Irish Beef Stew

This Irish Beef Stew was a surprising win in the Weeknight Dinners For Everyone category. And moms, it also means you did a St Patrick’s day recipe!

Hold onto your britches, I’m actually posting something for St Patrick’s day! I know, I’m a lame mom that doesn’t go crazy on every single holiday, but this Irish Beef Stew is perfect for the 80% of you who also are not Pinterest moms but still want to make memories with your family.

Now let’s just point out the obvious, this Irish Beef Stew does not have the traditional Guinness Beer which is what normally makes it an Irish Stew Recipe.

Here’s the deal, we don’t drink alcohol. This isn’t the type of thing where I found some secret way that’s better or anything, this is purely what works for our family. Because of our religious beliefs we don’t drink alcohol and while it does cook out, we just avoid.

Using Beer in Irish Beef Stew

Alright, so here’s how you make it happen. If you’d like to use beer in place of the pop (do you say pop or soda?) just substitute equal amounts. That’s it!

What Beer for Irish Stew?

The darker the alcohol is going to be better, try using a Guinness Beer that is dark.. I’ve read all about it and you can trust me even if I’ve never drank it. That’s the best I can offer. Sorry I’m not more help. But don’t worry, I still know how to cook and this recipe for Irish Beef Stew is still the bomb.com.

(Sometimes I say that in text and it automatically links to a real website which always makes me panic a little. Does the government watch that stuff and know I’m not actually looking up such a thing?!)

Irish Beef Stew

We did a big ol’ comparison of stews a while back, and as I’m a purist I completely expected to be all about the traditional stew, but this Irish Beef Stew totally and completely won my heart over. It is so good!!

An Irish Beef Stew is a very simple combination of ingredients that while slowly cooked begin to transform into a hearty, tender, melt in your mouth stew.

What’s in an Irish Stew that makes it different than a traditional stew? Really nothing other then alcohol instead of straight broth. While our’s doesn’t have the alcohol we did use a dark soda, Coke.

What to Use Instead of Beer in Stew

If you’re like us and you don’t drink, merely substitute Coke and some Worcestershire Sauce to achieve that umami flavor. Don’t worry so much about what you use, beer is fine if that’s what you use, coke is great if you don’t. Both will leave you with the same outcome, a delicious stew with absolutely tender meat.

How to Serve Irish Stew

I’ve seen a lot of Irish Stew recipes, but not all are served the same way, so how do you serve Irish Stew?

It all depends on what is in the Irish Beef Stew, if there’s potatoes then you generally don’t serve it over potatoes. If there isn’t you can serve it alone as a stew with an Irish Soda Bread or alongside rolls, or you can serve it over creamy mashed potatoes.

How to Thicken Irish Stew

A stew should always have a thick consistency in my humble opinion. None of this broth business. Broth is the starting point, but not the ending point. That’s a beef soup, there’s a difference.

To achieve that thick and creamy, but never gloppy texture, use a slurry which consists of cold water and all purpose flour. No other flour should be used as it will not have the same effect.

Whisk the mixture until it’s perfectly smooth then, while stirring add it to the stew and simmer until thickened.

How to Substitute Cornstarch instead of Flour

If you would rather use cornstarch instead of flour that’s totally fine. Just half the water and use half the amount you would normally use if it was flour.

Usually I’m all for making a roux or using cornstarch in sauces, but when it comes to a stew, a slurry of water and flour actually works very well. In fact, I prefer it for a stew.

Can You Freeze Irish Stew?

Irish stew is one of the best ideas for a freezer meal. Go ahead and completely prepare the Irish stew and then cool completely. Use a FoodSaver to seal up the stew and lay flat in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to reheat a frozen stew, place it first in the refrigerator to defrost. I know, it’s really tempting to dump a frozen stew into a pot and get it warming up, but that’s actually a recipe for disaster. Soups should always be slowly defrosted and slowly brought back to temperature.

Is Irish Stew Gluten Free?

Irish Stew is only gluten free if you choose to go with the cornstarch mixture. If you use the flour slurry it is no longer a gluten free stew. All other ingredients are gluten free so it’s a fantastic meal idea for a family that has food allergies or dietary restrictions.

Soup and Stew RECIPES

Looking for more soup and stew recipes?  Mom’s Fabulous Slow Cooker Stew, Taco Stew, Cheeseburger Soup,  Slow Cooker Potato Bacon Corn Chowder or Honey Lime Chicken Enchilada Soup!

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4.79 from 23 votes

Irish Beef Stew

By Sweet Basil

Prep15 minutes mins

Cook2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Total2 hours hrs 45 minutes mins

Servings8

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This Irish Beef stew was a surprising win in the Weeknight Dinners For Everyone category. And moms, it also means you did a St Patrick's day recipe!

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Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2.25 lb Beef Chuck, or stew meat, cubed
• ▢ 3/4 teaspoons Salt
• ▢ Black pepper
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• ▢ 3 Cloves Garlic,  minced
• ▢ 2 Onions, red, one minced and one chopped in bigger chunks
• ▢ 4 Slices Bacon, diced
• ▢ 15 Ounces Coke, Coca Cola pop
• ▢ 4 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
• ▢ 2 teaspoons Beef Bouillon, Better than Beef Bouillon plus 2 cups of water or 2 cups beef broth
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Chicken Bouillon, Better than Chicken Bouillon plus 1 cup of water or 1 cup chicken broth *see note
• ▢ 3 Carrots , large, peeled and cut into chunks on a diagonal
• ▢ 2 Stalks Celery , large, chopped
• ▢ 2 Bay Leaves
• ▢ 1 Sprig Thyme, fresh, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• ▢ 1/4 Cup Flour
• ▢ 1/2 Cup Water, cold

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions 

• Prepare the meat by patting dry with paper towels, then sprinkle with salt and pepper, tossing to coat. Allow to sit out for 5-8 minutes before cooking.
  2.25 lb Beef Chuck, 3/4 teaspoons Salt, Black pepper
• Heat oil in a heavy based pot over high heat. Add beef in batches and brown on each side, removing the meat to a plate as it finishes and repeat with remaining meat.
  2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• Remove pot from heat and add a drizzle of oil if needed.
• Return the pot to medium heat, add garlic and onions. Cook for 3 minutes until softening, then add bacon, stirring occasionally.
  3 Cloves Garlic, 2 Onions, 4 Slices Bacon
• Cook until bacon is browned.
• Dump the meat and all accumulated juices back into the pot. Mix well then add remaining ingredients.
  15 Ounces Coke, 4 Tablespoons Tomato Paste, 2 teaspoons Beef Bouillon, 1 teaspoon Chicken Bouillon, 3 Carrots , 2 Stalks Celery, 2 Bay Leaves, 1 Sprig Thyme
• Bring the stew to a simmer then lower heat so it is bubbling gently.
• Place a lid on the pot. Cook for 2 hours, the meat should be practically falling apart by now.
• In a glass measuring cup, add the flour and water together, whisking vigorously to combine.
  1/4 Cup Flour, 1/2 Cup Water
• With the stew simmering, slowly stir the flour mixture into the pot.
• Remove the lid and simmer for 30 - 45 minutes or until the beef falls apart at a touch.
• Remove bay leaves and thyme.
• Serve with bread!

Recipe Notes

We use better than beef and chicken bouillon because the flavor is much better than canned broth.

When stored in an airtight container, beef stew can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 373kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 95mg, Sodium: 454mg, Potassium: 670mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 4005IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 44mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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