
• Bay Leaf
• Parsley
• Salt & Pepper
• Worcestershire Sauce (optional, to boost the flavor)

Perfect for Simmering

I adore my Sharp Induction Cooktop, especially when I am making dishes that need to be simmered for a long time or have delicate sauces. The timer feature is easy to use, and can be set for different burners at the same time, which is perfect for an active cook like me that often has multiple dishes going at the same time.

This Irish Beef Stew as simmered for 2 1/2 hours, allowing the beef to become fall-apart tender and the broth to become thick and rich. I don’t have to worry about the bottom scorching, because the heat is distributed in short pulses, allowing for even heating of the cookware.

The cooktop is ideal for people who love cooking and enjoy good food! I also have a great recipe for a Butternut Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, and this Chicken Scarpariello that I start off on the cooktop and finish in the oven.

Hop on over to Sharp’s website to see if their luxury appliances are the perfect fit for you, too!

How to Make an Irish Beef Stew

Step 1: Into a dutch oven or stock pot, add half of the avocado oil, and heat over medium-high heat (level 6-7). Toss beef cubes into the pot, leaving space so that it doesn’t become crowded, so the beef browns instead of steams. The browned beef will add a lot of flavor to the stew. Turn the beef, and allow to brown on all sides, then remove from the pan, adding more meat until all of it is browned.

Step 2: Into the empty pot, leave the browned bits, and add the remaining avocado oil, onions, and garlic. Reduce heat to level 5, and allow the vegetables to soften.

Step 3: Return the beef to the pot, and season the mixture with Kosher salt.

Step 4: Add the tomato paste, red wine, stout beer, beef stock, and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium low (level 3), and allow the meat to stew for 1 1/2 hours. Replace evaporated liquid with more broth or water, if necessary, I usually end up adding about 2 cups of water.

Step 5: Add the root vegetables into the pot, and allow to simmer for an additional hour, or until the vegetables are softened.

Step 6: Season the stew with additional salt and black pepper. I also love to use some vegetable bouillon to boost the flavor. Garnish liberally with Italian parsley, which adds a delicious and bright contrast to the hearty stew.

How to Serve Irish Beef Stew

Serve with Mashed Potatoes: Optionally, omit the potatoes from the stew, and serve this stew with a scoop of mashed potatoes. This allows the broth to be mixed with the potatoes to thicken it!

Make it without Alcohol: Traditionally, Irish stew is not made with alcohol, so feel free to omit those ingredients from this stew, and use additional beef stock instead! This makes the stew ideal for the Whole30 and keeps it paleo.

Thicken the Stew: If you’re used to stews thickened with a roux, the broth of this Irish beef stew might feel thin. You can mix 2 tablespoons of arrowroot powder with water, and drizzle it in to the stew, while stirring, after the vegetables have softened.

Festive St. Patrick’s Day Pairings: Irish Soda Bread would be a fun side dish for this stew! Find a gluten free version if needed.

You might also love this Peruvian Beef Stew!

FAQ & How to Store Beef Stew

How to Store Leftover Stew

Store leftover stew in an airtight container refrigerated for up to 4 days. It also freezes well! Freeze up to 3 months, then allow to thaw prior to warming up over medium heat.

How to Make Irish Beef Stew in Slow Cooker

Slow cooking makes this stew even more tender!

Follow steps 1-3 as written, softening the onion, and browning the stew meat in a skillet on the stovetop.

Transfer meat and onions to a slow cooker, along with broth, beef, wine, and seasonings. Slow cook on Low for 6-8 hours, until the meat is fall-apart tender.

Add the vegetables for the last 4 hours, so they don’t become overly mushy.

Other Hearty Winter Meals for Cold Nights

• Lightened Up Shepherd’s Pie
• Lobster Risotto
• Crockpot Moroccan Pumpkin Chicken

If you make this recipe, be sure to share it with me! Find me on Facebook or Instagram and be sure to tag #SunkissedKitchen @SunkissedKitch