Slow-Cooked Beef and Guinness Stew with Carrots and Potatoes
A comforting stew with tender beef, Guinness beer, and root vegetables, slow-cooked for rich flavor. This general-inspired beef ready in about 380 minutes pairs cut into 1-inch cubes beef chuck, all-purpose flour, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs, cut into 1-inch cubes beef chuck
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large, diced onion
- 2, sliced carrots
- 2, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes potatoes
- 1 cup Guinness beer
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat beef cubes dry, then season with 3 tbsp all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high. Brown beef in batches for 3-4 minutes per batch, then set aside.
- Step 3: Add diced onion to pot and cook 3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 4: Return beef to pot, then add 1 cup Guinness beer and 2 cups beef broth. Scrape bottom to deglaze.
- Step 5: Stir in 1 tsp dried thyme and 1 bay leaf. Bring to simmer, then transfer to slow cooker.
- Step 6: Cook on low 6 hours until beef is fork-tender. Stir in sliced carrots and cubed potatoes, then cook 2 more hours.
- Step 7: Remove bay leaf, season with salt and pepper, and serve.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Cooked Beef and Guinness Stew with Carrots and Potatoes take to make?
Total time is about 380 minutes (20 min prep + 360 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Slow-Cooked Beef and Guinness Stew with Carrots and Potatoes?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep all-purpose flour from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow-Cooked Beef and Guinness Stew with Carrots and Potatoes?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Slow-Cooked Beef and Guinness Stew with Carrots and Potatoes for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Slow-Cooked Beef and Guinness Stew with Carrots and Potatoes?
General beef like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Added some red pepper flakes for heat — highly recommend.
- ★★★★★
Doubled the garlic (as one does) and it was amazing.
- ★★★★★
This has become our go-to beef dish. We make it weekly.
