Crockpot Guinness Beef Stew
March 15, 2016
Crockpot Guinness Beef Stew
You don’t have to be Irish to enjoy this hearty beef stew. Perfect to serve on St Patrick’s Day with some homemade biscuits, or better yet, thick slices of Soda Bread. This recipe from Cook’s Country uses Guinness Draught beer to enhance the beef flavors and their “secret” ingredient - bittersweet chocolate – makes it over-the-top delicious. Using a slow cooker not only makes it a nearly hassle-free recipe, but also produces succulent meat, fork-tender vegetables, and a rich, flavorful broth.
Serves 6 to 8 Download Crockpot Guinness Beef Stew
4 pounds boneless beef chuck stew meat (about 11/2-inch chunks)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 onions, chopped
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 ½ cups Guinness Draught
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 ounce bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 bay leaves
5 carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 pound parsnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 ½ pounds baby red potatoes, scrubbed
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup frozen peas
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
1. Pat beef dry with paper towels and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook half of beef until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer to slow cooker insert and repeat with additional 2 teaspoons oil and remaining beef.
2. Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil, onions, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to skillet and cook until onions are lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add broth, 1 1/4 cups stout, brown sugar, thyme, chocolate, and bay leaves and bring to boil, using wooden spoon to scrape up browned bits. Transfer to slow cooker insert.
3. Add carrots, parsnips, and potatoes to slow cooker insert. Cover and cook on low until meat is tender, 9 to 10 hours (or cook on high for 6 to 7 hours).
4. Set slow cooker to high. In a small bowl, whisk flour and remaining 1/4 cup beer until smooth, then stir mixture into slow cooker. Cook, with crock pot covered, until the sauce thickens, about 15 minutes. Stir in peas and parsley, season with salt and pepper to taste, and discard bay leaf. Serve.
To Make Ahead: You can prepare the recipe through step 2 the night before the ingredients go into the slow cooker. Refrigerate the browned beef and the onion mixture in separate containers. In the morning, transfer the beef and the onion mixture to the slow cooker and proceed with step 3.
I want to try how to cook this.
Posted by: alice | March 19, 2012 at 12:54 AM
Would you believe me if I told you that I have never had a homemade beef stew? I probably had some version of it from the can, and it would have been a LONG time ago. And I’m pretty sure that it wasn’t very good.
Posted by: Clifton Clinton | April 06, 2012 at 12:38 AM
Culinary specialists always cook with wine to bring more flavor and spice to the dish. My uncle is a chef and I have seen him use wine while cooking, and now that I got to taste it, and they are really good -- balancing out the flavors of the different ingredients. Drinking wine really hits the spot in the palate as having a glass after eating is really wonderful.
Posted by: Corey Glenn | October 11, 2012 at 07:04 AM