Irish Beef Stew Recipe (Stove-Top Instructions)

There is nothing more comforting or delicious on a cool, crisp day than Irish Beef Stew. Fall apart tender pieces of beef cooked with vegetables in a thick and rich sauce.

Although I have made several beef stew recipes before, this one has a more intense flavor in every bite. I actually fell in love with this stew when I made a trip to Ireland. It is a staple menu item at nearly every restaurant.

And when I tried it for the first time, I was hooked. It had an amazing depth of flavor. The beef literally fell apart in my mouth and the vegetables were perfectly tender and coated in a thick and rich broth.

I was determined to find out the secret to making Irish Beef Stew. After much convincing, our Irish tour guide finally gave up the recipe.

And I should have known that it had Guinness beer as one of the ingredients! The people of Ireland are very proud of their famous beer and you can find it in just about every type of recipe.

So when I returned home from my trip, I put the recipe to the test. And I have to say, it was just as delicious!

I have made it over and over again and it only gets better. I have even tested the recipe in my pressure cooker as well. Instant Pot Irish Beef Stew is a great way to get all the flavor without the need to tend to a pot on the stove.

Ingredients In Irish Beef Stew

Beef

It goes without saying that this stew recipe requires some type of beef. So what type of beef makes the best stew?

Although you could assume that chunks of beef labeled ‘stew meat’ would be the ideal choice, let me explain why there is another better choice. In the grocery or at the butcher, stew meat is actually a combination of the ends of different cuts of meat.

Therefore there will be several different cuts of beef included in the package. From very tender meat to chunks that have well-marbled fat throughout, you will get it all.

Although that may seem like you hit the jackpot of flavor, the problem is that all those different cuts of meat require various cooking techniques to produce their most tender and juicy results. Therefore you will have some perfectly cooked, fall apart tender pieces of meat alongside tough and chewy pieces as well.

However, you don’t have to rely on stew meat to make the best Irish Beef Stew that you have ever had. Instead, purchase a chuck roast and cut the meat into bite size cubes.

Then you will have consistent, melt in your mouth chunks of beef in every bite.

Vegetables

Classic root vegetables are used to provide a hearty texture to the stew. Potatoes, carrots, onions and garlic are added for both density and flavor. In addition celery is put into the mixture for a slight crunchy texture.

As for what variety of onions and potatoes to add to the Irish Beef Stew choose ones that will hold up well to cooking process.

Onion – Yellow onions have a strong and pungent flavor when raw, but as they cook, they mellow and become sweet. Their sturdy texture makes them well-suited for stove top cooking without breaking down completely.

Potatoes – Choose between Russet and Yukon Gold potatoes when making stew. Russet potatoes have a higher starch content and will absorb the flavors of the broth. As they cook they will begin to break down and help to naturally thicken the stew.

Yukon Gold are favored for their creamy texture and buttery flavor. When used in stews, they absorb flavors well and maintain a smooth and tender consistency and will maintain their shape when cooked.

Liquid

The broth of Irish Beef Stew is what makes this classic dish so flavorful. For the best and most complex flavor you must use a combination of liquid.

Start by adding beef broth to the pot. It is best to use a high quality beef broth that is low in sodium or salt-free. You can always add more salt when you go to serve the stew.

Next, to add more flavor to the broth, a little dry red wine is added to the pot. Choose between Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir or Merlot. Just be sure it is a good drinking wine for best flavor.

Then finally, and one of the most important ingredients in Irish Beef Stew is Guinness Stout. This is the famous Irish beer that is dark, foamy and full of amazing flavor.

Once heated the alcohol cooks off and the red wine and Guinness will reduce leaving you with only their delicious concentrated flavor.

Seasoning

As the beef stew cooks, add salt and pepper during each stage of cooking. This ensures that every layer is adequately seasoned.

Then add thyme to give the stew that classic, earthy flavor. You can use fresh or dried thyme, however if you use fresh thyme be sure to remove the stems before serving.

IRISH BEEF STEW RECIPE

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 2 lb. beef chuck stew meat, cubed into 1″ pieces
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into rounds
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
• 4 c. low-sodium beef broth
• 1 c. dry red wine
• 2 c. Guinness beer
• 1 tsp. dried thyme (2-3 sprigs fresh)
• 1 bay leaf
• Freshly chopped parsley, optional garnish

How to Make Irish Beef Stew

The first step in making this beef stew recipe is to brown the beef. Although a typical Irish recipe would use lard, I use 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil instead. But the choice is up to you.

Once the beef is browned on all sides, remove it from the pot and set aside.

Using the same pot, add the remaining oil and add your onions, carrots, and celery and cook until they start to become tender. This typically takes 5-7 minutes. Then add your garlic and continue to saute for one additional minute.

Now add the beef back to the pot along with the potatoes, broth, red wine and Guinness beer. Add in either dried thyme or 2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme if you have it on hand to add more flavor to the Irish beef stew. Also add the bay leaf to the mixture.

Bring the pot to a boil. Then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover the pot and continue to simmer for 30 minutes or until the beef is tender.

Serve the Irish Beef Stew with fresh parsley on top and with a side of Irish Soda Bread or Irish Brown Bread.

Enjoy! Mary

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