Slow-Cooked Irish Guinness Beef Stew: Your Ultimate St. Patrick’s Day Comfort Food & Recipe
Get ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with an unforgettable culinary experience! Right here in our Parisian kitchen, we’re stirring up a storm, and this exquisite Irish Guinness beef stew is taking center stage. Imagine succulent, melt-in-your-mouth beef, slow-cooked to perfection in a rich, malty Guinness broth, served alongside the creamiest, cheesiest Irish cheddar mashed potatoes you’ve ever tasted. This isn’t just a meal; it’s a celebration of Irish heritage and heartwarming flavors.
Here in our kitchen, we have a deep appreciation for hearty, slow-cooked dishes that fill the home with inviting aromas. One of our all-time favorite French classics is our Traditional Boeuf Bourguignon. The tender beef, the rich Burgundy wine, the hours of patient simmering – it’s pure culinary bliss. It’s a meal we cherish because it transforms simple ingredients into something extraordinary, making any dinner shared with family and friends truly special.
Why Choose Irish Guinness Beef Stew for St. Patrick’s Day?
This Irish Guinness Beef Stew recipe embodies a similar spirit of slow-cooked comfort, yet it offers a distinctive and delightful Irish twist. While we often rely on Burgundy wine for our French stews, this recipe expertly replaces it with the iconic stout – Guinness beer. The result is a profoundly flavorful, rich, and full-bodied stew with an unmistakable hint of Guinness that truly elevates the beef to melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.
The dark, malty notes of Guinness not only tenderize the beef beautifully but also infuse the entire stew with a depth of flavor that is both complex and incredibly satisfying. It’s a comforting dish that warms you from the inside out, making it the perfect centerpiece for your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations or any chilly evening when you crave a robust and nourishing meal.
The Magic of Slow Cooking: Tender Beef & Rich Flavors
Just like its French cousin, this Guinness beef stew benefits immensely from the slow-cooking technique. This method allows the tougher cuts of beef, like chuck, to break down over several hours, transforming them into incredibly tender, fall-apart morsels. The long simmer also gives all the ingredients – the beef, the vegetables, the herbs, and especially the Guinness – ample time to meld together, creating a complex and harmonious flavor profile that deepens with every passing hour. The aroma alone will transport you, filling your entire home with the irresistible scent of a traditional Irish feast.
A Taste of Ireland: Immerse Yourself in the Emerald Isle Experience
With each savory bite of this truly authentic Irish stew, you’ll feel transported to the Emerald Isle. Imagine the lively strains of Celtic music, the delicate scent of Irish roses, and the cool, misty Irish rain gently touching your skin. Paired with a pint of your favorite brew, this traditional Irish meal will make you feel as if you’re settled in a cozy pub in the heart of Ireland, surrounded by good company and cheerful banter. It’s more than just food; it’s an immersive cultural experience that brings the warmth and charm of Ireland directly to your table.
Learning Gaelic & Exploring Irish Culture
For those curious about the Gaelic language, if you ever find yourself in Ireland and wish to order beef, the word you’re looking for is “mairteola.” It’s a small detail that adds to the authentic experience of visiting this beautiful country. Don’t hesitate to try it on your next adventure!
Beyond the Kitchen: Travel and Culinary Adventures
For those planning a trip to Ireland, a visit to Dublin’s famous Guinness Storehouse is an absolute must. There, you can delve into the fascinating history and intricate brewing process of this iconic stout, and of course, enjoy a perfectly poured pint. While we haven’t made it to Dublin just yet, we vividly recall the delightful experience of tasting champagne in Reims, a testament to our love for culinary travel. Each destination offers its own unique flavors and experiences, creating lasting memories.
We’d love to hear about your most cherished food travel experiences! Share your culinary adventures in the comments below.
To truly get into the Irish spirit, we highly recommend listening to Máiréad – Granuaile’s Dance from Celtic Woman. It’s a mesmerizing tune that perfectly complements the hearty flavors of this stew. For an extra touch of festivity, consider enjoying the video with a refreshing blackcurrant and Guinness cocktail in hand. Sláinte!
More Hearty Dinner Recipes to Explore
If you’re a fan of rich and comforting stews and main courses, be sure to check out some of our other popular dinner recipes:
- Patatas a La Riojana – a robust and flavorful Spanish stew featuring potatoes and savory chorizo.
- Boeuf Bourguignon – our classic French beef stew, a timeless dish that inspired this Irish version.
- Chorizo and Mushroom Risotto – a creamy, decadent, and utterly delicious risotto perfect for a cozy evening.
Pin This Delicious Irish Guinness Beef Stew Recipe for Later!
Don’t forget to save this incredible recipe for your next St. Patrick’s Day celebration or whenever you’re craving a taste of traditional Irish comfort food. Pin it now so you can easily find it later!

Irish Guinness beef stew
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
No reviews
Author: Alix and Hugo
Total Time: 6 hours
Yield: For 6 people 1x
Description
Learn to make this delicious and hearty Irish Guinness beef stew for St. Patrick’s Day!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Irish beef stew
- 3,5lbs (1.5kg) of beef stew meat (cut into 2-inch cubes)
- 0,5lbs (230g) of smoked pork slab bacon(cut into 0,5-inch cubes)
- 6 carrots (cut into1-inch chunks)
- 6 medium turnips (cut into 4 parts)
- 2 onions (sliced)
- 1 clove of garlic (sliced)
- 33 oz of Guinness (2 pints)
- 4–5 sprigs of thyme
- 1–2 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper
- 1 or 2 tbsp of wholewheat flour
- Butter
- Olive oil
For the cheddar mashed potatoes
- 10 medium potatoes (cut into 1-inch slices)
- 3 cups of grated cheddar
- 1 cup of milk
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 sprigs of rosemary
- 1 tsp of garlic powder
Instructions
For the Irish beef stew
- The day before serving, put the beef in a ziploc bag with flour and shake until the beef is covered with flour.
- Heat the olive oil and butter on high heat in a Dutch oven.
- Add the beef and braise it until browned (approximately 2 minutes on each side).
- Remove it from the Dutch oven. If the beef has started sticking to the Dutch oven, you are on the right track! (This is because you are slowly caramelizing the meat.)
- Add onion, pork and a tsp of salt and turn the heat to low.
- Cook for another 5 minutes.
- Once the onions have absorbed the beef juice and turned light brown, add the garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add the beef, sprigs of thyme and bay leaves.
- Pour in the Guinness and cook for 3 hours.
- Remove from heat.
- Put aside until the beef is room temperature. When the beef has cooled, put it in the fridge overnight.
- hours before serving, continue cooking the stew on low heat.
- hour before serving (once the beef has been cooking for an hour), add the carrots, turnips and cook for another hour.
For the cheddar mashed potatoes
- Begin cooking 1 hour before serving.
- Put the potatoes in a large pot of cold water, heat on high heat with the salt, bay leaves and rosemary, until they are cooked through.
- Strain the potatoes and put them in the same large pot.
- Use a fork or a potato masher and mash the potatoes.
- Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small pot.
- Heat the mashed potatoes on low heat.
- Pour the milk into the mashed potatoes, little by little, and mix with a fork.
- Add salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Add the cheddar and mix with a wooden spoon until the mashed potatoes and the cheddar are well combined.
- Serve the Irish stew with the cheddar mashed potatoes.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Irish