• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Auntie's Favorites
  • Holidays
    • New Year's
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patrick's Day
    • Easter
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
  • Subscribe

Crinkled Cookbook logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Summer Recipes
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Summer Recipes
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Comfort Foods

    Modified: Feb 17, 2024 · Published: Jan 26, 2021 by Melinda O'Malley Keckler · This post may contain affiliate links · this blog generates income from ads.

    Irish Beef Stew Recipe

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Irish Beef Stew is a hearty beef stew with an amazingly rich and delicious broth made with Guinness Extra Stout Beer and red wine. The tender stew meat, potatoes, parsnips and carrots combine for a special and comforting Irish-inspired meal. My family loves this stew all year and it is wonderful served with Classic Potato Rolls or 4 Ingredient Biscuits.

    Irish stew in a small bowl with a spoon.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients to Have on Hand
    • Cooking Methods for Beef Stew
    • Irish Beef Stew on the Stovetop
    • Substitutes for Wine or Beer in the Stew
    • Irish Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Thicker Broth Option
    • More Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Irish Beef Stew
    • Comments

    Ingredients to Have on Hand

    • Stew meat (I use chuck roast)
    • Carrots, parsnips and russet potatoes
    • Beef stock
    • Guinness Extra Stout beer, or any dark beer
    • Red wine
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • Dried thyme
    Potatoes, onion, parsnips and carrots on a cutting board.
    Four classic ingredients combine perfectly with beef in this stew.

    Cooking Methods for Beef Stew

    I've made Irish Beef Stew for St. Patrick's Day and other times of the year on both the stovetop in a large pot, and in a 7-quart Crockpot, or slow cooker. Both methods work great and the result is a rich broth with tender stew meat.

    Slow Cooker: I love how easy is it to prepare this stew in a Crockpot since everything cooks together all day. The veggies are softer after cooking all day.

    Stovetop: But there's something special about the texture of the vegetables after cooking on the stovetop. The veggies are thoroughly cooked but have slightly more definition.

    Here are two pictures so you can see the difference between the cooking methods, but the bottom line is, both ways of preparing this St. Patrick's Day, or Irish stew taste equally delicious!

    Pro Tip: Before dinner, serve small cups of Sweet Green Smoothies with a round of appetizers like Simple Artichoke Parmesan Dip or Individual Charcuterie Cups.

    A small bowl full of St. Patrick's Day Stew with a spoon and napkin on the side.
    Slow Cooker: The veggies are softer after cooking all day
    Irish stew in a small bowl with a spoon.
    Stovetop: The veggies are thoroughly cooked, but have slightly more definition.

    Slow Cooker: It all depends on how much time you have and whether you'd prefer to simply switch the slow cooker (Crockpot) to low and have the stew cook all day, or whether you'd like to be on hand in the kitchen.

    Stovetop: The stovetop version includes instructions to add the veggies and potatoes at intervals during the cooking process after the broth and beef have simmered on their own for about 45 minutes.

    Stew ingredients in the Crockpot.

    Irish Beef Stew on the Stovetop

    If you opt to cook Irish Beef Stew on the stovetop, I recommend browning the stew meat first in about two tablespoons of olive oil in a large stockpot, then adding the garlic and all of the liquid ingredients, tomato sauce and spices.

    The stew will cook for about 90 minutes.

    About halfway through that cooking time, partially cook the carrots, parsnips and onion in a little olive oil in a skillet. You'll want them to be about half-cooked or just barely fork-tender. This ensures the veggies don't get overcooked after you combine them with the rest of the simmering stew.

    Add the partially cooked veggies to the broth and meat mixture and continue to simmer.

    Add the diced potatoes for the final 30 minutes.

    Discard the bay leaf before serving.

    Parsnips, carrots and onion in a skillet.
    Partially cook the carrots, parsnips and onion before adding to the broth.
    St. Patrick's Day stew cooking on the stove.
    If cooking on the stove, add the veggies after the broth and meat has simmered for at least an hour.

    Substitutes for Wine or Beer in the Stew

    While beer and wine loom large in the recipe card you don't have to use either ingredient. I always like to offer options and substitutions in recipes like these including my Pork Chops and Sauerkraut recipe that also calls for beer. Don't worry, there's always a substitute.

    Pro Tip: If you prefer not to use beer or wine in your stew, just swap both ingredients with the same amount of beef broth and increase the amount of Worcestershire sauce to two tablespoons instead of one.

    Stew ingredients in the Crockpot

    Irish Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker

    The key to everything cooking perfectly is to layer the ingredients in the following order in the Crockpot or slow cooker, starting with the stew meat as the bottom layer:

    • Stew meat and garlic
    • Carrots
    • Parsnips
    • Potatoes
    • Tomato sauce
    • Onion
    Beef and garlic in a crockpot.
    Add beef to crockpot and top with garlic.
    Carrots on top of beef in a crockpot.
    Carrots go to top of the beef and garlic.
    Carrots and parsnips on top beef in a crockpot.
    Place diced carrots and parsnips on top of the beef.
    Potatoes in a crockpot
    Next, add the diced potatoes.
    Tomato sauce on top of veggies and beef in a crockpot.
    Top with tomato sauce and water.

    Recipe FAQs

    What are parsnips?

    It's a root veggie. Although I don't cook with them as frequently as carrots, they are very similar and they're almost always available in the grocery store's produce section.

    What's the biggest difference between carrots and parsnips?

    Both carrots and parsnips are somewhat sweet but parsnips have a slightly spicy flavor. They're so good! I love to use them in this beef stew or any time I want a sturdy veggie added to a soup, and they're delicious in a pan of oven-roasted veggies.

    How do you know this is an Irish recipe?

    My maiden name is O'Malley, and I've always been curious about ingredients that are authentic to the flavors of Irish cuisine. Given my family's lineage to Ireland and County Mayo in particular I've done my best with this recipe to capture the flavors, textures and spices found in Irish cooking.

    Stew in the Crockpot

    Thicker Broth Option

    If you and your family prefer a slightly thicker broth for your St. Patrick's Day Stew, that's easy!

    Pro Tip: For a thicker stew broth, in a very small bowl, combine two tablespoons cornstarch with two tablespoons cold water and whisk together until it creates a thin slurry - a concentrated liquid that thickens broth, sauces or gravy.

    Pour the mixture into the stew and stir well to blend thoroughly. You'll watch the broth thicken right away.

    A crockpot full of cooked St. Patrick's Day stew.

    More Recipes

    There are many celebrations of Irish culture related to St. Patrick's Day. Enjoying all things green - and wearing green - are certainly two of them. Many folks enjoy corned beef and cabbage on March 17, which is wonderful. But this St. Patrick's Day beef stew is a terrific option.

    Here are a few more recipes that I think you'll enjoy on St. Patrick's Day!

    • A bowl full of seafood chowder with a sprig of fresh dill and a spoon.
      Creamy Seafood Chowder Recipe
    • A spoon scooping up country potatoes from a baking dish.
      Cheesy Potatoes with Corn Flakes
    • A large spoon scooping up a serving of twice baked potatoes from a baking dish.
      Double-Baked Mashed Potatoes
    • Four photos with a text that reads: 12 Favorite St. Patrick's Day Recipes.
      12 Favorite St. Patrick's Day Recipes

    If you tried Irish Beef Stew or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below.

    Recipe

    Irish stew in a small bowl with a spoon.

    Irish Beef Stew

    Enjoy a rich and incredibly delicious broth, tender stew meat with potatoes, parsnips and carrots seasoned with a touch of thyme. Try Black Bean and Sweet Potato Soup for another comforting soup option!
    5 from 166 votes
    Print Rate Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Stovetop Cooking Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 2 hours hours
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 514kcal
    Author: Melinda O'Malley Keckler

    Equipment

    • 7 Quart Crockpot optional

    Ingredients 

    • 2.5 pounds stew meat - cut into 1"chunks
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided - divided, for browning the meat and veggies if cooking on the stovetop
    • 1 tablespoon garlic - diced (about 4 large cloves)
    • 5 carrots - large, peeled and sliced
    • 2 parsnips - large, peeled and sliced
    • 3 russet potatoes - peeled and cut into 2" wedges
    • 1 onion - white, sliced and diced
    • 1, 8 oz can tomato sauce
    • 1 cup water
    • 4 cups beef stock - I use Better than Bouillon
    • 1 cup Guinness extra stout beer
    • 1 cup red wine
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce - Portland brand is my favorite
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 1 tablespoon dried thyme
    • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon pepper
    • 1-2 teaspoons salt - to taste
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 1 tablespoon dried parsley

    Instructions

    STOVETOP INSTRUCTIONS

      Simmer Beef and Broth

      • Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a large stockpot on the stove.
        Add the stew meat and cook in the hot oil until the meat is browned. Add the garlic and all of the liquid ingredients and spices: tomato sauce, water, beef stock, Guinness beer, wine, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, thyme, garlic powder, pepper, salt, bay leaves and parsley.
        Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium, low and cover with the lid ajar. The stew will simmer for about 90 minutes total time.

      Add Partially Cook Veggies

      • After about 45 minutes, heat an additional tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet on the stove over medium high heat. Once the oil starts to shimmer, add the peeled and chopped carrots, parsnips and onions, cook for about 10 -15 minutes.
        Add the partially cooked veggies to the broth and meat in the stockpot and continue simmering. This step ensures the veggies don't get overcooked.

      Add Diced Potatoes

      • During the final 30 minutes of cooking time for the stew, add the peeled and diced potatoes. Continue simmering the stew until the veggies and potatoes are tender.
        Remove bay leaves before serving and enjoy!

      SLOW COOKER INSTRUCTIONS

      • Place stew meat in the bottom of a 7 quart Crockpot and top with diced garlic.
        Next, place diced carrots and parsnips, then diced potatoes on top of the meat. Pour tomato sauce and water over the top of the ingredients, add onions.

      Combine Liquid Ingredients

      • In a medium bowl, whisk together beef broth, Guinness beer, red wine and Worcestershire sauce. Add sugar, salt, pepper, thyme and garlic powder and mix well. 
        Pour liquid and spices over the layered ingredients in the crockpot. 

      Cook on Low or High

      • Top with bay leaves and parsley. 
        Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
        Once cooked, stir gently to combine before serving, remove bay leaves and enjoy.

      Notes

      For a slightly thicker broth, in a very small bowl, combine two tablespoons of cornstarch with two tablespoons of cold water and whisk together until it creates a thin slurry. Pour the mixture into the stew and stir to blend thoroughly. You'll watch the broth thicken right away. Check out my roundup of Classic St. Patrick's Day recipes for more ideas. 
      Calories: 514kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 50gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 117mgSodium: 1114mgPotassium: 2022mgFiber: 7gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 8717IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 137mgIron: 8mg

      Please note, the nutrition details are estimated using a food database, so they’re just a rough estimate not an exact science.

      Did you try this recipe? Leave a comment below or @crinkledcookbook on Instagram, snap a photo and tag it #crinkledcookbook

      More Cozy & Delicious Comfort Food

      • A serving of spicy peanut noodles on a plate with peanuts, onion and cilantro.
        Spicy Peanut Butter Noodles
      • A pot on the stove full of black bean soup with a spoon.
        Black Bean Sweet Potato Soup
      • A large spoonful of smoked gouda mac and cheese held over a baking dish filled with the mac and cheese.
        Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese
      • Half of a French Taco held over a plate.
        French Tacos

      Looking for something?

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

        5 from 166 votes (163 ratings without comment)

        Leave a Reply Cancel reply

        Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

        Recipe Rating




        This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

      1. Jeannnie says

        February 15, 2022 at 9:33 pm

        Making your recipe, it's been pretty cold here and this stew would be a perfect meal for us.

        Reply
      2. Debra says

        February 15, 2022 at 8:00 pm

        5 stars
        Oh how I love a one pot meal...and this one didn't disappoint. Super tasty, everyone loved the big chunks...and I loved the easy clean up.

        Reply
      3. Jerika says

        February 15, 2022 at 7:33 pm

        This St. Patrick's Day Stew is one of our comfort foods!:) It really is a hearty, one-pot beef stew!:) Thanks!

        Reply
      4. Jere Cassidy says

        February 15, 2022 at 6:48 pm

        5 stars
        Thanks for posting this recipe. My Irish hubby always talks about his mother's stew and how much he misses it. I am saving your recipe so I can surprise him. Thanks for all the good step-by-steps.

        Reply
      5. Kayla DiMaggio says

        February 15, 2022 at 6:27 pm

        5 stars
        This St. Patricks Day stew was so perfect for this chilly winter! Can't wait to make it again for St. Patty's Day!

        Reply

      Primary Sidebar

      Melinda Keckler in her kitchen.

      Let's dig in!

      I'm Melinda, a self-taught recipe developer from the Pacific Northwest. My recipes have been featured on MSN, Fox News and beyond. But the best part is, I get to share them all here with you!

      Here's My Story

      Summer Recipes

      • A bowl of pickle salsa with a tortilla chip on top.
        Pickle de Gallo Recipe
      • Sweet corn salad on a plate with corn on the cob in the background.
        Sweet Corn Pasta Salad
      • A serving of spring roll in a bowl on a table outdoors with two forks and a plate.
        Spring Roll in a Bowl
      • A small bowl of shrimp cocktail with lettuce, lemon, celery and avocado.
        Shrimp Cocktail Cups
      Logos of media outlets where Melinda has been featured.

      Trending Recipes

      • A large spoon dishing up a serving a chicken spaghetti from a baking dish.
        Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel and Velveeta
      • Salmon patties on a plate with onion and a lemon wedge.
        Old Fashioned Salmon Patties Recipe
      • Blue cheese crumbles on top of blended ingredients.
        Blue Cheese Vinaigrette
      • A piece of smoked salmon on the grill.
        Smoked Salmon on a Pellet Grill

      Footer

      ^ back to top

      About

      • Meet Melinda

      Contact

      • Sign up for emails and recipes!
      • Contact

      Disclaimers

      • Privacy Policy & Terms
      • Comment Policy
      • Accessibility Policy

      As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2019 - 2025 Crinkled Cookbook LLC

      • Facebook
      • Pinterest
      • X
      14 shares

      Rate This Recipe

      Your vote:




      A rating is required
      A name is required
      An email is required

      Recipe Ratings without Comment

      Something went wrong. Please try again.