Irish Beef Stew is a deeply flavorful stew that is guaranteed to fill every belly and satiate every appetite. Hearty Beef, bold Irish stout beer, and root vegetables make it a perfect meal.
This post is a collaboration with Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. on behalf of the Beef Checkoff. I received compensation, but all opinions are my own.
If you are looking for a hearty meal, this Irish Beef Stew is it! My family devoured this, and it even got put on the favorite’s list to make more often. It’s what every blustery, winter night needs. This Irish Beef Stew would be a great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a small group. Beef is always the best way to celebrate!
You can use Stew Meat in this recipe or dice up your own Beef. Any type of Roast would be a great cut to use if you’d like to make the beef chunks yourself. Don’t skip the browning step – this is the first step to layering in all of those deep flavors you are going to love about the finished dish.
The root vegetables I chose to use in this recipe are traditional for Irish Beef Stew. Potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onion, and celery. If you prefer not to use potatoes in your stew, you can always leave them out and serve the stew over mashed potatoes. We also love it that way!
Ingredients for Irish Beef Stew
- Beef Stew Meat
- Butter
- Flour
- Red potatoes
- Onion
- Celery
- Carrots
- Parsnips
- Garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
- Fresh thyme
- Dark Irish stout beer
- Water or broth
- Fresh parsley
How do you make Irish Beef Stew?
- Melt butter over high heat in a large Dutch oven or pot.
- Add half of the Stew Meat so the pot isn’t crowded.
- Cook until browned on all sides. This can take a few minutes.
- Repeat with the second half of the Stew Meat.
- When all the beef is browned, place it all back into the pot along with any accumulated juices.
- Stir in the flour.
- Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Combine all of the remaining ingredients into the pot.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat, reduce heat to low, and simmer until the beef and vegetables are tender, about 2 hours. If you want to use a slow cooker for this step you can!
- Stir in fresh parsley before serving. This will brighten the flavor and bring out all the delicious elements of the dish!
What is the difference between Beef Stew and Irish Beef Stew?
Irish stew usually has beef, root vegetables, and Irish beer, extra stout. Regular beef stew doesn’t include the Irish stout beer.
Beef is a common protein used in both regular stew and Irish beef stew. Its robust flavor pairs perfectly with the root vegetables and the beer.
What Sides Go with Irish Beef Stew?
There are many wonderful side options for Irish Beef Stew! Homemade Bread, Spinach and Apple Winter Salad, and Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes are just a few.
Do I have to use Irish Stout Beer?
Irish stout beer is traditional in Irish Beef Stew because it is an Irish dish. You can use any dark stout beer to create the flavors in the written recipe.
Irish Beef Stew
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds Beef Stew Meat see note
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 1/2 pounds red potatoes see note
- 1 cup onion diced
- 1 cup celery diced
- 1 cup carrots diced
- 3/4 cup parsnips diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced or crushed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3 sprigs thyme fresh
- 1 cup dark Irish stout beer
- 3 cups water
- 2 tablespoons parsley fresh, minced
Instructions
- Melt butter over high heat in a large Dutch oven or pot.
- Add half of the Beef Stew Meat so the pot isn't crowded. Cook until browned on all sides. Repeat with the second half.
- When all the beef is browned, place it all back into the pot. Stir in the flour. Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Add the potatoes, onion, celery, carrots, parsnips, and garlic.
- Add the thyme sprigs and the salt and pepper.
- Pour in the beer and the water.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat, reduce heat to low, and simmer until the beef and vegetables are tender, about 2 hours.
- Stir in fresh parsley before serving.
Alli says
We love this stew!