Irish Stew Recipe

•Posted: Mar 1, 2024

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This Irish Stew Recipe is packed with tender beef and hearty vegetables, simmered in a beer and wine gravy. Have we got your attention? Not only does this stew deliver a comfort meal all in one pot, it’s a simple yet luxurious dinner that’s worthy of any occasion.

beef stew with potatoes and carrots in bowl with spoon on side

Why You’ll Love Irish Stew

Irish Stew is a simple, flavor-packed beef stew that warms you from the inside out. The best part about this recipe is the Guinness beer and red wine gravy – hands down. You’ll actually want to slurp it up with a spoon, it’s that good.

While this stew recipe does take a bit of time to cook, the reward of the depth of flavor and comfort vibes are well worth it. Tender pieces of beef with loads of vegetables and fresh herbs, this is a one-pot comfort food dinner for the books.

beef stew with vegetables and herbs in pot

Ingredients You’ll Need

Beef Stew Meat: You can buy this already but up or grab a chuck roast or a London broil and cut it into 1–2 inch pieces. Chuck roast will be the most tender, but since this stew cooks for a few hours in the oven either cut of beef will be fine.
Kosher Salt: To season the beef.
Steak Seasoning: To season the beef.
Yellow Onions
Fresh Garlic
Yellow Potatoes: Can also use red.
Carrots
Tomato Paste
Stout: We use Guinness but any stout you like will work.
Beef Broth
Flour
Fresh Thyme
Dry Red Wine: Any dry red wine that you like, cabernet, malbec, pinot noir or merlot are all good choices.

How To Make

The step by step photos here will guide you along. Please scroll down to the recipe card for complete instructions.

raw beef cubes in pot with oil — Add oil to a large dutch oven, then add seasoned beef cubes.

Seared beef cubes in pot with oil. — Add oil to a large dutch oven, then add seasoned beef cubes.

Season and Sear the Beef: Season the beef with the salt and steak seasoning. Add the olive oil to a large (at least 5 quart) dutch oven over medium heat. Add the beef in batches, leaving room for the beef to sear properly. Once brown on all sides, remove the beef to a plate and cover with foil. Repeat with the remaining beef.

Onions and carrots in pot for making stew — Add diced onions and carrots to the pot and cook for 5 minutes.

onions, carrots fresh thyme and tomato paste in pot — Add diced onions and carrots to the pot and cook for 5 minutes.

Add Vegetables and Aromatics: Add the onions and carrots to the pot, pouring in more olive oil if needed. Cook for 3-4 minutes and then add the garlic, stirring and cooking a minute longer. Add the thyme, tomato paste and flour and stir to coat the vegetables.

Beer in a pot with stew to make gravy — Deglaze the pot with beer, scraping up the bottom. Add wine and beef broth and stir.

beef tips and potatoes in pot for making Irish stew — Deglaze the pot with beer, scraping up the bottom. Add wine and beef broth and stir.

Deglaze and Prepare for the Oven: Deglaze the pot with the beer and wine, stir to scrape up the brown bits from the bottom and then let the liquid reduce for 3 minutes. Pour in the beef broth and stir. Add the potatoes and beef to the pot, tucking into the liquid as much as possible. Cover and cook at 350 degrees for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

Tips For Success

Even thought this Irish Stew is fairly easy to get together, we do have some tips for the best flavor and texture.

Properly sear the beef: Take the time to get a nice brown color on all sides of the beef. The brown “crust” adds a lot of flavor to the stew.
Taste for seasonings: We’re not adding a lot of extra salt to this stew because the beef broth, beer and wine do their job adding flavor. However, you should taste the gravy about halfway through cooking and before serving to see if any additional salt and pepper are needed.
Let the beer and wine reduce: Make sure that you let the beer and wine reduce after deglazing. When you let liquids like beer and wine reduce it concentrates their flavor.

Variations

Traditionally, Iris Stew is made with lamb. If you like the flavor of lamb you should definitely try it in this stew recipe. We’ve made it both ways and we prefer the flavor of beef, but of course you should use what you like.

Also try adding different vegetables like parsnips, peas, mushrooms and stewed or fresh tomatoes. Stew is one of those recipes that you can pretty much add what you like, as long as it’s not too delicate that it could break down during a long cooking time.

Other herbs that you can add are rosemary, bay leaves, oregano and parsley. A combination of different herbs will also be delicious, use what you like.

What To Serve With Beef Stew

Since this beef stew recipe is an all in one dinner, you don’t have to serve anything at all on the side besides a big spoon.

Typically, we serve thick slices of our homemade Irish Soda Bread with lots of butter on the side. Other options could include this Sweet Cornbread, or Pumpkin Cornbread. If you like a punch of garlic, homemade Garlic Bread is always a good choice.

A simple Caesar salad (with our homemade Creamy Caesar Dressing) or this Arugula Salad with drinkable maple dressing will add a bit of fresh crunch on the side.

How About A Few More Stew Recipes?