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    Home » Main Dishes » Beef

    Irish Stew & Other St Patrick’s Day Recipes [VIDEO]

    Published: Mar 12, 2020 · Modified: Jul 19, 2022 by Jessica Fisher

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    A classic Irish Stew is simple and flavorful. It comes together easily with hearty chunks of meat, potatoes, and carrots. And it brings ultimate comfort.

    bowl of stew on table with bread cheese and ale this …
    Jump to:
    • What is Irish Stew?
    • What are some traditional Irish meals?
    • What meat do you use in stew?
    • How do you make Irish Stew?
    • Is Irish Stew easy to make?
    • Is Irish Stew expensive to make?
    • Irish Stew Recipe

    If you’re like me and you (a) don’t like corned beef and cabbage and/or (b) don’t want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a dish that isn’t even Irish, then let me introduce you to one that is.

    Irish Stew is one of my yearly kitchen traditions. It’s super easy to stir up, the slow cooker does most of the work, and it tastes amazing. Seriously.

    I made it a few weeks ago and I just could. not. stop. eating. it.

    Believe it or not, it’s got only a handful of ingredients. Just goes to show, you don’t need a lot to make something amazing for dinner.

    And amazing, this Irish Stew is.

    So why do we have this for St. Patrick’s Day? Well, I’ll tell ya.

    One of my favorite parts about teaching my kids at home is the great reading we get to do together. A book that we read early on in my homeschooling career was St Patrick: Pioneer Missionary to Ireland. For years it was an annual reread.

    overhead shot of bowl of stew on white plate

    The biography tells the story of Patrick, how he was kidnapped by Celts, how God saved him, how he escaped from Ireland, and how he later returned to Ireland to preach the good news of Christ. It’s a great read aloud. (Though it’s really heavy on Christianese which annoys me, so I edit heavily as I read.)

    While I think that leprechauns and rainbows are fun, and I have been known to buy a box of Lucky Charms for St. Paddy’s Day, I prefer to focus on the real story or spiritual significance behind a holiday or special occasion. It makes any celebration we do a little more interesting and genuine.

    By now my kids all know that Patrick lived very simply; for many years he was enslaved by a Celtic chief, working as a shepherd. Later he lived a humble life of a clergyman, shepherding a different kind of flock.

    I imagine that this stew might be something like what he might have eaten.

    So, for our St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, we enjoy Irish Stew and Soda Bread. But we also love our Whole Wheat Beer Bread. If I’m feeling extra “splurgy,” I might buy Irish butter or Dubliner cheese to go with. (Costco sells both of these made by Kerrygold. ALDI has their own brand.) For dessert, I go apple with an easy Apple Crisp or a Slab Apple Pie.

    And sometimes, when I want a variation, I make this Guinness Beef Stew that is also amazingly good. It’s got mushrooms and stout to give it a twist of flavor.

    ingredients for this recipe

    What is Irish Stew?

    This stew is simple to make and it’s more or less authentic to the occasion. Tradition would say to use lamb in Irish Stew, but that’s not super cheap or readily available in the States, so I use a chuck roast instead. Truly authentic Irish Stew consists of mutton, potatoes, onions, and parsley. Sometimes it has carrots, like here.

    Ironically, I’m using what I have (beef), just like Irish-American immigrants did so many years ago when they adopted Jewish corned beef to replace the pricier bacon to go with cabbage.

    You do what you can, right?

    Since beef is more readily available here in the States, I’m only going to address beef for this recipe.

    What are some traditional Irish meals?

    Traditional Irish meals and recipes include Irish Stew, colcannon, Dublin coddle, champ, brack, farls, and boxty.

    My friend, Gale, born and bred in Northern Ireland, and I have discussed this at length. Here are some of her favorite recipes:

    • No Bake Irish Fifteens
    • Potato Farl (Fadge)
    • Champ
    • Yellow Man
    • Irish Soda Farls
    cutting roast into cubes on cutting board

    What meat do you use in stew?

    The best beef cuts for stew are not those marked “stew meat” at the grocery store. That’s typically rubbish. I’ve never had a good experience with those.

    Instead, use beef chuck or beef cross rib roast. These cook up super tender in stews.

    How do you make Irish Stew?

    Irish Stew is pretty simple, containing few ingredients and cooking in the slow cooker. I cube the beef and toss it in flour, salt, and pepper. You can omit the flour if you are cooking gluten-free, but it does a great job thickening up the gravy.

    Saute the beef cubes in a bit of oil in a skillet until well browned. Then transfer the meat to the crock of a slow cooker.

    Saute chopped onion in the drippings left in the pan and add those to the slow cooker. Add some beef broth and a bay leaf and cook for several hours until tender.

    • flour and beef in bowl
    • tossing beef in flour
    • sautéing beef in skillet
    • sautéing onions in drippings in pan

    Add the vegetables in the last two hours of cooking so that they don’t get super mushy. You can add them earlier; just know that they will have a much softer texture come serving time.

    I leave the baby carrots whole and chop the potatoes rather large, but you can chop them how you like them. You can also use whole carrots and chop those. Stir the veggies into the pot and cook until tender.

    • adding broth to meat in crock
    • cooked meat in crock
    • adding veg to crock
    • cooked stew in crock

    Is Irish Stew easy to make?

    This stew is super easy to make! Watch this video to follow the process:

     

    Here are some tools I use to make things super easy:

    • plastic cutting boards 
    • good chef’s knife
    • large nonstick skillet
    • cooking tongs
    • 6-quart slow cooker
    • vegetable peeler

    Is Irish Stew expensive to make?

    Stew has been considered “peasant food” for ages as it usually features cheaper cuts of meat that benefit from long, slow cooking. The big ticket item here is the meat, especially if you’re going to use lamb. However, even beef prices have been pretty high these past few year. 

    Consider these strategies to reduce your costs for making Irish Stew:

    • I buy the meat when it’s on sale. In fact I stock up and buy several packages at a time so I always have some in my freezer. Hint: watch your grocery sales as beef chuck roasts and steaks often go on sale this time of year.
    • Likewise, watch the sales for good prices on potatoes and beef broth. While not “expensive”, they can get pricey in certain seasons.
    • Use up your leftovers! This stew stretches beautifully with more broth and veggies. So, if you’ve got just a portion or two left, know that you can stretch it to feed more.
    bowl of stew on table with bread and cheese
    If you prepare this recipe, be sure to share a picture on social media and hashtag it #GOODCHEAPEATS. I can't wait to see what you cook up!
    bowl of irish stew on a plate with yellow and green cloth
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    4.83 from 51 votes

    Irish Stew Recipe

    A classic Irish Stew is simple and flavorful. It comes together easily with hearty chunks of meat, potatoes, and carrots. And it brings ultimate comfort.
    Prep Time25 mins
    Cook Time6 hrs
    Total Time6 hrs 25 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, English, Irish
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 329kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 2 lb boneless, beef chuck roast cut into 1-inch cubes
    • ¼ cup unbleached, all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 onion finely chopped
    • ½ cup beef broth
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 2 cup baby carrots
    • 4 russet potatoes peeled, and cut into 1-inch chunks
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Place the beef cubes, flour, and salt and pepper in a large ziptop bag or bowl. Seal and shake to coat all cubes with flour or stir gently.
    • In a large skillet, heat oil until shimmering. Add the beef cubes and brown on all sides. Do not crowd meat in pan. Do this in batches if your pan is not large enough to accommodate all the meat at one time. As the meat browns, remove it to crockpot.
    • Add the onions to the drippings in skillet and sauté until tender. Add the onions to the crockpot.
    • Stir in the beef broth and bay leaf. Cover and cook on LOW for four hours.
    • Add the carrots and potatoes and stir gently to combine. Cook on LOW for another two to four hours or until meat and vegetables are tender.
    • Adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper to taste.

    Video

    Notes

    To freeze: cool the stew completely. Wrap, label, and freeze in an airtight container. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave before serving.
    Note: the stew can also be cooked on the stovetop. Simmer on low for 2 to 3 hours until the meat is tender, adding the vegetables in the last 30 minutes of cooking.
    Promptly store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.
    Nutritional values are approximate and based on ⅛ the recipe.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 475mg | Potassium: 920mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 4428IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 6mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag Me Today!Mention @goodcheapeatsblog or tag #goodcheapeats!

    This post was originally published on January 8, 2015. It has been updated for content and clarity.

    « Overnight Egg Bake with Bacon and Cheddar
    Bake Irish Soda Bread for St. Patrick’s Day »
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Emilia Rosa

      November 26, 2022 at 1:04 pm

      Where’s the video?

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        December 04, 2022 at 6:47 am

        It should display in the recipe card. Sometimes it takes a few seconds.

        Reply
    2. YK

      March 21, 2022 at 3:33 pm

      5 stars
      I made this for St. Patrick’s Day this year, using a bit of Better Than Bouillon Beef dissolved in hot water for the beef broth and unpeeled Yukon Gold potatoes (4C) with the unpeeled carrots (2C). It was absolutely homey and delicious.

      Reply
    3. Jamie Cotton

      March 18, 2022 at 10:13 am

      5 stars
      I made this for St. Patrick’s Day and it was absolutely delicious. I used chuck roast and cut round slices of carrots instead of baby carrots. I added a bit of garlic and Guinness extra stout beer to the stew along with the broth. I seared the beef as instructed, but cooked it in the instant pot for 35 minutes with the uncooked veggies with the onions on the bottom. While it was cooking I made buttery baconed cabbage as a side. It was the perfect complime to the dish and everything was delicious. I will definitely make this again. This is a lot better then salty corned beef.

      Reply
    4. Adrienne

      December 21, 2021 at 4:40 pm

      4 stars
      Good basic stew. I will make again and experiment a bit.

      Reply
    5. Helena

      March 17, 2021 at 3:59 am

      Sorry to say but this isn’t Irish Stew. Irish Stew is a white stew made with lamb or mutton and all the ingredients are white. It’s a common misconception that it’s made with beef.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        March 17, 2021 at 8:15 am

        Yes, that’s what I explained in the post. Lamb and mutton are out of reach for most Americans, either from accessibility issues or pricing, so we made a point to make the dish as easy as possible for our readers.

        Reply
    6. Marsha

      March 10, 2021 at 9:56 am

      Hello Jessica, I do not do much cooking, baking and thought I would try your Irish Stew recipe for St Patrick Day. Your recipe calls for unbleached, all purpose flour. I have bleached, all purpose flour on hand. Can I substitute bleached flour or should I purchase the unbleached.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        March 10, 2021 at 11:30 am

        Yes, that is absolutely fine. Let me know how it goes! 🙂

        Reply
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