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Beef and Guinness Slow Cooker Stew

Rich, comforting slow cooker stew with beef braised in Guinness — a St. Patrick's Day tradition.

Details

Source Social media recipe
Cuisine Irish
Servings 4-6
Cook Time 6-8 hours (low) or 4-5 hours (high)

Ingredients

Ingredient Imperial Metric
Stewing beef (or lamb), seared 1½-2¼ lb 700g-1kg
Onion, chopped and browned 1 1
Carrots, chopped 3 3
Fresh parsley 1 handful 1 handful
Guinness 1 can (14.9 oz) 1 can (440ml)
Beef stock 1¼ cups 300ml
Salt 1 tsp 6g
Black pepper ½ tsp 1g
Dried thyme (optional) 1 tsp 1g
Cornflour (cornstarch), for thickening as needed as needed

Instructions

  1. Sear the beef or lamb in a hot pan until browned.
  2. Add the meat to the slow cooker along with the onion, carrots, and parsley.
  3. Pour in the Guinness and beef stock.
  4. Season with salt, pepper, and thyme.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours, until the meat is tender and the stew is rich and thick.
  6. Near the end of cooking, mix a little cornflour with cold water and stir into the stew to thicken if desired.

Notes

The alcohol cooks off during the long slow cook, leaving a deep, malty richness rather than a beer flavor. The Guinness adds a roasty, slightly bitter depth similar to red wine in a stew. If you prefer a milder flavor, use half a can and make up the difference with more beef stock.