Guinness Beef Stew is a hearty meal loaded with tender beef and veggies braised in malty Guinness Stout beer. The flavors are robust and delicious and deliver a fabulous meal filled with flavor.
Make a loaf of Brown Bread to dip into the hearty broth, and enjoy.
While many celebrate Saint Patrick's Day with Corned Beef and Cabbage, a traditional meal my family enjoys year-round is Irish Beef Stew.
Our Guinness Stew is full of veggies, making it hearty and flavorful. Guinness beer brings a rich flavor to the braised, tender beef.
Ingredients
How to Make Beef Stew
Photos always help to understand the cooking progress. The instructions are an overview. The full printable recipe is below in the recipe card section.
- Sauté bacon in Dutch Oven or soup pot. Set aside.
- Season flour with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper and coat beef with the seasoned flour.
- Sauté the seasoned beef in the bacon drippings, until brown, set aside.
- Add in the onions, to soften, about 3 minutes. Then add remaining veggies, stir occasionally for another 3-4 minutes. This allows the bacon flavors to blend into the veggies for another level of flavor. Add back in the browned beef, dried herbs, and Guinness. Be sure to use a wooden spoon to scrape up the brown bits at the bottom of the pot.
5. Simmer the stew for about 2 ½ hours. The beef will be fork tender and the veggies soft. Serve and enjoy.
Variations:
- Beer: The clear winner ale for this soup is Guinness Beer. Other dark ales can be used such as a stout or Belgian beer.
- Vegetables: Cut the veggies into chunks. Too small of pieces will result in mushy overcooked veggies.
- Gluten-Free: Use a 1 to 1 gluten-free flour to season the beef. and help thicken the soup.
- Slow Cooker: If using the slow cooker to make this stew, take the extra time to make the bacon and brown the beef before transferring everything to the slow cooker.
Storage Tips
This is a great beef stew to make ahead of time. The flavors blend as it sits in the refrigerator for a rich flavor on the second day.
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to 3 days.
This is a fabulous soup to freeze or add into a meal plan. The soup can be frozen in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. To reheat, defrost overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat over low heat until warm, about 20 minutes.
A microwave can be used to defrost and reheat. Follow manufacturer's instructions for defrosting and reheating the soup.
Serving Suggestions
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Guinness Beef Stew
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, over medium heat, add 6 slices bacon. Saute until cooked through, remove from heat. Chop into small pieces and set aside. Leave the bacon drippings in the pot.
- While the bacon cooks, in a shallow bowl, combine the 4 Tablespoon all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon onion powder, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Dredge the 2 pounds bottom round roast beef, cubed in the seasoned flour mixture.
- In the Dutch oven, over medium heat, heat the bacon drippings, add the seasoned beef to brown in batches.
- Remove the browned and seasoned beef from the pot, set aside.
- If needed, add 2 Tablespoons avocado oil to pan to heat. Stir in 1 medium diced yellow onion and saute about 3 minutes to soften the onion. Mix in 4 cloves minced garlic, and saute for about 30 seconds to bloom the flavor in the garlic Place potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips, carrots, celery, and garlic into the pot. Saute approximately 3 minutes, veggies will soften and absorb the bacon drippings.
- Add in 3 large chopped white potatoes, 1 large chopped sweet potato, 2 large chopped parsnips, 3 large chopped carrots, and 2 stalks chopped celery, saute 3 minutes.
- Pour in 14 ounce can, Guinness Stout and use a wooden spoon to continue to bring up any brown bits at the bottom of the pan. (this adds flavor to the stew) Pour in 32 ounce beef broth.
- Add the aromatics, 1 teaspoon ground marjoram, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon ground thyme, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
- Increase the heat on the stove to high, bring the stew to a quick boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 2 to 2½ hours. The beef will be fork tender and the veggies will be soft. Taste for seasoning, if needed, adjust seasoning. Serve and enjoy.
Tom Cavanaugh
We made this today and loved the flavors! So tasty. perfect for this crazy snow day
Eileen xo
That is awesome Tom! I am so happy you enjoy
Rach's Recipes
I've seen recipes for Guinness beef stew that used espresso or strong coffee... have you tried it? Thanks!
Eileen xo
I haven't used coffee in stew - sounds interesting
Nancy Burgess
I can't wait to try your recipe it sounds delicious!
Eileen xo
I hope you enjoy the recipe!
Eva /Kid Minds
What a wonderful recipe! Just in time for the holiday. I definitely want to try it!
Ashleigh
That sounds like a great stew! My boyfriend would love that for lunch sometime.
Eileen xo
I hope you make it - super easy to prepare
CourtneyLynne
Omg!!! This stew looks so yummy! Perfect for st.pattys day! Might just have to make some 🙂
Brittany
This beef stew sounds delicious! I've never thought about adding Guinness to beef stew.beef stew.
Southern Soul
Eileen xo
You should try it - yummy
Shannon Graham
This looks really satisfying. My husband loves stew and was actually just begging for it to be made for dinner tonight. I'll have to try this recipe!
Eileen xo
I am so glad - let me knolw when you make it and how your husband enjoyed it
Cristina
I don't cook with alcohol but can find lots of substitutes for the basic soup. thanks!
Eileen xo
I would add extra stock to released the flavors in lieu of the Guinness
tp keane
yuumm, being Irish and living away from home, I've missed dishes like this. Not anymore, thanks.
Eileen xo
I am so glad, enjoy!
Stacey
This looks wonderful! I am pinning and making this next week! And I might even give my hand at making the Irish bread. I traveled to Ireland two years ago and loved all of the food. Thanks!
Eileen xo
Stacey, the bread is even easier than the stew - go for it! Please let me kn ow how it goes!
laura londergan
My husband would think he's in heaven if I made this for him as this is the perfect meal for him. A hearty stew PLUS Guinness in it? Yeah it'd be a winner
Eileen xo
I aim to please 🙂
Rose Sahetapy
I love stew, and this recipe reminds me of Belgium stew which also using beer but a lot thicker. Always enjoy your recipes, very hommy and delicious. I think I'll try to make this.
Eileen xo
Rose,you are so sweet. Thank you for the lovely compliment! You made my day!
jill conyers
I don't think I've ever made stew. This looks like recipe my father in law would love.
Eileen xo
I hope he makes it and enjoys
Debra
This looks like it would go so perfectly with the brown bread you have already posted! What a fun recipe!
Eileen xo
Thank you so much!
Siniciliya
This looks so delicious and the recipe is very easy to follow! Definitely a five star dish
Eileen xo
You are so kind, thank you !
Teresa @ Crafty Wife
I wish it was still cool enough here to make this! It looks amazingly delicious! It'll be 76 in Virginia this week. I need more time to try out soup recipes before summer begins!
Amber NElson
That stew looks so amazing! I would love to try this one out on the family.
Koninika
I love stews especially when I'm not feeling good. I don't eat beef but I believe you can substitute beef and also add other ingredients to it! Makes me feel like eating it 🙂
Eileen xo
I add extra veggies because I limit my beef intake. Feel free to add extra veggies and make it a guinness veggie stew 🙂
michele
I usually use red wine in our beef stew, but love the guinness addition. I love the idea for St Patricks day next week...thanks for sharing
Eileen xo
Thank you Michelle! It is a lovely stew for Saint Patrick's Day
Vicky
This looks so hearty and comforting on a cold rainy night. Will have to try this for St. Patrick's Day!
Eileen xo
That is great, enjoy! Let me know how the recipe works for you
krystle cook
I love stew and so does my son. He thinks of it as a soupy pot roast which he loves. Perfect for cooler weather.
Eileen xo
That is so cute. I hope you make this for your son
Ana De- Jesus
Oh how lovely! I will have to share this with some of my Irish buddies as they are looking for new ways to use Guiness!
Eileen xo
Super, I hope they enjoy!
Lisa Diane Tummers
Super yum! Guinness stew is a St. Patrick's Day tradition in our household, but I haven't tried this version with parsnips. I believe I will have to change that this year! Thanks for sharing this!
Eileen xo
That is great news- I hope your family enjoys!
Karen
LOVE this post for a few reasons - I LOVE St. Pattys Day and this fits right in. I want to try this recipe this upcoming weekend. Excited for the stew and I want to also do an Irish bread and who knows what else! Going for it! Thanks so much!
Karen | GlamKaren.com
Eileen xo
I am so glad, let me know how it all goes and Happy Saint Patricks Day
Heather lawrence
This would be the perfect dish for dinner tonight!
It's cold and stormy out there and this looks like it would warm you to the bone.
Can't wait to try it!
Eileen xo
I am so glad you enjoy the recipe!
Robin Rue (@massholemommy)
What a hearty winter meal idea. It is perfect for St. Patrick's Day, too!
Megan McCoig
Yum! I'm not a fan of Guinness but I reckon it'll be good in a dish - your food looks so amazing I would love to try it haha!
Eileen xo
I don't drink Guinness either. It just for some crazy reason makes a great stew!
Fatima
I've never had Guinness myself, but I do love a warm bowl of slow-cooked beef stew. It's perfect for chilly afternoons.
Eileen xo
This has become a family favorite
Laci
Yum !! We live in GA and it's definitely still cool.outside so this perfect ! I love that it's easy and good. Making this soon !
Eileen xo
I am so glad you like the recipe. Send me a pic when you make this