Billie's Kitchen

A hearty Irish classic, slow-cooked to tender perfection in a rich, savoury gravy — simple, comforting, and absolutely delicious.

There is something wonderfully comforting about a bowl of Irish beef stew. Slow-cooked beef, hearty vegetables and a rich, savoury gravy come together to make a dish that feels both rustic and deeply satisfying. It is the kind of food that fills the kitchen with an irresistible aroma while it simmers away, and tastes even better once everyone is gathered around the table.

This recipe is simple, hearty and wonderfully warming — the perfect example of how a handful of humble ingredients can come together to create something truly special.

What has shaped Irish Cuisine?

Irish cuisine has been shaped by a cool climate, fertile pastureland, and centuries of agricultural tradition. Potatoes, oats, dairy, and livestock became staples of everyday life, with traditional households often growing their own food and keeping animals for meat and milk. Ireland’s grass-based farming system has also helped establish a strong reputation for its dairy and beef, with cattle traditionally raised on lush pastures.

Although these ingredients may sound simple, their quality is central to modern Irish food culture. Today, Irish cuisine continues to celebrate high-quality local produce while drawing on traditional recipes that have been passed down through generations.

What is Irish Beef Stew?

Irish beef stew is a warming dish traditionally prepared with onions, carrots, potatoes, and herbs. While traditional Irish stew is more strongly associated with lamb or mutton, beef versions have also become firmly established in Irish cooking.

Stews have long been well suited to rural Irish cooking, where slow cooking allowed simple ingredients and inexpensive cuts of meat to become hearty, nourishing meals. Recipes vary between households, but Irish stew remains a beloved example of Ireland’s tradition of making comforting food from simple ingredients.

My experience with Irish Beef Stew

Irish beer stew is now a winter staple in our house – it brings a wonderful feeling of warmth in the colder months. It’s packed full of flavour and nourishment and is a true joy to eat. 

This is one of the more time consuming recipes I’ve come across – the beef must be cooked slowly to tenderise and breakdown and release all its flavour. However, while it was cooking, I was able to do other things around the house, coming back occasionally to check and stir. 

But the final product is definitely worth the wait – the smell that fills the kitchen while it cooks is divine, and that first taste makes all the waiting worthwhile.

Irish Beef Stew

Recipe by Billie Delpino

5.0 from 2 votes

Course: MainCuisine: IrishDifficulty: ★★★☆☆

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

3

hours 

20

minutes

A hearty Irish classic, featuring tender slow-cooked beef in a rich, savoury gravy.

Ingredients

• 800 g slow-cooking beef

• 1tbsp mixed herbs

• 1 tbsp salt

• 1 tbsp black pepper

• 1 tbsp garlic granules

• 30 g plain flour

• 20 ml vegetable oil

• 1 white onion (diced)

• 5 garlic cloves (minced)

• 4 thyme sprigs

• 3 celery stalks (chopped)

• 1/2 tin chopped tomatoes

• 1 tbsp sugar

• 1 beef stock cube

• 100 ml red wine

• 100 ml Guiness

• 1 bay leaf

• 200 ml water

• 3 carrots (chopped)

• 500 g waxy potatoes (cubed)

Directions

• Cut beef into 5cm chunks. Season the beef with herbs, salt, black pepper, garlic granules, and flour and mix to coat well.
• In a deep cast iron pan on a medium heat, heat up the vegetable oil and cook the beef until browned. Do not overcrowd pan – it’ll stop the beef from browning. Cook in batches if needed.
• Move the beef to one side of the pan, and to the other side, add the onion and celery. Cook for a few minutes, until they just start to soften.
• Add the garlic and thyme annd cook until fragrant, for around 1 minute. Add the chopped tomatoes, stock cube, red wine, Guiness, bay leaf, sugar, and water and stir to combine everything well. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for around 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Add the carrots and potatoes to the stew, stir to combine, and replace the lid. Leave for around 45 minutes, until the carrots and potatoes are cooked.
• Serve warm with crispy roast potatoes or fresh bread, and enjoy!