Description
This Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Stew is a rich, hearty Irish-inspired dish brimming with tender beef, smoky bacon, fresh vegetables, and the deep flavors of Guinness beer and bittersweet chocolate. Perfect for a comforting family meal, it simmers gently in a slow cooker to develop complex flavors and melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein
- 2 pounds (907 g) boneless beef chuck, cut into 1 ½ inch chunks
- ½ pound bacon (about 8 slices)
Vegetables
- 3 onions, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 large celery ribs, sliced
- 1 ½ cups (355 g) Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes
Liquids and Sauces
- 1 ½ cups (355 ml) beef broth
- 18 ounces (510 ml) dark beer (like Guinness)
- ¼ cup (66 g) tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Seasonings and Other
- Salt and pepper for seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme (or to taste)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 ounce (28 g) bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- ⅓ cup (42 g) flour
Instructions
- Prepare and Season Beef: Cut the beef chuck into 1 ½ inch chunks and generously season with salt and pepper. Set aside, allowing the seasoning to absorb while you prepare the other ingredients.
- Cook Bacon: In a Dutch oven over medium heat, fry the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon from the pan, crumble it, and set aside. Leave the bacon fat in the pan for browning beef.
- Brown the Beef: In batches, brown the seasoned beef pieces in the bacon fat without overcrowding. Transfer each browned batch to the slow cooker insert. After all beef is browned, add the crumbled bacon to the slow cooker.
- Combine Broth and Tomato Paste: Whisk together the beef broth and tomato paste until smooth. Pour this mixture over the beef and bacon in the slow cooker, coating evenly.
- Add Vegetables and Seasonings: Add chopped onions, minced garlic, sliced carrots, celery, cubed potatoes, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, ground pepper, dried thyme, and the bay leaf to the slow cooker. Stir to distribute evenly.
- Add Beer and Chocolate: Pour in the dark beer (such as Guinness) and sprinkle in the chopped bittersweet chocolate. Stir all ingredients to combine thoroughly.
- Slow Cook the Stew: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on low for 8 hours, allowing flavors to meld and beef to become tender.
- Thicken the Stew: After cooking, ladle 1 cup of liquid into a bowl. Whisk in the flour to make a smooth slurry. Pour slurry back into the slow cooker and stir. Cook for an additional 5 minutes to thicken.
- Finish and Serve: Remove and discard the bay leaf. Stir the stew well and serve hot, optionally garnished with chopped parsley.
Notes
- Use a Dutch oven or heavy skillet to brown beef and cook bacon for best flavor.
- Ensure not to overcrowd the pan while browning beef to achieve a good sear.
- Bittersweet chocolate enhances the stew’s depth; do not omit.
- Adjust thickness by adding more flour slurry or simmering longer if necessary.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute flour with a gluten-free thickener.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day and can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Irish
