Beef and Guinness Stew

4.9
(1,249)

This Guinness beef stew is a very simple dish, but at the same time, it has a deep, complex, rich flavor. The maltiness of dark beer really does amazing things for the gravy. I served this in a nice ring of green onion-mashed potatoes. I hope you give this a try, whether for Saint Patrick's Day or any time of the year.

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A bowl of beef and Guinness stew, served over mashed potatoes and garnished with chopped parsley
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Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time:
3 hrs
Servings:
6

This hearty Guinness beef stew recipe is perfect for cozy days at home.

Beef and Guinness Stew
Vick Chick

Guinness Beef Stew Ingredients

These are the ingredients you'll need to make this filling Guinness beef stew recipe:

· Bacon: This Guinness stew starts with bacon. You'll use the bacon and the bacon fat to cook the beef.
· Beef: Cut your boneless beef chuck into 2-inch pieces.
· Seasonings and herbs: This flavorful beef stew is seasoned with salt, black pepper, fresh garlic, white sugar, and fresh thyme.
· Beer: Of course, you'll need a can of dark beer (such as Guinness).
· Vegetables: This chunky Guinness stew features onions, carrots, and celery.
· Tomato paste: Tomato paste adds richness and flavor depth.
· Stock: Use store-bought or homemade broth. You can use chicken or beef stock.
· Mashed potatoes: Mashed potatoes are optional, but they make a great bed for the Guinness stew. Try our top-rated Basic Mashed Potatoes recipe.

How to Make Guinness Beef Stew

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make Guinness stew at home:

1. Cook the bacon. Transfer the bacon to a stew pot, but leave the fat in the skillet.
2. Cook the beef cubes in the fat. Place the browned beef in the stew pot.
3. Cook the onions and garlic in the fat. Pour the beer in and stir.
4. Transfer the contents of the skillet to the pot. Add the remaining ingredients.
5. Simmer until the meat is tender, then bring to a boil.
6. Serve in bowls or over mashed potatoes.

What to Serve With Guinness Beef Stew

If you don't serve the Guinness stew over potatoes, you might want to consider pairing it with bread to soak up all those delicious juices. Here are a few mouthwatering ideas:

· French Baguettes
· Classic Dinner Rolls
· Basic Corn Muffins

overhead angle looking at two French baguettes with a few pieces sliced

For more inspiration, explore our collection of 20 Easy Bread Recipes to Make at Home.

How to Store Guinness Beef Stew

Store your Guinness beef stew in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Reheat thoroughly in the microwave or on the stove.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"This is the closest to the stew I had at the Guinness brewery," says one Allrecipes community member. "It's the best. One thing I learned is you need to follow the steps in the recipe and not take shortcuts."

"This stew is fantastic," according to Sue Gordon. "I used beef broth instead of chicken broth, and about a teaspoon of dried thyme in place of fresh."

"I made this on a beautiful fall Sunday," says j. cook. "It was fun to make and just delicious. The flavors just melded together perfectly. It's a keeper!"

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 4 slices bacon, cut into small pieces

  • 2 ½ pounds boneless beef chuck, cut into 2-inch pieces

  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided, or more to taste

  • freshly ground black pepper to taste

  • 2 onions, coarsely chopped

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 (14.9 ounce) can dark beer (such as Guinness)

  • ¼ cup tomato paste

  • 3 carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces

  • 2 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces

  • 4 sprigs fresh thyme

  • 1 teaspoon white sugar

  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

  • 2 ½ cups chicken stock, or as needed to cover

  • 4 cups mashed potatoes (Optional)

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Ingredients to make beef and Guinness stew

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Cook and stir bacon in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until bacon is browned and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn off the heat and transfer bacon into a large stew pot, reserving bacon fat in the skillet.

    A skillet with pieces of browned bacon

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Season beef chuck cubes generously with 1 teaspoon salt and black pepper to taste. Turn heat to high under the skillet and sear beef pieces in the hot fat on both sides until browned, about 5 minutes. Place beef in the stew pot with bacon, leaving fat in the skillet.

    A skillet with pieces of seared beef chuck, next to a pot of cooked bacon and seared beef

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Turn heat down to medium; cook and stir onions in the retained fat in the skillet until lightly browned, 5 to 8 minutes; season with a large pinch of salt.

    A skillet with chopped onions cooking in bacon grease

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Cook garlic with onions until soft, about 1 minute. Pour beer into the skillet and stir with a wooden spoon, scraping up and dissolving any browned bits of food into the liquid.

    A skillet with onions and garlic cooking in Guinness beer

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Pour cooking liquid from the skillet into the stew pot. Stir in tomato paste, carrots, celery, thyme sprigs, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and enough chicken broth to cover.

    A wooden spoon stirring a pot of beef and Guinness strew with carrots, celery, and thyme

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Bring stew to a gentle simmer, stirring to combine; reduce heat to low and cover pot.

    A pot of simmering beef and Guinness stew

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Simmer stew until beef is fork-tender, about 2 hours.

    A cube of beef chuck on a wooden spoon, with a fork testing for tenderness

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  9. Stir stew occasionally and skim fat or foam if desired.

    A pot of beef and Guinness stew with a spoon skimming fat off the surface

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  10. Remove cover and raise heat to medium-high. Bring stew to a low boil and cook until stew has slightly thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove and discard thyme sprigs and adjust salt and pepper to taste.

    A pot of thickened beef and Guinness stew

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  11. Arrange mashed potatoes in a ring in a serving bowl; ladle stew into the center of the potatoes.

    A bowl of beef and Guinness stew, served over mashed potatoes and garnished with chopped parsley

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

2,599 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

528 Calories
25g Fat
42g Carbs
29g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 528
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 25g 32%
Saturated Fat 10g 48%
Cholesterol 96mg 32%
Sodium 1605mg 70%
Total Carbohydrate 42g 15%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 29g 59%
Vitamin C 20mg 22%
Calcium 91mg 7%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 1015mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.