Guinness Beef Stew

Rich Irish beef stew, made with the unmistakable flavors of Guinness and coffee, makes this the most savory and mouthwatering comfort food you’ll ever eat!

Comfort food recipes like this Guinness Beef Stew are essential in the colder months.  Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, but also just pure comforting bliss anytime you need a pick me up.  We love easy dinners like my Beef Barley Soup, and French Onion Pork Chops!  This is one of my Comfort Food recipes you’ll definitely want in your dinner rotation!

GUINNESS BEEF STEW (IRISH STEW RECIPE)

There are few things more hearty and comforting than a big pot of rich beef stew.  However, this Irish beef stew with Guinness beer and coffee really takes the cake.

The Guinness and coffee flavors meld perfectly to give way to a deep, rich, lusciously savory sauce that simmers away to tenderize the beef so it’s practically spoonable!

Irish stew is traditionally made with Guinness, but I really wanted to bring that rich flavor home, so I added some coffee as well.

It mimics the coffee/chocolate back-notes of the beer, lending an amazing richness to the sauce.

You’ll notice I said “sauce”, not “broth”.  I like my beef stew to have a thicker, loose-gravy consistency.  After all, a stew should be thick and hearty right?

HOW TO MAKE GUINNESS BEEF STEW

1. Slice beef into roughly 2 inch pieces.
2. Season beef and brown in dutch oven, then transfer to a plate.
3. Add in onion and garlic, and cook several minutes, until softened.
4. Cook bacon pieces until browned.
5. Add flour and stir well, then pour in Guinness beer, scraping the bottom of the pot.
6. Add tomato paste, celery, carrots, parsnip, seasonings, coffee and chicken stock.  Return beef back to the pot.
7. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours.
8. Add potatoes and prunes and simmer for another 30-40 minutes.
9. Remove bay leaves and enjoy!

COOKING TIPS FOR IRISH STEW

• Brown the beef –  if possible… I know it’s an extra step, but I love the extra flavor it adds!
• Use sturdy potatoes – I love to use baby Yukon gold potatoes.  They’re so buttery, yet they are sturdy and hold up well to a long cooking time.  Plus, there’s no need to peel them, just halve or quarter them after washing.
• Use tomato paste in a tube – Since you only need a little bit for this recipe, I find using tubed tomato paste easier than figuring out what to do with the remaining 5 oz of the can.
• The prunes – are optional, but I highly recommend them.  Both the Guinness and the coffee can be a bit bitter, and the prunes really help alleviate that.
• Don’t forget to dip some crusty bread into the stew!

COMMON COOKING QUESTIONS ABOUT BEEF STEW

As a helpful guide, I’ve shared a few common questions about cooking a beef stew.

DO YOU COOK STEW COVERED OR UNCOVERED?

I’ve always cooked mine covered as it simmers, since it holds in all the heat.  At the end of cooking, remove the lid and let some liquid evaporate as it simmers, which thickens the stew and concentrates the flavors.

WHAT GOES IN A GUINNESS BEEF STEW?

Generally a Guinness beef stew is made with a tough cut of meat like a chuck roast (or shoulder roast), vegetables (like potatoes, carrots, celery, parsnips, mushrooms, etc), chicken/beef broth, tomato paste, plenty of seasoning, and of course, the Guinness beer!  My version uses a bit of coffee (or coffee extract) to deepen the flavors, and some prunes.  The prunes help mitigate any possible bitterness from the beer.

HOW DO YOU THICKEN UP BEEF STEW?

In case your stew doesn’t thicken up the way you’d like, there are three main ways to thicken up a beef stew.  The first two involve making a slurry – which is basically adding flour or cornstarch to a cold or room temperature liquid.

1. Mix 1-2 Tbsp cornstarch into 1-2 Tbsp of beef stock/broth or even water.  Use a fork or spoon to mix it around until there are no lumps.  Stir into beef stew, and cook on low for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Do the same as above, but use flour instead of cornstarch.
3. Using a fork mix together equal parts (I usually do 1 Tbsp each) softened butter and flour.  Mix it together well, so it almost forms a ball.  Add it to the beef stew, stir, and cook on low for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.  This method is my absolute favorite!

VARIATIONS OF THIS RECIPE

• Skip the java – not a coffee fan, or don’t have any around the house?  No worries, you can omit it completely.
• Skip the prunes – this isn’t something I regularly keep in my pantry, so if you don’t have any, you can do without them.  I like to use them to offset the potential bitterness of the coffee and beer, but if slight bitterness doesn’t bother you, be prune-less!
• Chicken vs Beef – I get a lot of questions about why I like to use chicken stock instead of beef stock here, and the reason is that surprisingly, I seem to get a more robust flavor when I use chicken stock.  After some research, I found out I wasn’t alone.  Serious Eats has more information about why (#3 on the list), but basically it comes down to protein amounts in the two types of broths or stocks.
• How to serve – we love this stew with just a spoon and some crusty bread, but it’s also great on top of mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles.

IS THIS A TRADITIONAL IRISH STEW?

No it’s a American-ized adaptation.  Here in the US, around St. Patrick’s Day, a traditional meal is a Guinness Beef Stew.  A more traditional Irish stew is made with mutton and is more of a brothy consistency.  I prefer my stews to be thicker and full of deep, robust flavor, and beef is more readily available to my readers (and myself!).

MAKING GUINNESS STEW AHEAD OF TIME

One of my favorite things about this Irish beef stew, is that while it’s amazing right away, the leftovers the next day are even better!

The flavors have really had time to blend together, and it reheats beautifully!

FREEZING

I’ve not tested freezing this recipe, but I think it would be just fine to freeze.  Let it cool completely, then portion out into freezer containers and freeze for up to 3 months.

To thaw, place overnight in the refrigerator.

STORAGE

Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

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So now that you have this amazing beef stew, what should you have with it?  Here are some suggestions:

• Horseradish Mashed Potatoes
• Cheesy Bacon Brussels Sprouts
• Slow Cooker Ranch Mushrooms
• No-Knead Artisan Bread

And don’t forget to round out this Irish feast with some no bake Baileys brownie batter dip or Boozy Baileys Oreo Milkshakes for dessert!

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT FOR THIS RECIPE

• Instant Pot Duo – if you don’t have one, this is the model I have that I love!
• Dutch Oven – perfect for this recipe, soups, breads, frying and more!
• 4 quart slow cooker – this is the one pictured in my photos, and my most used slow cooker.  I love that the insert is stovetop safe, so I can brown the beef right in it! It’s also pricey, so below I have another option.
• Programmable slow cooker – this one is super economical and I love that the lid latches.

I was compensated by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas for my time in developing this recipe and post. All opinions are my own.